Trenton NJ Multiple-Vehicle Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Personal Injury Attorneys with Offices in Mercer County, New Jersey
The majority of motorcycle accidents in New Jersey involve two vehicles. Most of these accidents are caused when a car or truck crashes into the motorcycle. Although many people mistakenly think that most motorcycle accidents are caused by overly aggressive motorcyclists, the reality is that most motorcycle accidents occur because the drivers of other vehicles fail to notice motorcycles on the road. Negligent drivers need to be held responsible when they cause a motorcycle accident.
Cohen & Riechelson is a well-respected law firm with a track record of success in motorcycle accident cases throughout New Jersey. Our personal injury lawyers have more than 40 years of experience representing motorcycle accident victims in Mercer County, NJ, including Hightstown, Hamilton, and East Windsor. If you have been in a multiple-vehicle motorcycle accident, contact Cohen & Riechelson today at (609) 528-2596 to explore the possibility of filing a motorcycle accident claim and learn how we can help you recover full damages for your accident-related injuries to date and in the future.
Driver Negligence Causes Multiple Vehicle Motorcycle Accidents in Mercer County NJ
Motorcycle safety is an element of New Jersey transportation that often gets overlooked. Many drivers maneuver highways and smaller roads with little awareness or consideration of the two-wheeled motorists with whom they share the road. Motorcycles are, however, an integral part of the roadways across all seasons, and drivers need to take extra precautions to keep them safe. Some, do not, however. For this reason, driver negligence is a major cause of motorcycle accidents. Some of the common kinds of negligence include speeding, reckless driving, and driving while intoxicated. The kinds of negligent or reckless behavior that may contribute to a multiple-vehicle motorcycle accident include:
- Left-hand turns – Motorists who make a left-hand turn without using the appropriate signal can take motorcyclists passing on the left by surprise. Additionally, motorists can overestimate the distance between their vehicle and an oncoming motorcyclist when preparing for a left turn. This leads to the motorcyclist having to brake or veer unexpectedly, which can have tragic consequences.
- Lane changes – Motorists who are not proactive about checking for motorcycles or other small vehicles may fail to see them as they change lanes. This is especially dangerous when it cuts off motorcyclists on a stretch of road with no safe shoulder to make an emergency maneuver onto.
- Speeding – Speeding is highly dangerous for everyone on the road. It is especially so for motorcyclists, who are more likely to suffer severe injury from an accident involving a vehicle moving at high speeds.
- Tailgating – Tailgating a motorcycle increases the chances of a rear-end accident, which can cause whiplash and other severe head, neck, and spine injuries (among others) for all involved.
- Drunk driving – Drunk driving is a reckless offense that places multiple lives at risk. Motorcyclists stand to be severely injured as a result of a drunk driver’s erratic maneuvering, because they at once have a large machine to negotiate while also having relatively little protective gear and no benefit of a covered vehicle’s shell. When a drunk driver’s unexpected movements require a motorcyclist to shift rapidly, deadly results can ensue.
Sudden Stops Cause Multi-Vehicle Motorcycle Accidents in Lawrence NJ
Many motorcycle accidents are caused by motor vehicle drivers who suddenly slam on their brakes. Motorcycles are able to stop much more suddenly than cars and trucks. Unfortunately, a lot of motorists don’t realize this; as a result, they follow behind a motorcycle too closely and then find themselves unable to avoid a collision when the motorcycle comes to a sudden stop.
A sudden-stop collision can be deadly when it involves a motorcycle because motorcyclists are not protected by the interior of a vehicle. A rear-end collision between a car and a motorcycle can cause the bike to flip and the rider to be thrown from the bike.
Drivers Fail to Recognize Motorcycles in Traffic in Hamilton NJ
Some difficult for motorists to see a motorcycle on the road. In fact, the most common cause of multiple-vehicle accidents involving a motorcycle is the other driver’s failure to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic. The reasons for this failure may include:
- Traffic: Since motorcycles are smaller than cars, they tend to be obscured in heavy traffic.
- Glare: If the other driver’s view is limited by glare, it might be difficult for them to spot a motorcycle on the roadway.
- Blind Spots: When the driver of a motor vehicle fails to check their blind spots while driving, it can result in a collision with a motorcyclist.
- Intersections: Motorcycle accidents are extremely common at intersections because the other driver often fails to see the motorcycle when making a left-hand turn. When the driver of a motor vehicle fails to look carefully before proceeding through an intersection, the end result can be a motorcycle accident.
- Merging: A motorcycle accident is also more likely when a driver is attempting to merge onto a busy highway because vehicles are already traveling at high speeds and motorcycles can be difficult to see right away.
- Nighttime: Motorcycle crashes are also more likely to happen at night because it may be more difficult to see motorcyclists on the roadway in the dark.
Serious Injuries Caused by Multiple Vehicle Motorcycle Crashes
Serious injuries can occur when a motorcyclist and another vehicle crash. Some of the most common injuries include head, neck, and spine injuries; bone fractures and breaks; internal bleeding; cuts and bruises; and road rash. The accident can cause trauma to various parts of the motorcyclist’s body, including their head, torso and abdomen, and legs. In addition, unseen injuries, such as post traumatic stress can result from motorcycle accident injuries.
Your Next Steps After a Multi-Vehicle Motorcycle Collision in NJ
If you are a motorcyclist who has been in an accident with another vehicle, the first thing to do is to safely exit the roadway. Then immediately contact the authorities and seek emergency medical attention. Once you and other involved individuals are safe and cared for, record as much information regarding the accident and involved individuals as possible; this information will also go into a police report. Write down or take a picture of the contact information of other involved individuals as well as their insurance information. If there were witnesses, get their contact information as well. Note exactly where the accident occurred, weather elements that may have affected visibility or road safety, and other important details of the accident. Take pictures of the scene, including the vehicles from multiple angles and any skid marks or other signs of cause.
Obtaining Compensation for a Multiple-Vehicle Motorcycle Accident in New Jersey
An injured motorcyclist can seek financial damages covering medical expenses, lost wages, related out-of-pocket costs, and non-economic costs like pain and suffering. New Jersey is a comparative negligence state. This means that each responsible party pays damages related to the percentage of the accident that was their fault. A motorcyclist will be awarded full or partial damages related to their injuries unless they were more than 50 percent responsible for the accident.
Recovering damages requires the plaintiff to meet several key requirements. In order to prove negligence in a multiple-vehicle motorcycle accident case, the plaintiff must show that the defendant had a duty of following traffic laws and being reasonably careful, that they were in breach of that duty, that their negligence to this effect caused the plaintiff’s injuries, and that the injuries were measurable.
Speak with a Princeton Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorney Today
Cohen & Riechelson will do whatever it takes to win your motorcycle accident case. Our skilled attorneys will help you build a strong case so you recover full damages for the multi-vehicle motorcycle accident caused by another motorist’s negligence. We are experienced in gathering a diverse host of medical, police, and other documentation necessary to meet the burden of proving negligence. Our team may even enlist the support of experts in the field to reconstruct the accident or provide insight into the depth of your injuries and recovery time with appropriate medical support.
Our personal injury lawyers are prepared to represent you in seeking full compensation for your accident injuries, as we have done with other motorcyclists in Trenton, Monroe, Titusville, Lawrence, Ewing, Hopewell, and towns in Mercer County, Middlesex County, Burlington County, and throughout New Jersey. Additionally, we will handle your case on a contingency fee basis; we only get paid if you receive compensation for your injuries. Call us today at (609) 528-2596 to learn about your legal options, or email us to schedule a free consultation at our offices in Hamilton or Pennington.
