The personal injury attorneys at the Jensen Phelan Law Firm are experienced in representing clients who have been involved in motorcycle crashes. These collisions occur all too frequently, with the Arizona Department of Transportation reporting that over 2,300 motorcycle accidents occurred in 2020. Many motorcycle accidents are classified as “no contact” crashes.
Some are confused as to what constitutes a “no contact” motorcycle crash in Arizona. These types of motor vehicle accidents occur when another motorist’s negligent actions cause a motorcyclist to wreck during an emergency while trying to avoid a collision without the other vehicle actually striking the motorcycle. Importantly, negligent drivers can be held liable for causing a no contact motorcycle crash even if the two vehicles didn’t hit each other.
Arizona motorcyclists face even more dangers than the operators of other motor vehicles simply due to the open nature of their motorcycles. Additionally, motorcycles often require particular care to maintain them for the rates of speed and method of operation customarily used, so as to keep both tires on the road and moving safely with good brakes, suspension, steering, etc.
Unfortunately, sometimes the negligence of other motorists leads them to not pay adequate attention to traffic conditions, so they do not see a motorcycle. In other situations, they may have seen the motorcycle but are operating their own vehicles in a careless manner. Typical reasons for motorists causing no-contact motorcycle crashes include:
If a driver’s negligent actions or failure to act results in a no contact motorcycle crash, the motorcyclist has the right to pursue financial compensation for any personal injuries or property damage they’ve sustained. This will likely involve filing a claim with the other motorist’s insurance company. They should first consult with a personal injury attorney about how to make the injury damages claim to avoid the common problem that the insurance company either denies their no contact accident claim (“our insured was not negligent according to the crash report because there was no collision”) or tries to lowball the value of the claim (“you cannot really prove any negligence, but even if you can, the negligence of our insured did not cause the accident”).
Experienced personal injury attorneys are used to insurance companies trying to deny or lowball claims made by no contact motorcycle accident victims. They can help you build a case against the other motorist by gathering witness testimony and evidence to corroborate your account of what happened. They can also advise you on what types of medical expenses will generally be covered by insurance companies. Remember, every insurance company has plenty of lawyers.
In the event that a settlement can’t be reached with the insurance company, personal injury lawyers can file a lawsuit for you in court. This provides a valuable method for obtaining the financial restitution you deserve by having a process for each side to show the other the proof they have. Hiring a good lawyer can provide the injured motorcyclist both financial and emotional peace of mind as you seek to recover from the injuries you have suffered.
The motorcycle accident lawyers at the Jensen Phelan Law Firm are experienced in representing the victims of no contact motorcycle crashes in Arizona. If you need a legal advocate who is willing to fight hard for your legal rights, schedule a free consultation so we can evaluate your case. Call us at (928) 778-2660 or contact us online to schedule a meeting at no charge to you.