Injured in a Motorcycle Accident? Know These Two Things

Being involved in an accident while riding a motorcycle can lead to a serious injury, leading to unexpected medical bills and lost wages that you are not prepared for. However, different states have their own laws when it comes to how you can recover damages from a motorcycle accident. That is why it is important to know the following two things if you are involved in a motorcycle accident in a no-fault state so that you are prepared for what will happen.

Know About No-Fault Insurance Laws

There are 18 states that have no-fault insurance laws. The term "no-fault" means that in most types of minor accidents that are beneath a specific damage threshold each driver will make a claim with their own insurance company to cover the damages from an accident, and you cannot typically sue the other driver unless the damages are above that threshold. 

The main thing to know is that these no-fault insurance laws do not apply to motorcycle riders, because a motorcycle is not classified as a motor vehicle and is not subjected to the same no-fault insurance laws that cars, trucks, and other passenger vehicles are. This can be both a good and bad thing when you are injured while riding a motorcycle. 

Know That You'll Need To Make a Personal Claim Against the Other Driver

One of the advantages of not being classified as a motor vehicle that falls under no-fault insurance laws is that you can recover your injuries by making a claim directly against the other driver for your injuries. Since you were not subjected to the same no-fault insurance laws, this means that you can recover damages for minor injuries that would normally fall underneath the thresholds in a no-fault insurance claim.

However, the downside to all of this is that motorcycle injuries tend to be major anyway due to the nature of the vehicle you're riding on, and would normally meet that no-fault insurance threshold. While you may luck out for a minor injury, making a claim for a major injury will be much more complicated and likely require the help of a lawyer to get you the compensation you deserve.

With higher medical bills on the line, you'll want professional help. A lawyer can help you avoid any mistakes when you're seeking legal action against the other driver. To learn more, contact a motorcycle accident attorney near you today. 


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