Motorcycle Head-On Collisions And Recoveries

Head-on collisions may not occur as often as other types of motorcycle accidents, but when they do happen the consequences can be devastating for a rider and for the rider’s family. Serious injuries—including death—are possible. Thus, it is important for every rider to understand the causes of these accidents, the injuries that can result, and what to do after a head-on crash to protect their fair recoveries.

Causes of Motorcycle Head-On Collisions

Head-on crashes occur when one vehicle crosses the center line of a road or travels the wrong way down a one-way street or highway. This type of accident can occur when a driver is:

  • Drowsy
  • Drunk
  • Distracted
  • Otherwise negligent

Any driver whose negligent or intentional actions result in a head-on collision may be held liable for the damages that result from the crash.

Injuries Caused by Motorcycle Head-on Collisions

Personal injuries are the most significant type of damages suffered in a head-on wreck. When a car or truck hits the front end of a motorcycle, the rider may be thrown from the bike and the rider may suffer:

  • Head or traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Facial or dental injuries
  • Open wounds
  • Amputations

And some riders won’t recover. Their injuries will cause their deaths.

Motorcycle Head-On Collision Recoveries

Your recovery will depend on many factors but should include compensation for:

  • Medical expenses, including ambulance transport, hospitalizations, surgeries, doctors’ appointments, medications, physical therapy, medical devices, and any other healthcare costs.
  • Lost income, including wages, benefits, bonuses, and income from self-employment that you could not earn as you recovered from your accident injuries.
  • Out-of-pocket costs for funeral costs after the death of your loved one and for any other expenses such as transportation or household help made necessary by accident injuries.
  • Pain and suffering for the physical pain and emotional suffering the accident caused you.

While these damages can’t undo the significant harm you’ve incurred, your legal compensation can protect your financial future and keep you from incurring the costs of someone else’s negligence.

How to Protect Your Rights After a Head-on Collision

The legal issues may seem clear to you. The other driver was driving in the wrong lane and collided with your motorcycle or your loved one’s bike. The other driver should have to pay for the damage that resulted from the accident.

However, legal issues are rarely that straightforward. The other driver may claim that you were partly responsible for the crash. In Wisconsin, you can still recover damages for a head-on motorcycle accident injury as long as your share of the responsibility for the crash is 50% or less, but your damages will be reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to you. For example, if insurance negotiations or the court finds that your damages are worth $100,000 and that you are 30% responsible for the crash, then your compensation will be reduced by 30% to $70,000.

To recover fair compensation for the damage done in the crash, you are going to have to fight for it. You are going to have to use evidence and advocacy to convince the insurance company or court that you are entitled to damages and to establish the value of those damages.

After a motorcycle accident head-on collision, you can begin protecting your rights immediately by:

  • Making sure the police are called to the accident scene to investigate the crash
  • Getting medical help as soon as possible
  • Contacting a motorcycle crash lawyer for help negotiating with the insurance company and bringing your case to court, if necessary

Our experienced motorcycle accident lawyers are also riders. We are recognized as one of the top motorcycle litigation law firms in the United States. So far, we’ve secured tens of millions of dollars for more than 4,000 of our fellow riders, and we would be pleased to offer you a free, no-obligation consultation in one of our Wisconsin, Iowa, or Illinois offices, your home or hospital room, or by phone or video-conference. Contact us any time to learn more.

Jason F. Abraham
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Helping car accident and personal injury victims throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa since 1993.