PITTSBURGH MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYERS

Your first priority after an accident is your safety. If you can, leave your motorcycle where it is and move to a safe location off the roadway. Then, complete the following steps to protect yourself and your recovery.

1. Call 911 for emergency assistance.
2. Don't admit fault for the accident, and don't blame anyone else.
3. Exchange insurance information with any drivers involved in the accident.
4. Gather contact information from everyone else at the scene. Witnesses can be crucial to confirm what happened.
5. Take pictures and video of the scene as well as any injuries.
6. Document details of the crash while they're still fresh in your mind, including weather conditions and time of day. Write them down or record them on your smartphone's voice recording app.
7. If you are injured, seek medical treatment immediately to have a documented record of your injuries.
8. Do NOT give a written or verbal statement to the insurance companies, whether it's the other party's or yours, until AFTER you've spoken with a lawyer.
9. Contact Edgar Snyder & Associates and our motorcycle accident team for a free consultation.

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INSURANCE COMPANIES: PROCEED WITH CAUTION

Insurance companies are all about profit.That's why they may offer you a low settlement or even deny your claim. For the best possible chance to win your case, you should never provide a recorded statement that can be used against you, give them medical authorizations, or discuss your medical condition. Instead, call Edgar Snyder & Associates to handle the hassles and deadlines so you can concentrate on recovering.

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DAMAGES YOU MAY RECOVER IN A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT CASE

Motorcycle accident injuries often impact multiple areas of a victim's life, from daily routines to long-term health. Edgar Snyder & Associates will work tirelessly on your behalf to get you compensation for your motorcycle accident injuries. Common economic and non-economic damages that motorcycle victims may recover include:

• Property Damage – Any damage to your motorcycle, the property you were carrying on your motorcycle or on your person, and protective gear or clothing you wore during the accident.
• Medical Expenses – For hospital stays, transportation, emergency room visits, long-term outpatient care, physical therapy, or medication.
• Lost Wages – Any lost income or diminished earning capacity due to the injuries suffered in the motorcycle accident.
• Pain and Suffering – Mental or psychological suffering, such as grief, anxiety, depression, PTSD, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium or companionship, as well as physical pain, suffering, scarring, and disfigurement.
• Wrongful Death – If the motorcycle crash was fatal, there may be compensation for the surviving spouse, children, and parents.
• Survival Action – If the motorcycle accident was fatal, there may also be compensation for all the motorcyclist's estate beneficiaries.

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Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle riding can be dangerous. Even the most experienced riders face many dangers whenever they hit the road.

• Road Conditions – Road hazards like uneven pavement, loose gravel potholes, asphalt cracks, highway debris, missing guardrails, and unreadable signs can all lead to a disaster for motorcyclists.
• Poor Visibility – Drivers' inability to see motorcyclists and appropriately react is another leading cause of motorcycle accidents. Motorcyclists can wear bright or reflective clothing, use the headlight, and try to stay out of vehicles' blind spots to maximize their visibility on the road.
• Bad Weather – Rain, sleet, ice, and fog can be a recipe for disaster, especially in Pittsburgh. Motorcyclists can help lessen the dangers of poor weather by regularly changing tires to avoid riding with worn treads.
• Speeding – On the part of motorcyclists and other drivers, speeding significantly increases the chances of an accident occurring as operators in all vehicles have less time to react to potential dangers. Additionally, it substantially increases the chances of any injuries suffered in the crash being severe or fatal.
• Unsafe Lane Changes – When drivers fail to signal lane changes or appropriately check all angles for motorcycles in the area, any riders caught in their path can suffer devastating injuries.
• Distracted Driving – Distracted driving is more common than ever when motorists, drivers of cars or trucks, ignore their surroundings. The consequences for motorcyclists can be terrible.
• Drugs and Alcohol – Motorists affected by drugs or alcohol are much more likely to cause an accident involving a motorcycle because their vision, judgment, reaction time, and motor skills are impaired.
• Defective Vehicles – Auto and motorcycle manufacturers are responsible for ensuring the products they put on the road are safe and defect-free. When defective vehicles make it out on the road, the consequences can be catastrophic, especially for motorcyclists.
• General Driver Behavior – The most dangerous part of riding a motorcycle is the behavior of motorists around you. Often, motorcycle accidents occur due to head-on collisions, collisions at intersections, or collisions with fixed objects due to surrounding motorists failing to follow traffic laws or fully paying attention to their surroundings. Another hazard for motorcyclists is when motorists or passengers open their car doors without checking for oncoming traffic and the motorcyclist hits the open door.

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COMMON INJURIES SUFFERED IN MOTORCYCLE CRASHES

Motorcycle accidents can cause injuries ranging from minor damage to catastrophic and life-altering injuries.Unfortunately, motorcycle crashes are far too often fatal. If you have experienced any of the following injuries in a motorcycle crash, consider seeking the help and support of an Edgar Snyder & Associates motorcycle crash attorney.

• Traumatic Brain Injuries – Traumatic brain injuries are among the most severe consequences a motorcyclist can face as a result of a motorcycle accident and often result in deaths. These injuries can vary from mild to catastrophic, affecting many aspects of a victim's life, such as sleep patterns, cognitive abilities, personality, mood, mental health, physical well-being, and employability. It is crucial to consistently wear a helmet while riding or being a passenger on a motorcycle to reduce the chances of suffering a traumatic brain injury.
• Spinal Cord Injuries – Motorcycle accidents can fracture vertebrae. When fractured vertebrae squeeze or split the spinal cord, victims may suffer paralysis of the body below the point of injury. These injuries, unfortunately, are often permanent and may require patients to rely on wheelchairs and other assistive devices. This can lead to the injured motorist needing others for day-to-day activities, which can dramatically impact the victims and their loved ones' quality of life.
• Internal Injuries – The blunt force trauma suffered in a motorcycle crash may cause internal bleeding, abdominal injuries, and damage to organs such as the spleen, liver, or kidney. These injuries are extremely dangerous as they can sometimes be hard to detect but, in some cases, may be life-threatening.
• Psychological or Emotional Trauma – Motorcyclists involved in a crash often face symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), including anxiety, depression, mood swings, irritability, and more. Some victims may be so traumatized that they choose never to enjoy a ride on their motorcycle again. Some may have difficulty coping with other aspects of their lives, affecting personal relationships, quality of life, and earning potential.
• Fractures and Broken Bones – Broken bones are among the most common types of injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident, with broken leg bones being the most common type of bone fracture. Broken wrists, ribs, arms, and collarbones are also common bone fractures that motorcyclists suffer in crashes. Certain types of bone fractures can result in permanent disfigurement, while others may pose a risk of organ damage. Some bone fractures may cause severe external or internal bleeding.
• Road Rash - Road rash is a common motorcycle accident injury that occurs when a motorcyclist's exposed skin scrapes against the ground when they slide across the pavement. Road rash injuries can be severe, and victims may sometimes need skin grafts to recover fully.
• Burns – Motorcycle accidents may involve fires or explosions, putting anyone involved in the accident at risk for severe burns, including second-degree, third-degree, and catastrophic burn injuries. Severe burn injuries may result in hospitalization over a several-month time frame, and some victims may even fall into comas or need reconstructive surgical procedures because of their injuries.

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