Motorcycle accident lawyers in Layton, UTAH

Unlike automobile insurance plans, Utah does not require insurance providers to offer Personal Injury Protection (PIP) to those buying motorcycle insurance. Thus, it is extremely important to seek advice from a trusted motorcycle accident lawyer who has the knowledge and expertise in reviewing insurance policies in order to ensure you are receiving the compensation you deserve.

Without adequate insurance coverage, motorcycle accident victims frequently find themselves in a lurch after their accident. Their medical bills might slip into collections. They no longer have reliable transportation. And they’re unable to work due to pain and injury. Hiring a motorcycle accident attorney is the best way to help you get back on your feet again. A motorcycle accident lawyer at Carlson Injury Law as years of unsurpassed experience helping motorcycle accident victims just like you. We know how to deal with the pushy insurance adjuster while you are still reeling from the psychological stress and emotional trauma of their accident. We will negotiate in your stead to help you receive a fair settlement for your injuries and losses. We will thoroughly build your personal injury case step by step.

Like any other personal injury case, motorcycle accident victims have a specified window in which they can take legal action. This specific time window is known as the statute of limitations (SOL).  For instance, if you are the victim of a motorcycle accident in the state of Utah, you will typically have 4 years to pursue a personal injury claim against the person or parties responsible. If you allow this window to pass, your chance to pursue a motorcycle accident claim passes as well. However, there are multiple factors that determine the statute of limitations which may require you to bring a claim in a shorter amount of time. Such factors include whether the at-fault party is a governmental entity, whether the wreck occurred in Utah, etc. Thus, it is imperative you consult with a top rated motorcycle accident attorney at Carlson Injury Law as soon as possible to ensure you are bringing your claim within the statute of limitations period.

Many times our clients have difficulty scheduling an in-office consultation due to various circumstances. For instance, we have represented many motorcycle accident victims who are still hospitalized or unable to drive due to their injuries.  We have also represented motorcycle accident victims whose work and family schedules make it difficult to schedule a consultation during office hours.  These circumstances should not preclude you from the benefits of hiring a top-rated motorcycle accident lawyer. At Carlson Injury Law we accommodate all of our clients.

If you cannot visit our offices in Syracuse or Logan, Utah, we will come meet you instead. You can call our office at (801) 845-4577 or even submit your questions on-line  right now. We are experts at helping accident victims recover what they are legally owed. So, don’t wait to get back on the road to recovery. A motorcycle accident lawyer at Carlson Injury Law has the experience you can trust, and will get you the justice you deserve!

If you're involved in an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit, you're probably wondering how much your case might be worth. There are too many unique factors in any given motorcycle accident to accurately predict the outcome in terms of a dollar figure. But, there are important considerations in every motorcycle accident case that help determine the value of a case.

Bias and Prejudice Against Motorcyclists

Personal bias or preconceived judgement should not play a role in compensating an injured motorcyclist, but there's no escaping human nature. Many people distrust -- or even dislike -- motorcyclists, and members of the jury are not immune from this prejudice. Juries may be less likely to award handsome verdicts to motorcyclists - compared to the driver or passenger of a car. Insurance adjusters are aware of this bias, and may reduce their settlement offer appropriately. For this reason, the burden of making a concrete case, and proving the key issues described in this article, becomes even more important for an injured motorcyclist. This is why it is of the utmost importance that a person injured in a motorcycle accident should hire a top-rated motorcycle accident lawyer. 

How Each Party Values the Case

"Valuing" a case means coming up with a best guess at what a jury might award the person suing (the plaintiff), and also guessing what the person being sued (the defendant) would be willing to pay. It also means figuring out what the plaintiff would ultimately be willing to accept to settle the case before trial. That's a lot to keep track of. But the two biggest factors in valuing the case are the extent of the plaintiff’s damages -- meaning how bad the motorcycle accident was and how significant the resulting injuries are -- and how likely the jury is to find the defendant liable. With years of experience, an expert motorcycle accident lawyer at Carlson Injury Law can ensure the at-fault driver is held fully accountable in order to maximize the value of your case.

Amount and Availability of Insurance

If the defendant has limited personal assets, the extent of your compensation will likely be limited to the insurance limits of the at-fault driver and the limits of your own Underinsured Motorist insurance coverage. Though jury verdicts can and do exceed insurance liability limits, that does not mean the plaintiff is able to collect the full amount of the verdict. If there is no other way to collect, a plaintiff’s best option is usually to accept a settlement amount that equals the insurance coverage limits, even if actual damages are much higher and easy to prove. At Carlson Injury Law,  we will help identify all possible ways to receive compensation for your injuries.

The latest data collected by the National Highway Transportation and Safety Authority (“NHTSA”) revealed the following:

• In 2016 There were 5,286 motorcyclists killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes—an increase of 5.1 percent from the 5,029 motorcyclists killed in 2015

• Two-wheeled motorcycles accounted for 93 percent of all motorcycles in fatal crashes.

• Motorcyclists accounted for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities and 17 percent of all occupant (driver and passenger) fatalities.

• Of the 5,286 motorcyclists killed in traffic crashes, 94 percent (4,950) were riders and 6 percent (336) were passengers

The environmental factors surrounding these motorcycle accidents were as follows:

• 57 percent of the motorcycle fatalities occurred in urban areas, compared to 43 percent in rural areas.

• 66 percent occurred on non-intersection locations, compared to 34 percent on intersections.

• 59 percent occurred during daylight, compared to 36 percent in the dark, 4 percent during dusk, and 1 percent during dawn.

• 97 percent occurred in cloudy/clear conditions, compared to 2 percent in the rain, and 1 percent in other conditions.

• 91 percent occurred on non-interstate roads, compared to 9 percent on interstates.

Statistics by Age – Does it play a factor?

Not necessarily:

• The 40-and-older age group made up 49 percent of motorcyclists killed in 2007, as compared to 54 percent of the motorcyclists killed in 2016.

• Over the 10-year period from 2007 to 2016, fatalities among the 40-and-older age group increased by 12 percent (from 2,545 to 2,841).
• In 2007, the average age of motorcycle riders killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes was 39, whereas in 2016 the average age was 43. Weekday is defined as 6 a.m. Monday to 5:59 p.m. Friday, and weekend is defined as 6 p.m. Friday to 5:59 a.m.

• In 2016, the 50-and-older age group had the highest rate during the weekend (6.9) versus weekday (4.4).

No. This is a common myth spread by the insurance industry as an attempt to prey on unfair stereotypes. According to NHTSA, speed was a contributing factor in less than 1/3 of all motorcycle accidents that resulted in death. The most common factor contributing to motorcycle accidents are drivers failing to pay attention and seeing motorcycles on the roadway.