Motorcycle Accident Attorney Serving Injured Clients in Iowa
Motorcycle accidents happen in Iowa much more often than you might expect, and they frequently result in life-threatening and fatal injuries.
Given that motorcyclists do not have much protection in the event of a crash, collisions with motor vehicles can cause severe harm, including amputation injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and organ damage.
Nobody should have to suffer the consequences of a motorcycle accident because another driver behaved in a negligent or careless manner.
If you or someone you love suffered injuries in a motorcycle crash, you should speak with an aggressive accident lawyer about filing a claim for compensation.
An advocate at VanDerGinst Law can speak with you today about the options that may be available to you.
Learn More About Iowa Motorcycle Accidents
According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), motorcycle crashes commonly lead to critical injuries because motorcycles are “far less crashworthy than closed vehicles” in addition to being “less stable than four-wheel vehicles.” The III provides some of the following facts and figures about motorcycle accidents and injuries:
- 5,286 people suffered fatal injuries in motorcycle crashes in 2016;
- Motorcycle accidents are on the rise, with a 5.1 percent increase in deadly collisions from 2015 to 2016;
- Approximately 88,000 nonfatal injuries occurred in motorcycle collisions in 2015;
- Only about 65 percent of motorcycle riders currently wear a helmet;
- Time period between 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm is the most dangerous for motorcyclists, given that nearly 24 percent of fatal accidents happen during this time period and almost 28 percent of nonfatal collisions occur in this time window;
- A majority of fatal and nonfatal motorcycle accident injuries occur during daylight hours; and
- Alcohol intoxication plays a role in approximately 25 percent of all motorcycle accidents.
How Comparative Fault Can Impact Your Lawsuit
What happens if a motorcycle driver is partially to blame for an accident?
Under Iowa’s comparative fault law, as long as a plaintiff is not 51 percent or more to blame for the accident or resulting injuries, that plaintiff can still recover damages.
However, it is important to know that the plaintiff’s award will be reduced by the plaintiff’s percentage of the fault.
For example, imagine that a motorcyclist is injured severely in a collision with an automobile driver. The collision occurs when the automobile driver runs a red light while intoxicated.
However, the motorcyclist had been traveling at a speed beyond the posted speed limit at the time of the crash, and the driver argues that the motorcyclist is partially to blame.
The jury determines that the motorcyclist is 10 percent responsible. If the motorcyclist is awarded $200,000 in damages, that award is reduced by his or her percentage of the fault—10 percent.
Accordingly, the $200,000 award is reduced by 10 percent (or $20,000), and the motorcyclist receives $180,000.
Contact a Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Iowa
Motorcyclists who have been involved in serious accidents should seek compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit.
An attorney can speak with you today about getting started on your claim.
Contact VanDerGinst Law at 800-797-5391 to learn more about our services.
The information contained on this website is presented by VanDerGinst Law P.C. It is not intended nor should it be construed as professional legal advice. The information is general in nature about the Firm, the scope of services we offer, and our community outreach, it is not legal advice. Please contact us by phone, email, mail, or via this website for inquiries. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please contact a personal injury attorney for a consultation regarding your situation. This website is not intended to solicit clients outside the State of Iowa and/or the State of Illinois.