New Jersey Fatal Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), motorcyclists represent the group of motorists who are most susceptible to injury or death in a motor vehicle accident. Specifically, they are 29 times more likely than passengers in a car to die in a motor vehicle collision. And, they are five times more likely to suffer injury in such an accident.

According to data collected, nationwide, by the NHTSA, between 2006 and 2015, the greatest number of injuries and fatalities took place between 2007 and 2008. Since then the numbers have fallen slightly. In 2015, 27 percent of all fatal motorcycle accidents involved riders who yielded positive test results for alcohol. Additionally, speeding was a contributing factor in 31 percent of deadly motorcycle collisions, and distracted driving was a factor in 24 percent of such crashes. In 2015, there were 4,976 motorcyclists killed and 88,000 injured in vehicle crashes.

Data from the years 2009 to 2013 indicate that if you are involved in a motorcycle crash in New Jersey, you have an 83 percent chance of suffering an injury. Between 2010 and 2014, there have been almost 13,000 collisions in New Jersey in which motorcycles were involved.

Motorcycle collisions with other vehicles
Of motorcycle crashes with other vehicles, over 50 percent take place at intersections. Over two-thirds of crashes take place when the other motorist fails to notice the motorcycle.

Common causes of motorcycle accidents
Some of the common causes of motorcycle accidents are as follows:

• Intoxicated motorists
• Motorists who fail to hear motorcycles nearing
• Motorists who fail to check blind spots
• Defective motorcycles
• Poor maintenance of the roads

Motorcycle accident injuries
Because of the lack of safety features on motorcycles, accidents involving motorcycles often result in severe injuries or death. Among the types of injuries that frequently occur in motorcycle accidents are:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Quadriplegia
• Paraplegia
• Traumatic brain injury
• Broken bones
• Disfigurement
• Limb amputations
• Fractures
• Compound fractures
• Osteomyelitis
• Displaced fractures
• Comminuted fractures
• Facial fractures
• Skull fractures
• Upper/lower rib fractures
• Joint fractures, hands, legs, feet, hips
• Crush injuries, hands, feet, legs, chest
• Permanently damaged nerves
• Concussion
• Torn muscles
• Torn ligaments
• Torn tendons
• Friction burns (road rash)

How a motorcycle accident attorney can help
If negligence was involved in your loved one’s fatal motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation for losses and damages that include the following:

• Loss of guidance for children
• Loss of advice/companionship
• Lost wages
• Lost income
• Lost health benefits
• Medical expenses
• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of future income
• Conscious pain and suffering of victim

Todd J. Leonard and his team of experienced New Jersey accident attorneys understand the importance of conducting an immediate investigation into the details of a fatal accident. We carefully examine all of the facts related to the case, including witness statements and fatal accident reports. We also routinely work with accident reconstructionists to establish liability against all of the responsible parties.

Dealing with the death of a family member is devastating. Our law firm will be with you every step of the way, and will fight to get your family the justice they deserve. If you lost a loved one in a fatal motorcycle accident due to the negligence or recklessness of another, call the experienced New Jersey wrongful death attorneys at the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm.