Motorcyclists on Ohio’s busy roads can sustain serious or even fatal injuries in an accident. This was recently illustrated in a case involving a collision between a motorcycle and a car in Cleveland’s Old Brooklyn neighborhood.
According to Cleveland police, the motorcyclist was speeding southbound while the car driver was driving north. The driver made a left turn directly into the path of the motorcyclist.
The victim was only 29 years old
The victim was a 29-year-old man who was killed when the front end of his motorcycle crashed into the right front passenger door of the car. The victim was not wearing a helmet.
Speeding and not wearing a helmet are two factors that significantly increase your chance of a motorcycle accident. As a motorcyclist, in order to stay safe on the road, you can make sure your motorcycle is properly maintained, follow all traffic laws and drive defensively.
However, many motorcycle accidents are the fault of the other driver. In the above case, the driver may not have seen the motorcyclist in time to prevent the crash.
The high cost of a motorcycle accident
Injuries from a motorcycle accident can be extremely severe, due to the small size of your motorcycle compared with other vehicles on the road. A motorcycle accident can result in major medical costs and lost wages if you cannot work while you recover. Permanent or disabling injuries can even cost you a career.
You can recover compensation from a motorcycle accident if you prove that the other driver was negligent. This means showing that the other driver failed in their legal duty to drive safely and caused your accident.
Establishing damages in a negligence case
The amount of compensation you ask for is known as your damages. You must provide evidence of your damages. Evidence can be medical bills, estimated costs of treatment or proof of wages you have lost.
You could also potentially receive compensation for your pain and suffering.