Salt Lake City Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Motorcycle Accidents in Utah

If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, you’re likely facing significant costs related to your medical care, lost wages, and motorcycle repairs. At Steele Adams Hosman, we recognize just how devastating these accidents are, as well as the numerous ways in which they impact victims’ lives.

Based in Salt Lake City, our motorcycle accident attorneys represent injured bikers and the surviving family members of those wrongfully killed throughout the state of Utah.

We believe that everyone deserves justice, and we have the skills, resources, and experience to fight tirelessly for you and your recovery. To date, we have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients, including many notable settlements and jury verdicts.

Injured in a motorcycle accident in Utah? Contact Steele Adams Hosman today at (801) 999-1506 to request a free consultation with our experienced attorneys. Hablamos español.

Click on any of the topics below to jump to that section on the page:

• Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
• What Demographic is in the Most Motorcycle Accidents?
• Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
• Compensation Owed to Injured Motorcyclists
• Are Motorcycle Accidents Covered by No-Fault Insurance?
• How does Comparative Negligence Apply to Motorcycle Accident Claims?
• How Long Do You Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Utah?

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Thousands of motorcycle accidents happen each year. What is the root cause of many of these accidents, though?

Common causes of motorcycle accidents include:

• Driver negligence: The greatest risk factor to motorcyclists is usually the other motorists on the road. Commonplace driver negligence like driving while tired, distracted, or intoxicated causes countless wrecks that result in the motorcyclist suffering the worst injuries, which is so frustrating to them since they did nothing wrong.
• Road defects: Problems with the road can be extremely dangerous to motorcyclists. For example, a large pothole that might upset a driver can cause a motorcyclist to flip or skid completely out of control.
• Motorcycle part defects: A broken motorcycle part can be the sole cause of a terrible accident, like a brake failure. The injured motorcyclist might be able to demand compensation from the company that manufactured the defective part or sold the motorcycle with it.

What Demographic is in the Most Motorcycle Accidents?

Based on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data, the highest rate of fatalities among motorcyclists occur within the 20- to 29-year-old demographic. This might be due to newer riders having less experience with differing traffic conditions and worse control of their rides.

Drunk riding accidents are also a huge problem for this demographic, which reflects the same issue for the same age group of motorists in other vehicles.

Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Motorcyclists are up to 30 times more likely to suffer a severe injury or death in a crash compared to people inside cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans. Without the protection of a vehicle’s chassis and airbags, motorcycle riders must rely entirely on their helmet and clothing. The result is that most motorcycle accident survivors suffer catastrophic, life-changing injuries.

Injuries often suffered by motorcycle accident victims include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Spinal cord damage and paralysis
• Road rash
• Multiple broken bones
• Amputations
• Facial scarring and disfigurement

Compensation Owed to Injured Motorcyclists

You should have all of your damages paid to you if you did not cause your motorcycle accident. It is a simple and fair concept, yet insurance companies tend to disagree. They will put up a fight to save as much money as possible, even when they know that a claimant is deserving of compensation.

The compensation owed to you as a motorcycle accident victim can include:

• Past and future medical treatment costs
• Past and future lost wages
• Reduced future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent disability
• Motorcycle repair costs

Are Motorcycle Accidents Covered by No-Fault Insurance?

Most car accidents in Utah are covered by the state’s no-fault insurance system. After a standard motor vehicle accident, victims can turn to their no-fault insurance, or personal injury protection (PIP) policy, to receive compensation for covered damages, including medical expenses and lost wages (in some cases).

This is true regardless of who caused the accident. However, it does not apply in cases involving motorcycle accidents.

According to Utah Code 31A-22-302, your PIP policy will not cover your injuries sustained during a motorcycle crash. Additionally, your motorcycle can only be covered by your car insurance policy if it is listed on that policy.

To recover compensation after a motorcycle accident in Utah, you must prove the following:

• You were injured and suffered measurable damages
• Another person or party negligently or wrongfully caused the accident
• If you were partly at fault, you were not 50% or more to blame
• Your injuries resulted from the other person or party’s negligent or wrongful conduct

In other words, you must prove the elements of a standard third-party personal injury claim. While this means that it can be more difficult to recover financial compensation for damages following a motorcycle accident compared to a regular car accident, the good news is that you are not subject to the limitations of the no-fault system.

Specifically, your recovery is not limited to certain economic damages; you can seek compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other non-economic damages in addition to economic damages, like medical expenses and lost wages, without having to prove that you sustained severe or catastrophic injuries.

How Does Comparative Negligence Apply to Motorcycle Accident Claims?

Utah follows a rule of modified comparative negligence when it comes to personal injury claims, including those involving motorcycle accidents. Under this rule, you can file a claim for damages even if you were partly at fault for the accident, provided that your degree of fault is less than 50%.

In other words, if the other person or party was more at fault for the accident than you were, you may file a claim. However, if the court finds you partly responsible, your percentage of fault will be subtracted from the total amount in damages you are seeking.

For example, let’s say you’re seeking $50,000 for damages and other associated costs after a motorcycle accident. If the jury decides that you bear 10% of the blame, then the amount you could receive would be reduced to $45,000.

Insurance companies often try to use this rule to devalue claims. The insurance adjuster may assign you more of the blame or argue that you were more at fault than their insured. It is important that you work with a skilled Salt Lake City motorcycle accident lawyer, like those at Steele Adams Hosman, who can fight back against these tactics and other attempts to dispute or deny your claim.

How Long Do You Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Utah?

In Utah, motorcycle accident cases are subject to the standard personal injury statute of limitations. This means that, in most cases, you only have four years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. While this may seem like a long time, the months and years can pass by quickly. Over time, memories can fade and evidence can be lost, making it more difficult to prove your case.

Additionally, the statute of limitations does not apply to motorcycle accident insurance claims, just lawsuits. Your time to file a claim, which is typically the first step in the process, could be even shorter. We encourage you to reach out to our team right away so that we can begin investigating your claim and building the strongest possible case on your behalf.