What If My Motorcycle Crash Wasn’t Caused by an Impact?

There are a number of circumstances that can contribute to a single-vehicle motorcycle accident, unfortunately. Princeton is home to winding roads, in lush, green country. Formerly farmland in North Jersey, it’s a nice area for bikers to explore and is recommended by Open Road Journey as a way to “get off the main road” and travel the old “cow paths”—which, thankfully, are now paved!

While beautiful, these journeys can be dangerous if a rider loses focus for just a second and loses contact with the paved road. Distraction can be a cause of single-vehicle accidents, but in our experience at Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C., it is not the most common one.

Certainly, some wipeouts involve speeding, impairment, or inexperience on the part of the motorcyclist. But not nearly as many as the mainstream media likes to make out.

Bikers are a cautious bunch, because they know they’re only a leather jacket and a helmet away from the asphalt. They take their safety seriously, and would not willingly put themselves at risk. If you’re cruising along Cherry Hill Road, you’re much more likely to be a victim of:

• Being cut off by a car;
• Hitting debris or another type of hazard in the road;
• Coming upon a poorly marked construction zone; or
• Suffering a malfunction of the bike’s parts.

The only good thing about these situations is that since you were not at fault for your motorcycle crash, you are not responsible for paying the bills, legally. But that’s where your luck ends. Holding the guilty party accountable is usually very difficult, especially when it wasn’t vehicle-on-vehicle contact to blame for your injuries.

If you suffer a single-vehicle motorcycle crash in Princeton, we urge you to contact our law firm. You’ve probably been hurt pretty badly, and have a lot to worry about. Don’t assume it was your fault, because it may not be. As legal professionals, we’ve been investigating and pursuing these cases for over 25 years. It may be that the county was warned about a dangerous curve before, and didn’t put up signage. Or perhaps a large pothole opened up after the winter, and the municipality deferred maintenance on it. In that case, your accident was a foreseeable consequence of their negligence, and they should pay your medical bills, compensate you for additional inconveniences, and repair your bike.

Our New Jersey motorcycle accident attorney can provide counsel on seeking damages from the third party, whether it be another motorist, the government entity responsible for road maintenance, a construction company, or the motorcycle manufacturer. Call (609) 240-0040 to schedule a free consultation.

Here are some parting tips from our family to yours about how to be more visible on your bike:  wearing brightly-colored gear, including reflective strips; consider getting a bright or white helmet; have running lights on your motorcycle for darker times (dusk, cloudy weather). Also, try to plan your route in a strategic way that avoids dark roads or tight corners where you’re harder to spot. Drivers should leave a “space cushion” around you to avoid the possibility of striking you if something goes wrong. When they don’t, that’s on them. And you should call us.