3 Things That Can Affect Your Motorcycle Accident Settlement

The thrill of a motorcycle ride can be cut short by a devastating accident, especially when navigating crowded city streets. An accident can have serious physical, emotional, and financial implications for a rider involved.

Filing a personal injury case can help you get the financial help you need to cover medical costs. It's important that you recognize some things you have control over that might affect your settlement amount in the event of an accident.

1. Protective Gear

Just because you won't be getting up to freeway speeds on city streets doesn't mean you should leave home without the proper riding gear.

Anytime you mount your motorcycle you should be wearing durable riding boots, protective pants and jacket, and a helmet that meets minimal safety standards. If you have on the protective gear that you should, it will reduce the likelihood of sustaining a serious injury if you are involved in a crash with a car while riding on city streets.

Opposing counsel could argue that your failure to wear the right gear caused your injuries to be worse than they should have been. This could place some of the blame for accident-related injuries on you as a rider, reducing your potential settlement amount.

2. Speed

Motorcycles can move faster than passenger cars in the gridlock that can occur on city streets. This is because a motorcycle can easily weave between lanes to find the fastest route.

You should always use caution when navigating traffic. The speed at which you are driving will be taken into account when calculating any financial compensation you are entitled to after an accident.

3. Driving Habits

You should observe all traffic laws and drive carefully to avoid an accident. Things that might seem like normal driving habits (such as accelerating through a yellow light or doing a rolling stop at a stop sign) can get you into real trouble when you are on a motorcycle.

If you are driving cautiously, you can ensure that you are not at fault for causing any accidents that might occur while you are navigating city streets on your motorcycle. This will ensure that your settlement accurately reflects your injuries.

Don't let poor planning on your part compromise your personal injury settlement in the event of an accident. Be prepared each time you mount your motorcycle so that your attorney can prove you took every precaution to avoid the accident if one should occur. Learn more from a firm such as Iron Horse Motorcycle Lawyers.