Personal Injury attorneys are looking for potential plaintiffs to bring motorcycle accident wrongful death lawsuits. Wrongful death lawsuits are brought when a victim’s death occurs due to the negligence, recklessness, or intentional acts of another.
Motorcycle accidents are often far more serious than other motor vehicle accidents. Compared to cars motorcycles are much less stable and less visible on the road than other types of vehicles.
The lack of a protective cage surrounding a driver provided by most other types of vehicles increases the severity of motorcycle road accidents. According to a 2012 study by the federal government, when comparing the number of miles traveled, motorcycle accidents are 26 times more likely to end in death than cars.
Head injury is extremely common in motorcycle accidents. Wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of death by 37 percent and is 67 percent effective in preventing brain injury. Not all states require motorcycle riders to wear helmets while on the road.
Over 4,300 motorcyclists died in accidents during 2013, the majority of whom were males. Many accidents occur due to the negligence or recklessness of other drivers on the road.
Overview of Wrongful Death lawsuits
Losing a loved one is always difficult, especially when their death was caused by the negligent or intentional acts of a third party. Wrongful death lawsuits allow family members to bring a lawsuit against the person who allegedly wrongfully caused the victim’s death.
Wrongful death lawsuits can be complicated, but attorneys can assist a victim’s family in deciding whether a lawsuit should be brought. Most wrongful death lawsuits require the plaintiff to prove that the victim’s death was caused by the negligence or recklessness of the defendant and that damages were suffered as a result.
State law determines which family members can bring a wrongful death lawsuit. Some states only allow spouses, children, and parents to bring a claim, while other states allow grandparents, siblings and other extended family members to initiate the lawsuit.
Each state imposes a statute of limitations on wrongful death lawsuits. This means the victim’s family members must bring the lawsuit within a certain period of time after the victim’s death or a court will not allow the claim to proceed.
Awards and settlements from wrongful death lawsuits allow victim’s estates to receive compensation for their loss. This can include financial loss due to medical expenses, funeral expenses, and loss of support, as well as compensation for the pain and suffering the immediate family members were forced to endure due to their loss of companionship.
Sometimes a victim’s estate will also be awarded punitive damages as a means of punishment for the party responsible for the death. This can occur in cases of gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional acts.
Obtain a Free Wrongful Death Case Evaluation
If your loved one died from a personal injury caused by the negligence or intentional misconduct of another party, you may be able to pursue compensation for your loss, including but not limited to: medical or funeral expenses, loss of financial support, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and punitive damages.
The following types of wrongful death cases are common examples of what a family member can sue for:
- Car Accidents
- Bicycle or Pedestrian Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Boating Accidents
- Medical Malpractice
- Medication Errors
- Workplace Accidents
- Drowning Accidents
- Nursing Home Neglect/Abuse
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Defective Products
- Other Personal Injury Claims that Caused the Death