Traffic accidents are not just the most common cause of accidental deaths in the United States but the most common cause of death for Americans under the age of 55. Unfortunately, crashes involving motorcycle riders are even more likely than others to result in fatal injuries since motorcyclists don’t have the benefit of safety features like airbags, seatbelts, or the frame of a car or truck separating them from the full force of a high-speed impact.
If you recently lost a loved one to a fatal motorcycle accident in Lewisburg, you may be able to file suit against the person whose reckless or careless actions directly caused that crash to happen. This kind of claim does not work exactly the same as a standard motorcycle crash lawsuit, though, so you’ll want help from a seasoned motorcycle accident attorney.
What Makes a Motorcycle Crash More Likely to Be Fatal?
Aside from the overall lack of physical protection that motorcyclists have during traffic accidents, one of the main factors that affects how likely it is that a wreck like this will cause fatal injuries is speed. The faster a motorcyclist—or even worse, the other driver who hits them—is traveling at the moment a collision happens, the greater the amount of force pushed through the motorcyclist’s body may be. More physical force means more damage done to the spine, brain, and vital organs.
Drunk and distracted drivers are also more likely to not see a motorcyclist traveling near them or fail to keep their vehicle under control when approaching or passing someone on a motorbike. Whatever the specific cause of a fatal motorcycle crash in Lewisburg is, anyone who contributed to causing it through their own negligence might be legally liable for harm caused by that wreck.
Suing Over a Family Member’s Fatal Motorcycle Wreck
Typically, the only time someone could file a lawsuit over a motorcycle crash is if they suffered a physical injury needing professional medical care as a direct result of that crash. In the event of a fatal motorcycle collision in Lewisburg, the personal representative for the deceased person’s estate can file a wrongful death claim on behalf of the deceased person’s surviving family members.
Rather than seeking recovery for losses the deceased person suffered directly, a wrongful death claim will seek recovery for the harm the deceased person’s spouse, children, or parents will suffer due to the loss of their loved one. It may also be possible to recover for damages suffered by a deceased motorcyclist between when they were hurt and when they ultimately passed away through a survival action—something your lawyer can go into more detail about as needed.
A Lewisburg Attorney Can Help After a Fatal Motorcycle Accident
Losing someone who you love to an accident that was not their fault is a uniquely devastating and often infuriating experience. Filing suit over this sort of accident can be a much more complex process than you might be expecting, especially if you try to do it alone.
Fortunately, you have help available after fatal motorcycle accidents in Lewisburg from Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers. Call us today to start working on your potential claim. You won’t owe us anything until we win the compensation you deserve.
