Motorcycle Accidents vs. Car Accidents What’s the Difference?

Both motorcycle and car accidents in Wisconsin can lead to serious injuries, resulting in ongoing physical complications, high medical bills, and other consequences. However, of the two, motorcycle accidents have the greatest potential for serious injuries simply because riders are directly exposed to the ground and their surrounding environments. When a motorcycle rider hits the ground with a significant amount of force, they may suffer extremely debilitating injuries, some of which may be permanent or fatal. 

If you suffered injuries in a recent car crash or motorcycle accident, you should speak with an experienced Wisconsin personal injury lawyer as quickly as possible. At Mingo & Yankala, S.C. Accident & Injury Lawyers, our knowledgeable team of attorneys could assist you with every aspect of your personal injury case, from negotiating with insurance company representatives to successfully litigating your case through the court system. We will do everything possible to help you obtain a favorable result in your case so that you become whole again to the greatest extent possible. 

Speak with our Wisconsin motorcycle and car accident attorneys about your legal options. Consultations are always free, and we can assess your options for seeking compensation.

How are Motorcycle Accidents Different from Car Accidents?

Motorcycle accidents are different from car accidents. First, a motorcycle is a much smaller vehicle than a car or truck. Consequently, in an accident scenario, the force of the impact may push a motorcycle completely off the road or cause it to roll over, potentially leading to permanent injuries or fatalities. 

Also, generally speaking, a motorcycle accident victim’s injuries may be more serious than those of a car or truck accident victim. This is because, unlike car and truck occupants, motorcycle riders do not have an outer covering or shell that surrounds them in an accident scenario. Rather, they are directly exposed to their surrounding environment, including the ground. If the force of a collision knocks the motorcycle rider to the ground, the rider could suffer extremely serious injuries.

After either a car accident or motorcycle crash, seeking a legal consultation with an experienced injury attorney is essential. You may have important legal rights, and the right legal professional can advise you of options. 

Motorcycle vs. Car Accident Statistics

Both motorcycle accidents and car accidents can lead to serious consequences in Wisconsin. According to statistics from the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation, these accidents continue to be problematic throughout the state. As recently as 2022, 128,830 total car crashes occurred. Of those car accidents, 25,071 led to injuries, 547 led to fatalities, and 103,212 led to property damage. 

In comparison, in 2022, there were 1,921 documented motorcycle crashes in the state. In those crashes, there were 80 motorcyclist fatalities and 1,606 injuries, of which 602 were deemed serious injuries.  

If you suffered injuries in a recent motorcycle or car accident, you may be eligible to recover various types and amounts of monetary damages. Our experienced legal team could help you pursue a claim or lawsuit that seeks the favorable monetary award you deserve to recover. 

 

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents are usually the result of other drivers’ reckless and careless behavior. In some cases, motorcycle crashes happen when drivers violate standard Wisconsin traffic laws and road rules. Some of the most common traffic regulations that drivers violate – and which may lead to a motorcycle accident include:

  • Posted speed limit laws
  • Right-of-way laws – especially at merge lanes and traffic intersections
  • Passing laws
  • Turn signal laws that apply when drivers make a lane change, turn onto a different road, or exit a traffic circle

In addition to violating these rules, other drivers might cause motorcycle accidents when they fail to use their rearview and side view mirrors while driving – and when they fail to use their vehicle’s backup cameras and lane-change warning devices. 

Besides common road rule violations, motorcycle accidents may happen when other people drive in an especially reckless, aggressive, or careless manner. For example, a driver in a hurry might try to pass a motorcycle in a no-passing zone, tailgate a cyclist, or cut another cyclist off in traffic, negligently causing a serious accident. 

Another common cause of motorcycle accidents in Wisconsin is intoxicated driving. Most passenger vehicle drivers are legally intoxicated if their blood alcohol concentration – or BAC – reaches at least 0.08 percent. Intoxicated driving is extremely dangerous since drunk drivers often experience an inability to control their vehicles properly and operate them safely. For example, an intoxicated driver might experience blurred vision, delayed reflexes, or delayed reaction time. As a result, the driver might be unable to see or react to a motorcyclist’s presence in time to avoid a crash. 

Finally, some motorcycle accidents happen when drivers become distracted at the wheel. Instead of paying sufficient attention to traffic, a distracted driver might engage in any of the following:

  • Making a phone call without using their Bluetooth
  • Texting on a cell phone or smartwatch
  • Roughhousing with vehicle passengers
  • Listening to loud music in their vehicle
  • Programming a GPS navigation system

When drivers take their eyes off the road, they might fail to notice an approaching motorcyclist and inadvertently cause a serious accident.

 

Motorcycle Accident Safety Tips

Motorcyclists can take several important steps to lessen their chances of accidents and injuries. Those steps include:

  • Wearing a sturdy motorcycle helmet that completely covers their head and face and complies with all applicable regulations
  • Wearing other protective motorcycle clothing and gear
  • Making sure that their motorcycle is in good operating condition at all times (including tires)
  • Carefully following all traffic laws and regulations

No matter how carefully an individual operates their motorcycle, serious accidents may still happen due to other drivers’ negligence. In those situations, contact an experienced Wisconsin personal injury lawyer at Mingo & Yankala, S.C. Accident & Injury Lawyers as soon as possible. 

Our legal team could investigate your accident circumstances and pursue a favorable monetary settlement from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. If the insurance company refuses to compensate you fairly, we could file a lawsuit in the Wisconsin State Court System on your behalf. 

 

Car and Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Motorcycle accident victims often stand to suffer extremely serious injuries. An accident victim’s injuries will depend largely on the accident circumstances, including the overall force of the collision, the number of vehicles involved in the crash, and whether or not the motorcycle rider falls off their bike and lands on the ground. Some of the most common injuries that motorcycle riders suffer include:

  • Road rash injuries
  • Eye injuries
  • Mouth, jaw, and teeth injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries (including a concussion or coma)
  • Broken bones
  • Complete and incomplete spinal cord injuries
  • Full or partial paralysis injuries
  • Death

Drivers and passengers in car accidents may also suffer serious injuries. However, car accident victims have an outer metal shell between themselves and the road. Consequently, car drivers and passengers are more likely to suffer soft tissue injuries, including whiplash, than broken bones in an accident. 

In a motorcycle or car accident, accident victims might be able to recover various types and amounts of monetary damages. The monetary damages that an accident victim may recover – either through a favorable settlement offer from the insurance company or a favorable litigation result – may include compensation for all of the following:

  • Past and anticipated medical costs
  • Lost earnings
  • Loss of earning capacity (when the accident victim must switch occupations – and take a pay cut – due to the severity of their injuries)
  • Past and future pain and suffering
  • Inconvenience
  • Mental distress and anguish
  • Loss of the ability to use a body part (such as from a spinal cord or paralysis injury)
  • Lost quality of life
  • Loss of spousal consortium

Never trust an insurance company to accurately calculate or fully compensate your losses. Our team will do everything possible to help you maximize the compensation you recover for your motorcycle accident injuries. 

 

Contact us about Your Wisconsin Personal Injury Case Right Away 

If you recently suffered injuries in a motorcycle crash, never wait to retain skilled legal representation in your case as quickly as possible. This is because Wisconsin accident victims only have blank years from the date of their accident to file a personal injury lawsuit for monetary damages. If they fail to file a timely lawsuit in their case, they will not be able to recover any monetary damages for their injuries. 

At Mingo & Yankala, S.C. Accident & Injury Lawyers, our legal team could assist you with every aspect of your case, from negotiating with insurance company representatives to litigating your case through the court system, if necessary. We will do everything possible to help you recover the maximum compensation available to you in your case. 

For a free case evaluation and legal consultation with an experienced Wisconsin personal injury lawyer, please call us at (414) 273-7400 or contact us online.