The common etiquette on the road is to not pass drivers on the right on the highway, but sometimes, it’s impossible to avoid. However, the action can catch every vehicle on the road off-guard, and it can make even the most attentive cyclist lose control.
Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable to collisions due to their lack of exterior protection, and riders tend to suffer grievous injuries if this happens on the highway--ones that can cost thousands in hospital bills.
Your motorcycle injuries might entitle you to compensation that will help you pay off the medical bills and recover some peace of mind.
Injuries From a Driver Passing on the Right
Drivers who choose to pass on the right may be doing so at high speeds on a major artery. This could result in some serious injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injury: If a driver tries to pass you on the right and hits you, you could fly right off of your motorcycle. Then, if you land on your head, you could suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The effects from a TBI can last for months, or even a lifetime.
- Internal bleeding: When you swerve to avoid a driver trying to pass you on the right, you may fall right off of your bike and it could land on you. Depending on if it lands on a major organ, it could cause internal bleeding.
- Broken limbs: When turning sharply to dodge a driver passing on the right, you could fall right off into the shoulder--and your bike could land on one of your limbs. That could easily cause the bone to break, and you won’t be able to use it for weeks.
Any injury that is a result of your accident with a driver passing on the right has costs associated with it. Keep track of those costs to include in your personal injury claim–you can even include future costs, such as physical therapy.
Damage to Your Motorcycle
Depending on what happened in your accident, you may have many costs associated with the damage done to your motorcycle. This can include:
- Engine replacement: The accident may have destroyed your motorcycle’s engine, which will need to be replaced.
- Broken mirror: This is a common type of damage simply because when the motorcycle falls to the side (which can happen in many types of accidents), the mirrors are particularly vulnerable to breakage. They’ll need to be replaced if they were destroyed in the accident.
- Totaled motorcycle: The motorcycle could’ve been completely destroyed in the accident, and the only option is for you to get a new motorcycle.
Your motorcycle may have been your main mode of transportation, so you’ll need to get it repaired or replaced. Fortunately, you can include the cost of repair in your claim.
That being said, you’ll want the help of a personal injury attorney; he or she will be able to guide you in this complex process.
Get the Help You Need Today
You don’t have to do spearhead this difficult project, and you shouldn’t have to while you’re focusing on your recovery. Contact a personal injury attorney who can help argue your case on your behalf-- that way, you can focus on what matters most.
