Motorcycle Accidents vs. Car Accidents — What's the Difference?

Injuries Sustained

One of the main ways motorcycle accidents differ from car accidents is in injury severity. Motorcyclists suffer serious and often fatal injuries in crashes due to the lack of protection.

Today’s cars contain various safety features designed to reduce the number of fatalities on the road. Newer cars have anti-lock brakes, extensive airbag systems, seatbelts, electronic stability control, tire pressure monitors, and collision warning systems. They have backup and side-view cameras; many even come with pedestrian detection systems.

On the other hand, motorcycles do not have many safety features. No seatbelts or airbags, or steel cage keep you safe from harm. Instead, motorcyclists must rely on helmets and protective riding suits.

Because motorcycles offer very little protection in the event of an accident, riders are much more likely to suffer broken bones, road rash, and other serious injuries than people in cars. These more serious injuries can lead to higher medical bills and longer recovery times, which can significantly impact your case.

Collecting Compensation

Insurance companies also treat motorcycle accident claims differently than car accident claims. Many insurance adjusters have internal biases against motorcyclists. They may see them as reckless or daredevils and try to reduce their compensation by claiming that the biker contributed to the accident.

In addition, since motorcycle accident injuries are often more severe and life-threatening, many adjusters try to offer quick lowball settlements to injured bikers. They hope this lowball settlement will get accepted because they know the long-term issues the motorcyclist may face. They don’t want injured motorcyclists to realize how long their recovery might take.

For these reasons, negotiating a fair motorcycle claim can be complicated and requires an experienced law firm with the skills and resources necessary to tackle them.

How They Happen

Another difference between motorcycle and car accidents is how they happen. Car accidents are usually the result of one driver being distracted or failing to follow the rules of the road.

Many motorcycle accidents are caused by other drivers, not by motorcyclists themselves. This is because other drivers often fail to see motorcyclists on the road, which can cause drivers to pull out in front of them or rear-end them at traffic lights.

Damage to the Bike

One of the main ways motorcycle accidents differ from car accidents is in the damage done. Often, a motorcycle will be totaled in an accident, while a car will only sustain cosmetic damage. This is because motorcycles are much smaller and lighter than cars, so they don’t stand up as well in a collision.

This difference in damage can impact your case in two ways. First, it means that you may not be able to ride your bike again after the accident, which can significantly impact your life if you rely on your bike for transportation or pleasure. Second, it means that repairing or replacing your motorcycle is likely to be much more expensive than fixing a car would be.

Motorcyclists suffer much more severe injuries than car drivers and occupants. The human body cannot withstand the brutal forces of a car accident or motorcycle crash. When a motorcyclist is involved in a car accident, they are often thrown from their bikes into other objects, vehicles, and oncoming traffic.

Statistics show that motorcyclists have a 98% chance of suffering an injury when they get into an accident. They’re also 26x more likely to die in an accident than passenger vehicle occupants and are 5x more likely to be hurt.

Some of the most common motorcycle accident injuries include

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Soft tissue injuries
• Back injuries
• Severe fractures
• Crushing injuries
• Internal organ damage
• Burns
• Road rash
• Biker’s arm, where nerves are permanently damaged
• Disfigurement
• Amputation