Palmer Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

• Distracted Driving: When drivers are texting, adjusting their GPS, eating, or otherwise not focused on the road, they’re far less likely to notice motorcycles. In Palmer, where roads can be winding or visibility limited by weather, even momentary distractions can result in a failure to see an oncoming rider, especially at intersections or when merging.
• Failure to Yield Right of Way: Many crashes occur when drivers make left-hand turns in front of an oncoming motorcycle or pull out from a stop sign without properly checking for approaching traffic. Motorcycles can be misjudged in terms of distance and speed, causing serious right-of-way violations that lead to T-bone or head-on collisions.
• Speeding: Drivers who exceed speed limits reduce their ability to stop or maneuver in time to avoid a collision. At higher speeds, the force of impact in a crash involving a motorcyclist is significantly greater, leading to more severe injuries or fatalities. This is particularly dangerous on Palmer’s rural roads or highways, where speed limits are often higher.
• Driving Under the Influence: Alcohol and drug impairment reduce reaction times, impair judgment, and distort depth perception, all of which are critical for sharing the road safely with motorcyclists. A drunk or drug-impaired driver may swerve into a rider’s lane or fail to recognize a motorcyclist altogether, resulting in high-impact crashes.
• Unsafe Lane Changes: Motorcycles can easily disappear into a car’s blind spot. Drivers who fail to check mirrors or signal before changing lanes often collide with motorcyclists. This is especially risky on multi-lane roads or when traffic is merging near Palmer’s more congested routes.
• Road Hazards: Potholes, gravel, loose asphalt, uneven pavement, and debris pose much more danger to motorcycles than to cars. Because motorcycles rely on balance and traction, even a minor obstacle can cause the rider to lose control. In Palmer, where icy roads, frost heaves, and road debris are common, these hazards are particularly serious.

Common Injuries After a Palmer Motorcycle Accident

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Helmets are essential and often life-saving, but they cannot prevent all head injuries. Riders may suffer concussions, skull fractures, or more severe TBIs in a crash. These injuries can impair memory, speech, balance, and motor function. In some cases, victims are left with permanent cognitive or behavioral changes, requiring ongoing therapy and long-term care.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spine is one of the most catastrophic outcomes of a motorcycle accident. Depending on the location and severity of the injury, victims may experience partial or full paralysis, loss of sensation, or chronic pain. Recovery is often lengthy and expensive, and many spinal cord injuries result in permanent disability.
• Fractures and Broken Bones: Motorcycle riders frequently absorb the brunt of the impact with their limbs. Arms, wrists, legs, ribs, and clavicles are especially prone to fractures when a rider is thrown from the bike or pinned under a vehicle. Some fractures require surgery, metal implants, and extensive physical therapy to regain mobility and function.
• Internal Injuries: Blunt force trauma during a collision can rupture organs, cause internal bleeding, or damage the lungs and heart. These injuries are not always immediately obvious and may worsen rapidly without emergency medical intervention. In Palmer, where long transport times to medical facilities are possible, internal injuries can be particularly dangerous.
• Road Rash: When a rider slides across the pavement after being ejected from their motorcycle, the skin can be scraped away in layers, causing a painful and potentially disfiguring condition known as road rash. These abrasions can range from superficial to severe and may require skin grafts, debridement, and infection control.
• Amputations: In high-speed or high-impact crashes, limbs may be crushed, severely fractured, or mangled beyond repair, resulting in surgical amputation. These injuries require long-term rehabilitation and the use of prosthetics, and they significantly alter the victim’s daily life, employment options, and mental well-being.

Determining Liability in a Palmer Motorcycle Accident

Parties That May Be Held Liable

• Other Drivers: The most common cause of motorcycle accidents is the negligence of another motorist. Drivers who fail to yield, make unsafe lane changes, speed, or drive distracted can easily overlook a motorcyclist and cause a serious crash. In Palmer, where road visibility can be affected by weather and winding terrain, driver inattention is especially dangerous.
• Government Entities: If the accident was caused by hazardous road conditions, such as potholes, loose gravel, poor lighting, lack of signage, or inadequate guardrails, a local or state government agency may be held partially responsible. In Alaska, municipalities are obligated to maintain safe roadways. Filing a claim against a public entity has strict deadlines and procedural requirements, so swift legal action is essential.
• Motorcycle or Parts Manufacturers: Some crashes result from mechanical failure or design flaws. Defective brakes, tires, fuel systems, or steering components can cause sudden loss of control. If an equipment malfunction contributed to the crash, the manufacturer or distributor may be liable under Alaska’s product liability laws.

Alaska Motorcycle Laws

• Helmet Laws: Alaska requires all motorcycle riders under the age of 18 or operating with an instructional permit to wear a helmet. Riders 18 and older with a valid license are not legally required to wear a helmet; however, helmet use is strongly recommended by safety experts to reduce the risk of traumatic brain injury in the event of a crash.
• Lane Splitting: Lane splitting is illegal in Alaska. Riders may not ride between lanes of traffic, even during congestion. Attempting to do so could result in a citation and may negatively affect a personal injury claim if an accident occurs while lane splitting.
• Eye Protection: Riders are required to wear protective eyewear unless their motorcycle is equipped with a windscreen or windshield. Goggles, face shields, or safety glasses are recommended for all riders, regardless of age or experience.
• Insurance Requirements: Riding without insurance not only violates state law but may also limit your ability to recover damages in the event of a crash, especially if the other driver is uninsured or underinsured. Alaska requires motorcycle riders to carry minimum liability insurance coverage, which includes:
  • $50,000 for bodily injury or death per person
  • $100,000 for bodily injury or death per accident
  • $25,000 for property damage

How Can an Attorney Help After a Motorcycle Accident in Palmer?

An Attorney Can Help By:

• Conducting a Thorough Investigation: A successful injury claim starts with a detailed, fact-based investigation. Your attorney will gather all available evidence, including police reports, traffic camera footage, eyewitness statements, helmet cam or dashcam videos, and medical records. They may also work with accident reconstruction experts to pinpoint the cause of the crash.
• Handling All Communications: Communicating with insurance adjusters and defense lawyers can be stressful and risky, especially if you're unfamiliar with their tactics. Your attorney will manage all correspondence to ensure your words aren’t twisted against you and to keep pressure on the insurer to treat your claim seriously.
• Assessing the Full Extent of Damages: Beyond your initial hospital bills, your lawyer will evaluate future medical needs, physical therapy, surgeries, loss of earning potential, and long-term pain or disability. We work with economic and medical experts to create a comprehensive picture of your losses, so nothing is overlooked.
• Negotiating Settlements: Most motorcycle accident claims are resolved outside the courtroom. However, insurance companies often make low initial offers, especially if they suspect the rider was partially at fault. Your attorney will negotiate aggressively for a settlement that fully compensates you for all losses, both economic and non-economic.
• Representing You in Court: If a fair settlement cannot be reached, your lawyer will prepare your case for trial, present evidence before a judge or jury, and fight to secure the compensation you’re entitled to. Having a trial-ready attorney shows the opposing side that you’re serious and often results in better settlement offers.

What Damages Can I Recover After a Motorcycle Accident?

• Medical Expenses: This includes emergency room care, hospital stays, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation, follow-up appointments, and projected future treatment costs related to the accident.
• Lost Wages: If your injuries prevent you from working temporarily or permanently, you can recover compensation for the income you’ve lost, as well as any diminished earning capacity going forward.
• Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain, discomfort, and emotional anguish caused by the accident and its impact on your daily life.
• Property Damage: Reimbursement for damage to your motorcycle, riding gear, and any other personal property that was damaged or destroyed in the crash.
• Punitive Damages: In rare cases involving gross negligence or reckless behavior, such as a drunk driver causing the crash, you may also be entitled to punitive damages. These are awarded to punish the wrongdoer and send a message that such behavior won’t be tolerated.

• Commercial truck accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Drunk driving accidents
• Slip and fall accidents
• Dog bites
• Bad faith insurance

Contact the Law Offices of Curtis W. Martin if You Have Been Injured in a Motorcycle Accident