Motorcycle passengers can ride on the back of a motorcycle and enjoy a ride without the stress of controlling the motorcycle. However, they can experience the adverse effects of a motorcycle accident just like the motorcyclist, as they can suffer blunt-force trauma that causes severe injuries. Motorcycle passengers can experience economic and non-economic damages from a motorcycle accident, such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
They can pursue compensation for these damages just like the victim of any other personal injury accident by filing an injury claim with the at-fault party. In the case of a motorcycle accident, that can be a motor vehicle driver that crashes into their motorcycle, a motorcycle part manufacturer that creates a defective product, or the person they share the motorcycle with if they engage in negligent riding behavior.
How Can a Motorcycle Passenger Suffer Damages During a Motorcycle Accident?
Motorcycle accidents occur because of the negligence of one party. The negligent riding of the motorcyclist, the reckless driving of a motor vehicle driver, or the poor design and manufacturing of a motorcycle part can all cause a motorcycle accident. A motorcycle accident passenger sitting behind the motorcyclist can experience severe motorcycle accident injuries from an accident when they receive blunt-force trauma.
They can receive a direct blow from a larger vehicle or fall off and collide with the hard ground if the motorcyclist loses control of their vehicle. The physical trauma caused by a motorcycle accident can cause them to experience damages that can affect their physical health, finances, and psychological well-being.
What Damages Can a Motorcycle Passenger Suffer?
Damages from a motorcycle accident can come in two categories: economic or non-economic damages. Economic damages are financial losses that have an attached bill or monetary value. Motorcycle passengers can experience severe injuries that require medical assistance, leading to medical expenses like hospitalization, ambulatory services, surgical costs, and medication expenses. Severe motorcycle accident injuries can also make it impossible for them to work, meaning they can experience wage-based losses like lost wages and lost earning potential.
Non-economic damages are intangible losses that affect a person’s quality of life. Physical injuries can affect a person’s psychological well-being, as they have to deal with the pain and suffering and restriction of their physical ability. Crippling injuries can also affect a person’s relationships, as they may not be able to go out for social events or have the ability to provide love, affection, and physical intimacy. Some non-economic damages a motorcycle passenger can pursue after a motorcycle accident include loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, mental anguish, and loss of society.
A Motorcycle Passenger Can File a Motorcycle Accident Claim With The At-Fault Party
A motorcycle passenger can file a motorcycle accident claim to pursue compensation for damages like if they controlled the motorcycle. They can hold the at-fault party accountable for their negligence that caused the accident and their damages. Motorcycle passengers can file a motorcycle accident claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company.
The most common at-fault party for a motorcycle accident claim is a motor vehicle driver who crashes into the motorcycle. A reckless or negligent driver can expose a motorcyclist and their passenger to accident risk through poor driving behavior, such as distracted driving, drunk driving, and speeding. Drivers of cars, trucks, and buses can be liable for damages for failing to drive safely to prevent accidents.
Motorcycle part designers and manufacturers can also be liable if a defective part causes a motorcycle accident. Poorly designed and manufactured brakes, tires, and engines can cause a motorcyclist to lose control of their vehicle and crash, causing a motorcycle accident that results in serious injuries and damages. Motorcycle passengers can file product liability claims to hold motorcycle part designers and manufacturers accountable for their negligence.
Can a Motorcycle Passenger File a Claim With the Person They Shared the Ride With?
Motorcycle passengers can also file motorcycle accident claims with the person whom they shared the ride with if they engage in reckless behavior that causes the accident. It’s the motorcyclist’s job to ride their bike safely to prevent accidents that can expose them, their passenger, and other people on the road to motorcycle accident risk.
Some reckless behavior from a motorcyclist that can cause a motorcycle accident includes lane-splitting, failing to stop at red lights, and exceeding the speed limit. While filing a claim with your friend may be awkward, that might be your only chance to recover full compensation for your damages if they caused the motorcycle accident.
The Advantages of Hiring a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
After a motorcycle accident, passengers need to take the proper steps to put themselves in a position to recover fair compensation for damages. One of the first things they should do is hire a motorcycle accident lawyer to advise them on the best steps. They can use their experience to inform the motorcycle accident claim process and explain the best steps to take to maximize their potential for recovering fair compensatory damages.
Some ways an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can help with the claims process include calculating the cost of their damages, determining who caused the accident, collecting evidence, and negotiating a fair settlement. They can help with an insurance company that tries to deny, delay, or devalue your settlement and put you in the best position to succeed.
Contact The Russo Firm for Help With Your Motorcycle Accident Claim
The motorcycle accident lawyers at The Russo Firm have decades of experience helping motorcycle accident victims in Florida, Texas, Arizona, and other states. If you were a motorcycle passenger during an accident, our motorcycle accident lawyers can use their experience, expertise, and vast resources to help you calculate damages, collect evidence to prove your claim and recover fair compensation for your damages.
At The Russo Firm, we offer free consultations to show motorcycle accident victims how we can help them recover compensation for their severe injuries and damages. Contact us for a free motorcycle accident case evaluation today at (561) 270-0913 or leave a message on our online contact page.
