South Dakota Motorcycle Accident Laws and Statistics
If you have suffered personal injury or the wrongful death of a loved one in a motorcycle collision, you are not alone. Consider the following motorcycle accident statistics: in South Dakota in 2007, there were 119 motorcycle accident fatalities. Twenty-four percent of these victims were wearing helmets, and 40 percent were driving with a BAC of .08 or higher *. Although nothing can compensate for the emotional and physical trauma of suffering a motorcycle accident injury or death, victims may be able to obtain compensation for the financial losses they incur because of their injuries. With the help of experienced motorcycle accident attorneys like those at Proner & Proner, South Dakota victims can recover financially from their injuries and begin the process of rebuilding their lives.
- Attorneys Dedicated to Protecting the Rights of Motorcycle Accident Victims
- Motorcycle Accident Statistics
Attorneys Dedicated to Protecting the Rights of Motorcycle Accident Victims
Our motorcycle accident attorneys are committed to helping clients understand their rights in the event of a motorcycle collision. According to motorcycle accident law, when a motorcyclist is injured because of another party’s actions or negligence, the injured may seek damages for his injuries. The law also determines the process of filing a motorcycle accident lawsuit, limits (if any) to a victim’s settlement, and additional matters.
Types of Injuries
Given motorcycles’ lack of crashworthiness, motorcycle accident injuries tend to be catastrophic, including burn, spinal cord, back, and brain injury, and even wrongful death. A motorcycle crash can also cause relatively minor injuries, including broken bones and road rash. Whatever the severity of their injuries, victims should hire a lawyer as soon as possible after the accident to ensure that their rights are protected.
Motorcycle Accident Compensation
A motorcycle accident settlement includes compensation for the financial losses a victim suffers as a result of his injury, including his medical expenses, rehabilitative treatment, lost income, decreased earning potential, and household expenses during recovery. The size of the settlement depends on a number of factors, including the severity of the victim’s injuries, the circumstances of the crash, and state motorcycle accident laws.
Filing a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit
In order to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit, a victim must be able to prove that someone else’s actions (at least partially) caused the victim’s injuries. Victims must be able to gather pertinent evidence, file the appropriate paperwork within the designated time frame, and take additional steps – all of which can be overwhelming without the help of a practiced attorney. A lawyer with experience handling motorcycle accident claims has the know-how necessary to obtain a favorable case resolution.
Learn more about South Dakota motorcycle accident laws.
If you have suffered personal injury in a motorcycle crash, Proner & Proner can help. A well-regarded and effective motorcycle accident law firm, we work diligently to obtain the damages to which our clients are entitled. Contact our firm today to schedule a consultation or to learn more about motorcycle accident statistics. We look forward to providing the exceptional legal counsel you deserve.
Motorcycle Accident Statistics
The following motorcycle accident statistics underscore accident trends in South Dakota and throughout the nation since 1999*:
- In 1998, there were 2,294 motorcycle accident deaths and 3,879,450 registered motorcycles in the U.S. – a fatality rate of 6 percent.
- In 2004, there were 26 motorcycle accident deaths in South Dakota – 13 percent of the 197 motor vehicle accident deaths in the state that year.
- In 2006, there were 22 motorcycle accident deaths in South Dakota – 11 percent of the 191 motor vehicle accident deaths that year.
- In 2005, there were 186 highway traffic fatalities in South Dakota, 76 of which involved driver impairment. Of the 186 deaths, 22 were motorcyclists – 43 percent of whom were helmeted, three of whom had a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .01 or higher, and 19 of whom had no BAC at the time of the crash.
- South Dakota is one of 17 states with education efforts aimed at increasing helmet usage and decreasing impaired riding among motorcyclists and 21 states that include motorcycle safety in their highway engineering strategies.
Contact Our Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
If you have suffered personal injury or lost a loved one in a crash, you need complete information on your rights and other pertinent issues. Our firm can help. Contact Proner & Proner to learn more about the law and motorcycle accident statistics. Our motorcycle accident attorneys welcome clients throughout South Dakota.
*Motorcycle accident statistic references: the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics, and Governors Highway Safety Association websites.
We serve motorcycle accident victims throughout South Dakota, including the following cities:
- Sioux Falls
- Rapid City
- Aberdeen
- Brookings
- Watertown
- Mitchell
- Yankton
- Pierre
- Huron
- Vermillion
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