Vermont Motorcycle Accident Laws and Statistics
Although motorcyclists enjoy numerous freedoms unavailable to other motorists, they also face a much greater risk of personal injury and even wrongful death. Consider the following motorcycle accident statistics: in Vermont in 2007, there were seven motorcycle accident fatalities – despite the fact that 71 percent of those victims were wearing helmets at the time of the crash.* If you, too, have suffered injury or lost a loved one in a motorcycle collision, Proner & Proner can help. Our motorcycle accident attorneys welcome clients throughout Vermont who are in need of legal counsel after a motorcycle crash. When you enlist the services of our team, we will work diligently to help you understand how the law may impact your potential claim. We will also utilize every resource available to obtain any financial compensation to which you are entitled.
Motorcycle Accident Law
Motorcycle accident law includes a number of statues that define the rights of individuals injured in a motorcycle collision. When the accident was caused by someone’s actions or negligence – for example, the manufacturer of a defective automotive or motorcycle part, or a motorist who drove recklessly and caused the collision – the injured may pursue damages for his or her injuries. The process of filing a motorcycle accident lawsuit, determining liability, and awarding a settlement depends largely on the laws in the state in which the accident occurred.
Learn more about motorcycle accident laws in Vermont.
Types of Injuries
The severity of a motorcycle accident injury depends on several factors, including the circumstances of the crash, the object with which the motorcyclist collided, and whether or not the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet. Generally speaking, injuries tend to be catastrophic, including back, spinal cord, burn, and brain injury, as well as motorcycle accident death. However, victims who sustain relatively minor injuries (i.e. “road rash” and broken bones) should also obtain legal counsel, since they may still be able to seek damages.
Motorcycle Accident Compensation
A motorcycle accident settlement includes compensation for financial losses the victim suffers as a result of his or her injury – for example, his or her medical expenses, lost income, decreased earning potential, and other costs. The size of the settlement depends on a number of factors, including the severity of the victim’s injuries, the circumstances of the crash, the degree to which the victim was responsible for the accident, state law, and the skill of the victim’s motorcycle accident attorney.
Filing a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit
The process of filing a motorcycle accident lawsuit is complex. It involves determining whether the injured has a case, investigating and reconstructing the accident, proving the fault of the negligent party, filing the proper paperwork within the appropriate time frame, and additional steps. Filing suit can be overwhelming without the assistance of an attorney who has experience handling motorcycle accident claims. At Proner & Proner, our motorcycle accident attorneys possess the expertise necessary to help clients obtain favorable case outcomes.
Contact Proner & Proner to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our motorcycle accident attorneys. Our law firm serves clients throughout Vermont.
Motorcycle Accident Statistics
The following motorcycle accident statistics indicate accident trends in Vermont and throughout the nation since 1998*:
- In 1998, there were 2,294 motorcycle accident deaths and 3,879,450 registered motorcycles in the U.S. – a fatality rate of 5.1.
- In 1999, there were 2,472 motorcycle accident fatalities in the U.S. – an 8 percent increase from 1998.
- In 2004, there were 28,304 motorcycle registrations and 11 motorcycle accident deaths in Vermont, in addition to 98 motor vehicle accident fatalities.
- In 2005, motorcycle accident deaths comprised 19 percent of motor vehicle fatalities in Vermont, while motorcycle registrations accounted for 8 percent of registered vehicles.
- In 2005, the 73 highway traffic fatalities in Vermont reflected a fatality rate of 11.4 (per 100,000 persons). Thirty-eight percent of these deaths (28 deaths) involved driver impairment. Of these fatalities, 14 were motorcyclists – 93 percent of whom were helmeted, six of whom had a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .01 or higher, and eight of whom had no BAC.
- In 2007, there were 5,154 motorcycle accident fatalities in the U.S. Of the seven killed in Vermont, 71 percent were wearing helmets, 14 percent were riding with a BAC of .08 or higher, and 29 percent were riding with a BAC of 0.01 or higher.
- Vermont is one of nine states with a Highway Safety Plan that does not include motorcycle safety planning; one of 12 states without a motorcycle safety plan; six states without a sharing the road program; and 20 states with a universal helmet law.
Contact Our Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
Contact Proner & Proner to learn more about motorcycle accident statistics. Our attorneys serve clients throughout Vermont. When you secure our services, we will provide the aggressive legal representation you need and deserve.
*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 Vermont, including the following cities:
- Burlington
- South Burlington
- Colchester
- Rutland
- Essex Junction
- Bennington
- Barre
- Williston
- Montpelier
- St. Johnsbury
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