Dayton Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Riding a motorcycle offers a thrilling and exciting way to explore the Dayton area. Whether you are riding downtown along East 3rd Street or you’re traveling along a busy stretch of I-75, the open air allows you to take in the sights like nothing else. However, the downside is that you are afforded less physical protection than individuals in other vehicles. When tragedy strikes, you need to hire a Dayton motorcycle accident lawyer who can protect your right to compensation.

Other drivers are not always paying attention and easily miss the presence of motorcycles around them. In an instant of poor judgement or inattention, these drivers can easily cause serious and even deadly accidents. Even when you hold no fault in the accident, the individual on the motorcycle will likely be the one to pay the price. Now you are left with serious injuries, medical debt, and the inability to work. At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, we are here to help.

Spangenberg Shibley & Liber: Over $1 Billion Secured for Our Clients

Since 1946, the team at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber has been protecting the rights of men and women around the Dayton area when it comes to recovering deserved compensation. We know this is a difficult time for you and your loved ones, especially in cases where a family member has been lost to the actions of a reckless or negligent driver. While past results do not guarantee future outcomes, we have recovered over $1 billion for our clients and are here to serve you now.

At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, our attorneys share a strong dedication and commitment to achieving the most favorable results possible for our clients.  Over the last two years, we have obtained 25% of all seven-figure verdicts across Ohio. * Now we are ready to turn our time and attention to your case.

Our attorneys have been honored with awards like The National Trials Top 40 Under 40 and Top 100 Trial Lawyers. ** Let us put this level of legal excellence to work on your behalf.

Injuries Resulting From Motorcycle Accidents in Dayton

Everyone who gets on a motorcycle understands that there are certain risks involved that do not exist when getting into an ordinary passenger vehicle. In 2023 alone, there were over 82,000 motorcycle injuries and a total of 6,335 motorcycle fatalities across the United States, and nearly 15% of all traffic fatalities were motorcyclists.

Even when motorcyclists and their passengers take the necessary steps to protect themselves against the hazards of the road, serious injuries are still a very real possibility when a wreck occurs. At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, we have handled hundreds of motorcycle accident cases and have seen clients suffering the following common injuries:

• Lacerations and road rash. When a motorcyclist is thrown from their bike due to the impact of the crash, they can go skidding across the roadway, and the rough pavement can remove the top layers of their skin. This injury is known as road rash, and even if the skin heals, there could be permanent nerve damage. This injury is also easily infected, and you may require numerous skin grafts to achieve full healing.
• Neck and spinal cord injuries. In a motorcycle crash, the spinal cord of a victim can suffer serious damage, and sometimes this damage can lead to partial or complete paralysis. Typically, the extent of your injury will be determined by where exactly the injury happened along the spine. Spinal cord injuries can cause individuals to lose certain functions and can impact their daily living for the rest of their lives.
• Traumatic brain injuries. One of the most severe injuries that can take place in a motorcycle accident is traumatic brain injury. These injuries typically result from either an open or closed head wound and can range from a minor concussion to severe forms of brain damage. In the most serious of cases, victims can suffer cognitive challenges and memory loss.
• Broken bones. Due to the force of impact and the lack of protection, motorcyclists often sustain broken bones in an accident. These are often serious, compound fractures, where the bone breaks and pierces upwards through the skin. Surgery is required, and issues regarding long-term mobility can arise. Victims may also need to undergo extensive rehabilitation or physical therapy.
• Internal injuries. These injuries typically include damage to internal organs, such as the kidney, spleen, liver, and lungs. The trauma can also lead to nerve damage and internal bleeding. Oftentimes, the symptoms of these injuries are not apparent right away, which is why it is always a good idea to seek attention from a primary care physician following your accident.

Even when a motorcyclist takes all the steps to protect themselves, injuries can still occur. At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, we are here to work closely with you to help identify all injuries you have sustained so that we may better calculate the full and fair amount of compensation you deserve. Many motorcycle clients will seek emergency treatment at Kindred Hospital Dayton, Miami Valley Hospital, and Grandview Medical Center.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

One of the most important things to understand in your motorcycle accident will be the direct cause. Understanding the cause ultimately will lead us to the correct party to hold accountable.

As a motorcyclist, you face a high level of hazards on the road, but when an accident happens, it often boils down to some form of human error. At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, we are here to handle a range of motorcycle accident cases, including those caused by:

• Left-turning drivers. One of the key dangers for motorcyclists on the roadway is when other cars or vehicles make a left-hand turn. Much too often, these drivers do not check their blind spots for nearby motorcyclists, and they will turn, striking a motorcyclist and causing severe injury and even death. This commonly happens at stop signs, red lights, or other intersections.
• Lane splitting. In Ohio, while there is no direct law against lane splitting, it is not a legal maneuver on state roadways. This is because the act of lane-splitting violates other roadway laws, such as the law requiring drivers to stay within their lane until it is safe to pass. However, this does not always dissuade motorcyclists from attempting to illegally lane split when they are stuck in heavy traffic.
• Driving under the influence. When a motorist is operating their vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the consequences can be deadly. Alcohol use increases your chances of causing an accident, and even the most veteran motorcyclists can lose control of their bike when hit by a drunk driver. Drunk drivers also have shortened reaction times and poor judgment, which can lead to collisions.
• Speeding. One of the most common causes of all motor vehicle accidents is speeding. When a motorist ignores a posted speed limit and instead exceeds that limit, the results can be serious and often fatal.
• Dangerous roadways. Those on motorcycles are more at risk than other drivers when it comes to hazards that can present themselves. Potholes, slick or icy roads, loose gravel, and debris in the roadway can all cause a motorcycle to lose control or balance and cause an accident.
• Distracted drivers. When other drivers are not paying attention to the road around them, hard-to-see motorcycles become even more at risk. Common actions of distracted driving include texting while driving or talking on the phone, eating or drinking, interacting with passengers inside the vehicle, adjusting the radio or temperature controls, or any other action that takes their hands off the wheel and their eyes off the road.
• Faulty repairs to a motorcycle. When a bike mechanic fails to make the proper repair to a motorcycle, it can lead to an accident. Whether they have used faulty parts to try to address an issue or they have accidentally installed a part incorrectly, the results can be devastating should the repair fail.

Damages You May Be Able to Recover

Being hit by a negligent or reckless driver doesn’t just cause physical injuries; it can also cause a number of financial damages. While trying to recover from your injuries, the last thing you need to worry about is how you will pay for all related medical expenses and property damage while being unable to work.

At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, our number one goal is to recover the full and fair amount of compensation you deserve following a motorcycle accident. This compensation includes:

• Medical costs. These damages can include all related past, present, or future surgeries, treatments, diagnostic testing, emergency transportation, hospital stays, doctor visits, rehabilitation programs, or physical therapy needed to recover from your injury.
• Lost wages. If you are unable to work for a certain period of time in order to recover, we may be able to secure you compensation for lost income and lost employment benefits. Additionally, if your injury causes lasting disability, you may be able to recover compensation for the loss of future earning capacity.
• Damaged property. If your motorcycle has suffered damage, or if any other forms of personal property that were on your person during the time of the accident have suffered damage, you may be able to recover compensation that can help with repairs or replacements of the damaged property.
• Pain and suffering. Certain damages do not have a fixed dollar amount, such as the emotional distress, mental anguish, and physical pain you are now dealing with. At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, we can help clients receive compensation for the emotional, mental, and physical suffering caused by the accident.

FAQs

Q: Is There a Statute of Limitations on Motorcycle Claims?

A: Yes, in Ohio, there is a statute of limitations on motorcycle claims. This statute of limitations currently stands at two years for a majority of personal injury cases. This means that if you do not file your claim by this required deadline, you will likely lose out on all chances to recover compensation and your case will be dismissed.

Q: How Can an Attorney Help Me in a Motorcycle Accident Case?

A: In a motorcycle accident case, your attorney is there to help you in a multitude of ways. First, they can engage medical professionals to make certain you receive a comprehensive evaluation of all injuries. They can also investigate all of the potentially liable parties and negotiate with them on your behalf. If negotiations prove unfruitful, the team at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber can take your case to court.

Q: Do Insurance Companies Discriminate Against Motorcycle Riders?

A: Yes, insurance companies and at-fault drivers will likely employ certain tactics to try to get out of giving you a fair settlement based entirely on negative motorcyclist stereotypes. They may try to argue that motorcycle riders are inherently more reckless or have chosen to assume excessive risk in an attempt to reduce liability. Your attorney is here to stand up against these discriminatory tactics.

Q: What Do I Need to Do After a Motorcycle Accident?

A: After a motorcycle accident, there are certain steps you can take that can protect both you and the future of your claim. First, move yourself to a safe spot off the roadway and call for the police and any emergency medical services that may be required. While you wait, if you are able, take photos of your injuries and of the accident scene. You should also get the contact information of the at-fault driver.

Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer With Over 80 years of Experience

Motorcycle accidents can prove devastating, and liability can be a tricky thing to prove. At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, we have the experience and resources necessary to take your case all the way to the courtroom and are not afraid of arguing a claim before a judge and jury. Whether you are a victim, your loved one has passed, or you are looking to refer a case to us, when you hire a motorcycle accident lawyer from our firm, we are here to champion your side.

We are here to handle the legalities, such as dealing with the insurance companies and at-parties, so you don’t have to. Use this time to focus on rest and healing, and do not worry about the financial burdens, knowing that we can take care of getting you the compensation required. To talk to a member of our team, contact our offices today and schedule a consultation.

*Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own merits.

**Awards and recognition are not guarantees of future results. Selection criteria vary by organization.