Jump to the Motorcycle Accident Information You Need

Riding a motorcycle through the country roads of Iowa can be an enjoyable means of transportation. However, with ownership comes responsibility. Every motorcycle driver has certain duties they owe themselves and other drivers on the road. They must abide by all Iowa motorcycle laws.

The Iowa Motorcycle Operators Manual details the responsibilities of every licensed motorcyclist. Knowing the laws and your duties as a motorcycle operator will ensure the safety of you and those around you. Some of the main responsibilities of an Iowa motorcyclist include:

• Wear the correct gear: including a helmet, face, and eye protection, and protective clothing
• Obtain the right permits and licenses: all states require some form of license or permit to operate a motorcycle on the roadways
• Check your motorcycle: always inspect your motorcycle before each use for proper care and maintenance
• Drive responsibly: be visible, use signals, maintain proper spacing, and do not ride next to vehicles or another motorcycle in the same lane

Sometimes accidents are unavoidable. However, if you are ensuring your safe practice while driving, you can avoid some potential accidents. Oftentimes, motorcycle accidents are not the fault of the motorcycle driver but rather other roadway users. However, it is always best practice to follow all rules and guidelines for motorcycle operators outlined by the Iowa Department of Transportation.

Helmets are not required by Iowa law, but they are required in many states. Wearing protective gear and a helmet may still leave you injured but with less severe brain injuries or head injuries.

Motorcycles are difficult for motorists to notice and react to on roadways. Automobile drivers generally look for larger vehicles when maneuvering. Because of their stature, drivers frequently miss or overestimate the speeds of approaching motorcyclists. Motorcycle riders have limited protection in the event of an accident.

Moreover, there are many causes and factors that contribute to motorcycle accidents. The Iowa Department of Transportation has published common factors found in the majority of motorcycle accidents in the state, including:

• Judgment issues: Motorists making a left turn or approaching a stop sign frequently “misjudge speed” or “don’t see” an oncoming motorcycle.
• Speeding: More than one-third of Iowa’s fatal motorcycle accidents list “speed” as the cause.
• Driving under the influence: Motorcycle drivers were more intoxicated than any other type of motorist in fatal crashes. In fatal motorcycle accidents, more than a third of the riders tested positive for alcohol or drugs.
• Animal Crossing: Every year, more Iowa motorcycle operators die in deer-related incidents than other motorists.

Motorcycles are smaller, less stable, and handle in a different way than conventional automobiles. Because of their inexperience, age, or high-risk activities like intoxicated driving and speeding, motorcycle riders are subjected to a greater risk of collision.

The most important thing is to seek medical attention as soon as possible following a motorcycle accident if you sustain injuries. Emergency responders on the scene of the motorcycle crash may recommend that you ride in an ambulance to the hospital to have your injuries thoroughly examined by doctors. Even if you decline to go to the hospital right after the accident, you should see a doctor for a checkup within the next day or two because some motorcycle injuries may not present themselves immediately.

If possible, immediately after a motorcycle wreck, you should take the following precautions:

• Get out of the way of the traffic
• Contact the police and call for an ambulance
• Collect information on the other driver and vehicle
• Do not remove your helmet or safety gear
• Gather information on any passers-by or witnesses.
• Keep an eye out for any unusual conduct from the other motorist

Do not engage in an argument with the other driver. When law enforcement authorities come on the scene, be calm and let them do their duties.

A passenger car driver may attempt to flee the scene after colliding with a motorcycle. A driver involved in an accident in Iowa is required by law to remain at the site and assist others. If the driver runs away from the scene, try to recall as much information about the vehicle as possible, such as the license plate number, make, model, and color, to assist law enforcement in locating the driver.

You must prove that someone else was negligent and explain how they were at fault for the accident before you can seek compensation in a motorcycle accident – or any other form of motor vehicle accident. Otherwise, you will not be able to make a valid claim for damages.

In any personal injury claim based on negligence, the following four elements must be met:

1. Duty: A duty of care was owed by the at-fault driver. This meant that they were compelled by law to drive safely and responsibly in order to avoid harming themselves and others.
2. Breach: The at-fault driver failed to fulfill his or her duty of care and therefore was in breach. This indicates that they did not drive safely or responsibly, as required by the law.
3. Cause: The injuries suffered by the victim are a direct cause of the at-fault driver’s breach of their duty of care. Their actions or behaviors were irresponsible and careless.
4. Damages: The result of the accident. The victim or victim’s property sustained damages from the accident caused by the at-fault driver.

Every motorist has a duty of care in the event of a motorcycle accident to operate in a way that does not cause direct harm to others. A driver is negligent if they fail to uphold their duty of care and cause an accident. In any injury accident, the person who is at fault is responsible for the damages. You have the right to claim damages as recompense for your injuries if you were injured in a motorbike accident.

The amount of money you can get in a motorcycle accident depends on the severity of your injuries and property damage, as well as the insurance coverage that each driver has. Under Iowa law, you may be able your motorcycle accident claim with either your own insurance or the other driver’s insurance company. If your injuries are severe and your losses exceed the insurance policy’s limits, you may be able to pursue a personal injury case against a negligent motorist.

Special damages, often known as economic damages, pay a victim monetarily for out-of-pocket expenses incurred as a result of the accident. The following are common examples of special damages:

• Expenses for motorcycle maintenance or replacement
• If your injuries keep you from working, you can collect for lost wages and loss of earning capacity
• Items that are irreplaceable or valuable are lost
• Medical bills from the past and the future

Non-economic damages, often known as general damages, pay motorcycle accident victims for non-monetary losses incurred as a result of the motorcycle crash. These forms of damages are sometimes the most significant component of a personal injury claim or lawsuit. The following are some examples of general damages:

• Mental agony or emotional distress
• Past and future pain and suffering
• Physical handicap
• Quality of life deterioration
• Scarring or disfigurement

Iowa has few constraints on damages caps in personal injury cases—there are no caps on damage in motor vehicle accidents if you are not the more at-fault party. In most injury lawsuits, a jury decides how much in damages to award an injured plaintiff, and this is also a key subject of bargaining in injury settlement discussions.