Riding a motorcycle is thrilling, liberating, and sometimes terrifying.\u00a0 Many riders share a sense of peace and tranquility that comes with the connection in \u201cbeing one with the road\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0A sense of freedom that comes from being liberated from the four-wheel two thousand pound steel cage in which we normally experience the \u201copen\u201d road.\u00a0\u00a0But riding a motorcycle has a dark side.\u00a0 Often the danger associated with motorcycle riding has more to do with car drivers than with motorcycle riders.\u00a0The reality is, motorcycle riders are often not seen by car and truck drivers, or are simply ignored.\u00a0 The fact is motorcycles are\u00a0significantly smaller than cars and as such are more vulnerable to being missed by drivers who change lanes, execute turns, or exit driveways.\u00a0 While it is true that everyone is encouraged to drive defensively, for motorcyclists defensive driving is mandatory for survival.\u00a0 They must anticipate the unexpected and always have to accept the likelihood the SUV driver in the lane next to them probably doesn\u2019t realize they are there.<\/p>\n
While motorcyclists are more vulnerable than car and trucker drivers in an accident, it is just as likely for a motorcycle rider to be negligent\u00a0in causing an accident.\u00a0 A key difference, however, is the consequence of that accident.\u00a0 Most car accidents don\u2019t result in injuries.\u00a0 Most of those that do, the injuries are minor.\u00a0 Conversely, most motorcycle accidents do result in injuries.\u00a0 Many sustain serious injuries; and some result in death.\u00a0\u00a0According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Association 2014 traffic safety facts motorcyclists are 25 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a traffic accidents per mile driven.<\/p>\n
Given that injuries are common with motorcycle accidents, the concern over payment of medical bills is critical.\u00a0 In Oregon the law mandates that ALL liability automobile insurance policies included\u00a0Personal Injury Protection benefits (PIP for short).\u00a0 PIP provides for a minimum of $15,000 in medical care following a car accident.\u00a0 Oregon PIP law, however,\u00a0DOES NOT\u00a0extend to motorcycles.\u00a0 This means that liability insurance companies\u00a0DO NOT\u00a0have to offer PIP on motorcycle policies; and\u00a0most don\u2019t.<\/p>\n
Some motorcycle liability insurance policies will provide a medical payment provision in the event of an accident.\u00a0 The limits of the medical payments benefits are generally much less than PIP; usually only $5,000.\u00a0 A minority of insurance liability carriers offer full PIP benefits for motorcycle riders.\u00a0 Many others don\u2019t offer ANY medical benefits.\u00a0 It is disconcerting that those vehicles on the road most susceptible to injuries are not protected by the motorcycle insurance policy they carry.\u00a0 Too often we represent individuals injured on motorcycles caused by the negligence of others who are unable to obtain the medical treatment they so desperately require because of financial hardship.<\/p>\n
If you are a motorcycle rider it is imperative that you ascertain whether your insurance policy will\u00a0cover you for medical treatment\u00a0in the event of an accident.\u00a0 Obtaining a settlement for your claim from the at-fault driver will usually not occur until after you complete your medical treatment.\u00a0 Not getting the necessary medical treatment will also adversely affect your settlement position.\u00a0 If your motorcycle insurance company does not offer PIP benefits, or other medical payment benefits, it may be time to switch insurance companies.\u00a0 As motorcycle accident attorneys we have all too often seen clients without proper insurance and the terrible ramifications of that truth!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Motorcycle Accidents And Medical Bills Riding a motorcycle is thrilling, liberating, and sometimes terrifying.\u00a0 Many riders share a sense of peace and tranquility that comes with the connection in \u201cbeing one with the road\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0A sense of freedom that comes from being liberated from the four-wheel two thousand pound steel cage in which we normally experience […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_angie_page":false,"page_builder":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[55,56],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-725","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-medical-bills","category-motorcycle-accidents"],"yoast_head":"\n