A motorcycle accident can be particularly catastrophic for the rider, but even so, you might find yourself worrying more about the possibility of getting a traffic ticket after you crash your motorcycle and injure yourself. You likely have concerns over whether or not you will get compensation from the insurance company if you get a ticket for your accident.
Simply receiving a ticket is not an indication of fault in an accident, and in reality, you might not receive a ticket at all if you crash your motorcycle and injure yourself. You can take the proper steps after a motorcycle crash by understanding when a crash is a ticketable offense and what the best course of action is after your accident.
When Can I Get a Ticket After a Motorcycle Crash?
Many accidents are just that – an accident that occurs due to uncontrollable circumstances or due to mechanical failure that was not foreseeable or preventable. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding your crash, keep in mind that you have a legal obligation to report the accident and wait for law enforcement officers to arrive on the scene. Responders will likely acknowledge that your crash is possibly a true accident or, at the very least, wait until after an investigation to determine if a traffic citation is necessary.
You can receive a ticket, however, if law enforcement determines that your crash is the result of negligence. If you crash your motorcycle and injure yourself, you may receive a ticket if you were:
- Speeding at the time of the incident
- Operating your vehicle while distracted
- Violating traffic laws
- Operating your vehicle while intoxicated
- Refusing to submit to a chemical test
Be aware also that driving while intoxicated or refusing to submit to a chemical test are also grounds for a DUI arrest.
What Should I Do if My Motorcycle Accident Involves a Speeding Ticket?
If you do receive a speeding ticket or any other traffic citation following your motorcycle crash, it is important to understand how it will affect your insurance claim. The insurance company might see your ticket as an indication of your fault in the accident and as a valid cause to deny some or all of the compensation you would otherwise be due.
Other parties involved in your accident may attempt to argue that you are guilty of negligence by speeding, especially if police officers issue a ticket stating as much. Keep in mind, though, that you do have the right to dispute a speeding ticket. You might accomplish this by providing evidence that you obeyed posted speed limit signs at the time of the accident or that you had valid or safety-related reasons for exceeding the speed limit.
Working closely with a personal injury lawyer can give you the best possible chance at successfully disputing a speeding ticket and ensuring that a traffic citation does not stand in the way of you receiving the full amount of compensation you deserve after a motorcycle crash.
Will I Receive a Ticket for a “No Contact” Accident?
If you crash your motorcycle and injure yourself, the circumstances surrounding your crash can also cause other drivers to experience an accident. For example, you might lose control of your bike during a sudden lane change and give nearby drivers cause to swerve in response. If those drivers experience a collision as a result, then that is a “no contact” accident because there was no physical contact between vehicles.
Even in a no-contact accident, it is possible for a negligent individual to bear the burden of fault. If an investigation finds that you did not exercise reasonable care toward other drivers or the rules of the road and that this failure to exercise caution resulted in harm to other individuals, then you may receive a ticket for the accident even if there was no contact between vehicles.
Another example of a no-contact accident involving a motorcycle is when a standard vehicle comes to a sudden stop in front of a motorcycle, making it necessary for the motorcyclist to swerve or quickly lay down their bike to avoid a collision. This type of incident can easily result in the motorcyclist falling to the pavement and sustaining potentially serious injuries, but the fault in such an accident might not be immediately apparent. An investigation might reveal that the driver is at fault for coming to a sudden stop or that the motorcyclist is to blame for tailgating or failing to be attentive.
What Is the Role of a Ticket in Determining Fault?
It is important to remember that receiving a ticket does not automatically mean that you are at fault in the eyes of the law and the insurance company. You can still file a claim and have a strong chance of securing the settlement you need and deserve.
If another driver involved in your accident receives a ticket, however, it can serve to strengthen your insurance claim as evidence that another party was likely more liable for the accident than you. A traffic citation against another driver shows that the individual was in violation of traffic laws at the time of your crash.
Get the Help You Need in Your Personal Injury Case
If you crash your motorcycle and sustain an injury, it does not automatically mean that you will get a ticket. You do still need to report the accident and wait for police responders, but you can take heart in knowing that reporting an accident does not indicate or assign fault. Insurance companies and law enforcement will determine fault only after a thorough investigative process. Insurance adjusters should evaluate any relevant traffic cam footage, witness statements and other evidence pertaining to the circumstances of the crash to determine where negligence lies.
At Jason Stone Injury Lawyers, we have extensive experience in helping motorists obtain their due compensation after suffering damage in an accident. We can communicate with insurance providers on your behalf and give you the best possible chance at securing the reimbursement you need after incurring repair costs and medical bills as a result of your motorcycle crash. Contact us online or call 800-577-5188 for a free initial consultation.
Not Trusting What You’re Being Told?
Better Phone Stone
800-577-5188
START MY NO OBLIGATION CONSULTATION
