There are over 8.5 million motorcycles on the road in the United States. People often buy motorcycles for the thrill and the unparalleled feeling of freedom that they get when riding down a scenic road. The thought of the wind blowing through your hair on a warm, sunny day may sound appealing, but an innocent ride through the city may end in tragedy.

Motorcyclists face unique risks and dangers when they get on their bikes, and unfortunately, when an crash does occur, it is often far more catastrophic than a car crash. If you have a motorcycle, it’s important to prepare for the dangers that you may encounter on the road. Start by learning about these shocking motorcycle crash statistics:

Motorcyclists Are More Likely to Be Injured or Killed

According to the Insurance Information Institute, motorcyclists are five times more likely than car passengers to be injured in a crash and 29 times more likely to sustain fatal injuries. This is because motorcyclists have far less protection than motorcyclists do. When riding in a car, you are protected by seatbelts that strap your body in and airbags that limit the damage in the event of a collision. However, motorcyclists do not have this type of protection. Wearing a helmet, long-sleeved shirts, thick fabrics, and full-length pants can help, but these items don’t come close to providing the same level of protection as seatbelts and airbags.

Even if a car is traveling at a low speed when it hits a motorcycle, the impact could still be strong enough to send the motorcyclist flying off his bike or cause him to fall onto his side. Motorcyclists that are thrown from the bike can sustain traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, road rash, and broken bones. If a motorcyclist falls to his side, it’s likely that the bike will topple over on top of him, pinning him to the ground and possibly crushing his limbs.

Many Motorcyclists Still Don’t Wear Helmets

Motorcyclists don’t have much protection, so you would think that they would take advantage of the little protection that they can get by wearing their safety gear at all times. However, It is estimated that only 50% of motorcyclists wear helmets. In addition, 40% of motorcyclists killed in crashes were not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Wearing a helmet is the greatest way to reduce your risk of sustaining a head injury, so not wearing one is irresponsible and dangerous.

Studies have shown that some motorcyclists are more likely to wear a helmet than others. Inexperienced riders, young riders, and motorcyclists who are going on short trips or riding on a hot day are less likely than others to wear a helmet.

Older Motorcyclists Account For More Than Half of All Fatalities

People often think of motorcyclists as young and reckless, but statistics show that older motorcyclists are more likely to be involved in fatal crashes than young riders. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 54% of motorcyclists killed in crashes in 2015 were at least 40 years old, which represents a 17% increase in deaths within this age group since 2006.

Why are so many older motorcyclists killed in crashes? According to researchers at Brown University, riders at this age begin to experience a decline in vision and reaction time. This makes it more difficult for them to see potential hazards and quickly react to changes on the road to avoid crashes. In addition, older riders tend to buy larger bikes that they view as more stable and reliable. However, these bikes are more likely to roll over in the event of a collision and lead to fatal injuries.

Motorists Are Usually At Fault For Motorcycle Crashes

About 75% of all motorcycle crashes involve a collision between a motorcycle and at least one car. Most of these motorcycle crashes are caused by motorists who fail to spot motorcycles in traffic when they turn, change lanes, move through an intersection, or merge. These drivers either fail to detect the motorcyclist altogether or only see him when it is too late to avoid the crash. The majority of motorcycle crashes occur in intersections when the motorist violates the motorcyclist’s right-of-way or fails to obey a traffic sign or light.

The other 25% of crashes are single-vehicle crashes, meaning they only involve the motorcycle. Roadway hazards such as potholes or debris can cause this type of crash, however these hazards only account for 2% of all collisions. More common causes of single-vehicle crashes include speeding, making wide turns, or sliding out due to rider error.

Motorcycle Crashes Cost $16 Billion Every Year

The Government Accounting Office (GAO) estimates that motorcycle crashes cost the country about $16 billion every year. This figure includes the cost of providing emergency medical services and other medical costs such as surgeries, rehabilitation, and mental health counseling. Also included is the loss of productivity, which occurs when motorcyclists must take time off of work to recover from their injuries. Believe it or not, the GAO estimates that the loss of productivity is higher than the cost of medical expenses for motorcycle crash victims. Loss of productivity typically accounts for 44% of the costs incurred after a crash, whereas medical expenses only account for 18%. However, it’s important to note that the GAO failed to include long-term medical expenses in this calculation. It’s possible that medical expenses could be the leading cost of motorcycle crashes if long-term expenses were factored in as well.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle crash, contact Trial Lawyers for Justice today to schedule a consultation regarding your case. Our team of attorneys has the experience and legal knowledge to help you recover the maximum amount of compensation available.

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Office of Traffic and Safety keeps a list of the most dangerous intersections in the state known as the Safety Improvement Candidate Locations (SICL). To determine which intersections should be included on this list, the state looks at a number of different statistics, including total number of car crashes, severity, injuries, and fatalities. Crashes within 75 feet of city intersections and 150 feet of rural intersections are included in this data.

Which intersections are the most dangerous in the state? Here are 5 of the most dangerous intersections as identified by the Office of Traffic Safety:

Intersection of U.S. 6/W. Kimberly Rd./Marquette St.

Located in the city of Davenport in Scott County, this intersection ranks high on the list based on data from 2009-2013. There were 45 reported incidents involving 96 different vehicles at this intersection during this time period. Many of the crashes at this intersection were severe enough to cause injuries, and there were also two fatalities at this intersection that were caused by car crashes. Even more astonishing is the amount of property damage that resulted from the car crashes. Between 2009 and 2013, crashes led to over $260,000 in estimated property damage at the intersection of U.S. 6, Kimberly Road and Marquette Street.

According to the data, the most dangerous time of day to drive through this intersection is between the hours of noon and 6 p.m. Surprisingly, there were rarely any crashes reported here during the middle of night.

Intersection of U.S. 61/Harrison St./W. Locust St.

This intersection is also located in Davenport within Scott County. There were 63 crashes involving 129 cars at this intersection between 2009 and 2013, 30 of which involved injuries. Drivers who were involved in crashes at this intersection incurred an estimated $255,000 in property damage as a result of the collisions.

The afternoon and early evening hours were some of the most dangerous for this intersection, just as they were for the first intersection mentioned on this list. However, there were also a great deal of crashes at this intersection in the early morning hours between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Most crashes at this intersection were caused by drivers who were tailgating other vehicles and failed to brake in time to avoid a collision. As a result, most of the crashes that occurred here were rear-end collisions. A significant amount of crashes were also caused by drivers who ran a traffic signal and collided with another vehicle.

Intersection of IA 27/Iowa 58/Viking Rd.

Located in Cedar Falls within Black Hawk County, this intersection had 66 crashes between 2009 and 2013. There were 142 vehicles involved in these crashes, meaning many collisions involved more than two vehicles. Two fatalities have been reported at this intersection, but many others were injured as a result of crashes here. It is estimated that the drivers who were involved in these crashes suffered over $450,000 in property damage. Based on the amount of property damage, it is surprising that there were not more fatalities and serious injuries reported at this intersection.

When is this intersection the most dangerous? Crashes occurred at all hours, but the most dangerous hours were between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. About one-third of the crashes at this intersection occurred when a driver failed to yield to the right of way when making a left turn. Thirty of the crashes involved one vehicle hitting another at an angle, and 20 of them were rear-end collisions.

Intersection of U.S. 69/SE 14^TH St/E. Indianola Ave.

This intersection is located in the capital city of Des Moines. There were 74 crashes at this intersection between 2009 and 2013, and although none of them were fatal, there were dozens of reported injuries. The vast majority of these crashes were rear-end collisions caused by drivers tailgating other vehicles and failing to stop in time to avoid contact. A significant amount of crashes were also caused by drivers who ran a traffic signal at this intersection.

Crashes were reported at various times throughout the day, however the most dangerous hours were 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., which could be due to the increase in traffic caused by rush hour. Although most of the crashes were passenger vehicles, there were two crashes that involved motorcycles and one that involved a tractor/semi-trailer.

Intersection of I-235/School St./MLK Jr. Pkwy

This intersection is also located in Des Moines. Over the four years that the state collected data, there were 60 crashes reported at this intersection, many of which involved property damage and injuries. Luckily, none of the crashes reported at this intersection were fatal.

Nearly two-thirds of the crashes at this intersection were caused by drivers who ran through a traffic signal. Many crashes occurred when the weather conditions were cloudy, so it’s possible the drivers were unable to see the traffic signals. The crashes were fairly evenly spread throughout the day, with most occurring between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Two crashes involved buses, and one involved a tractor/semi-trailer, but the majority of the crashes involved passenger vehicles only.

Only one of the crashes at this intersection involved a driver who tested positive for drugs, however one other at-fault driver did refuse to take a chemical test, so it’s possible he could have been under the influence as well.

Crashes can happen anywhere—even at intersections that are not included on this list. If you have been injured in a traffic crash and want to learn more about your legal options, contact Trial Lawyers for Justice today to schedule a consultation. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, but you will need the help of an experienced attorney.

Having a child is supposed to be a joyful occasion, but if your child suffers an injury during birth, the mood can quickly change. Under certain circumstances, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the doctor or hospital responsible for your child’s injuries. But, how do you know when you have a legitimate case?

Birth Defects vs. Injuries

First, you have to understand the difference between a birth defect and a birth injury. A birth defect can be caused by genetics or something that happens during the pregnancy. For example, drinking alcohol while pregnant could cause birth defects. Because birth defects are out of the doctor’s control, you cannot pursue legal action if your child is born with one. On the other hand, birth injuries usually occur during labor and delivery, and are typically caused by improper use of medical tools, an inattentive healthcare professional, or improper delivery technique. A baby could be injured, for example, if the doctor and his staff do not recognize signs of distress that indicate the baby is deprived of oxygen. In birth injury cases, the baby’s family may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more, but this is never a guarantee.

Common Types of Birth Injuries

It’s estimated that about 1 in every 10,000 people in the United States are suffer an injury at birth. Some of these injuries are minor, but others are more severe and can greatly affect the individual’s life.

Unfortunately, brain injuries are one of the most common types of birth injuries. These injuries occur when a baby is deprived of oxygen during childbirth. The longer the baby goes without oxygen, the more severe the injury may be. Why would a baby ever be deprived of oxygen? It can happen for a number of reasons, including the doctor’s failure to monitor the baby and detect signs of distress, or the doctor’s failure to identify the need for an emergency C-section.

Babies can also suffer muscle-related injuries at birth, with the most common being brachial plexus injuries. The brachial plexus is a bundle of nerves located in the neck that controls most of the baby’s upper body. If this cluster of nerves is stretched, compressed, or ruptured during childbirth, the baby may experience weakness, burning sensations, and partial paralysis that can be temporary or permanent.

Brachial plexus injuries often occur when the doctor uses forceps or other tools during difficult deliveries. These tools are designed to help pull the baby out of the birth canal, but if too much force is used, the baby could be severely injured. Some doctors choose to use their hands instead of tools, but brachial plexus injuries can still occur even if no tools are used.

This is just a small sample of the many different types of birth injuries that occur. Babies can also be injured if they are mishandled by the doctor or another healthcare professional who is treating you after delivery. If your baby has suffered any type of injury during birth, it’s best to contact an attorney to determine if the doctor is liable.

How to Prove Medical Malpractice Occurred

Doctors are human, so they are bound to make mistakes once in awhile. In some cases, doctors’ mistakes are considered medical malpractice, which means victims that were injured as a result of the mistake could be entitled to compensation.

In every birth injury case, victims will have to prove that medical malpractice occurred. First, the victim will have to establish that there was a doctor-patient relationship between the defendant and the child who was injured at birth. Establishing this relationship shows that the doctor owed a legal duty of care to the mother and unborn baby, which is crucial in medical malpractice cases.

Next, the victim must prove the doctor acted negligently. Medical professionals are required to treat patients with a level of care that meets a certain standard. If the doctor fails to do so, it is said that he breaches his duty of care to the patient. How can you prove this happened? To put it simply, you must show that the defendant made a mistake that another doctor with the same qualifications would not have made. This can be done by calling a medical expert as a witness and questioning how he would have handled the situation if he were put in similar circumstances.

Then, you must show the negligent behavior was the cause of your baby’s injury. This means you have to be able to prove your child would not have suffered the same injuries if the doctor had not acted negligently during the delivery. You may have to call in medical experts to speak on this matter as well.

Finally, the victim has to show that the injury caused by the doctor has led to harm. Have you and your family suffered a great deal of mental anguish as a result of the birth injury? You may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering. Did your baby require medical treatment because of the birth injuries? You may be required to compensation for medical expenses incurred as a result of the injury.

If you can prove this, you may be awarded compensation from both the doctor and hospital, depending on who your attorney believes is liable for the injuries.

If your child suffered injuries at birth, contact us today to determine whether you should file a personal injury claim against the at-fault parties. Our team of attorneys can review your case to determine who should be held liable, and then help you hold these parties accountable for their actions. Birth injuries can occur within a matter of minutes, but the consequences can affect your child for the rest of his or her life. Let our attorneys help your family recover the compensation you deserve.