If you live in Rhode Island, icy roads can create hazardous road conditions and cause many accidents, including those with a motorcycle. While it’s extremely dangerous for motorcycles to travel when the roads are slippery, many people rely on their bikes as their only means of transportation and have no other option. 
When icy surfaces are a factor in an accident, it may be due to the road not being properly maintained. In the winter months, roads in Rhode Island can become snow-covered, icy, and slippery, and the state or local municipality in charge of the road or highway may not care for it properly causing hazardous conditions for drivers.
When another party is to blame for causing a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. To find out more about your legal rights after being injured in a motorcycle crash on icy roads, contact an experienced motorcycle attorney.
Causes of Motorcycle Accidents on Icy Roads
Motorcycle accidents can happen for many reasons. A driver may violate the motorcyclist’s right of way; they may collide with the motorcyclist while changing lanes; or the road itself may create a driving hazard.
Since a motorcycle only has two wheels, it may not be able to stop in time on slippery roads, and there may not be enough traction. There may not be proper warnings in place to alert the biker of hazards such as ice or untreated roads. Accidents that occur on icy roads can be catastrophic, especially if the biker is not wearing a helmet.
Common Types of Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcycle accidents can result in serious, if not fatal, injuries. Some common types of motorcycle accident injuries are:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Head injury
- Road rash
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injury
- Knee injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Loss of limbs
Ways a Lawyer Can Help
After an accident, it is important to seek medical attention for your injuries, file a police report, and contact a skilled motorcycle accident lawyer immediately. It’s important to avoid posting about your accident on social media and talking to insurance adjusters until you get legal advice.
Using an attorney can help get you the compensation you deserve for your motorcycle accident injuries. An attorney can do the following to help with your case:
Determine liability.
Icy road conditions can be the cause of the accident, but determining who is liable can often be a challenge. An experienced attorney can help establish who’s responsible and prove if the state or local municipality was aware of the icy road conditions and did not care for the roads properly. A lawyer can also determine if another driver acted negligently and caused the crash.
Gather evidence.
An attorney can contact witnesses, gather medical information, and get the evidence needed for your case.
Negotiate with insurance companies.
Insurance companies will try to settle your case for the least amount of money possible and may attempt to place blame on you as a biker. An attorney will negotiate with insurance companies to ensure you get the full amount of compensation possible.
Calculate what your case is worth.
An attorney will calculate the damages from your accident to determine what your case it worth, so you get a fair settlement.
Represent you.
Many bikers are blamed for accidents that happen in the winter even if the accident was not their fault. An attorney will represent your best interests to avoid “biker bias” by jurors if your case goes to court.
You may be able to recover the following damages for your motorcycle accident injuries:
- Medical bills and expenses
- On-going medical care and rehabilitation
- Loss of past, present, and future income earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Wrongful death of a loved one if the accident resulted in a fatality
Have You Been Involved In A Rhode Island Motorcycle Accident?
If you've been hurt in a motorcycle accident you need to speak to an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Warwick office directly at 401.946.3200 to schedule your free consultation. We help accident victims in Providence, Warwick and all areas of Rhode Island.
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