Motor Vehicle Accident/Bicycle Injuries

A motor vehicle collision accident occurs when a motor vehicle, including a passenger car, van, motorcycle, truck, or bus, collides with:

• Another motor vehicle

• A pedestrian or bicyclist

• A fixed object

In 2007, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that more than 10 million motor vehicle accidents occurred on the road. 

A motor vehicle non-collision accident occurs when a motor vehicle is involved in an accident although no collision has occurred, such as a rollover occurrence.  Injuries sustained during a motor vehicle accident, whether it be a collision or non-collision accident, can be minor or can result in death.  In 2007, it was estimated that some 41,000 people died within thirty days of being involved in a motor vehicle accident, while approximately 43,000 people died within one year after being injured in a motor vehicle accident.

In addition, 716 bicyclists died on the roads in 2008, and 52,000 bicyclists were injured in 2007. Some common ways bicyclists are hurt include motorists suddenly opening car doors, making left turns in front of bicyclists, and taking right turns directly into bicyclists.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, you should know that you may be entitled to compensation for:

• medical expenses incurred as a result of the accident;

• loss of income from missed work;

• pain and suffering arising from physical and emotional injuries;

• aggravation of existing medical conditions.

It is also essential to determine the kinds and amounts of damage covered by your insurance policy as well as the responsible party’s insurance policy. There are often short deadlines that must be met in order to help achieve a full measure of compensation, such as notification to insurers that may provide no fault, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

Scott Charnas can assist you in these areas.

$5.9 million for construction
accident resulting in brain
damage.

$4.2 million recovery for a
scaffolding collapse.

$1.5 million medical
malpractice settlement.