Riding on the back of a friend’s bike can be exhilarating. But even under the best circumstances, it’s far riskier than being a passenger in a car. Motorcyclists are also about 28 times more likely than occupants of passenger vehicles to die in a crash and four times more likely to be injured. After the crash, you may have to endure long months of a painful recovery or suffer a debilitating permanent injury, both of which can result in lost wages and devastating medical bills.
If you were a passenger involved in a New Hampshire motorcycle accident, here’s what you need to know about seeking compensation.
POTENTIAL PARTIES IN PASSENGER MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS
You may feel anxious about seeking compensation from the friend driving the motorcycle, but don’t get ahead of yourself. The first step in any accident investigation is determining who is at fault. The responsible party (or parties) must compensate you for your injuries.
Any of four potential parties are most likely to have contributed to the accident: The motorcycle operator, the driver of another vehicle, the motorcycle manufacturer, or the government entity responsible for the roadways. Only one of these parties may have caused the accident, or each may have contributed a percentage.
To determine who is at fault, experts must carefully review the evidence, including police and hospital reports, witness testimony, property damage, and physical evidence at the site. Hiring an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer is essential to help ensure that the investigation is thorough and fair, and looks out for your interests.
MODIFIED COMPARATIVE FAULT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
Because New Hampshire uses a modified comparative fault system, investigators will also examine the passenger’s contribution to the accident. Modified comparative fault means that a party will only receive compensation for their injuries if they were less than 51 percent or less responsible for the crash. For example, if you, the passenger, were engaging in careless behavior that caused the driver to crash, you might not be able to recover for your injuries.
Assuming you’re not comparatively at fault for the accident, you can seek compensation for your injuries. If the motorcycle operator were partially at fault, you would file a first-party claim with the motorcycle operator’s insurance carrier, who would, in turn, file a claim with any other responsible parties. However, if a third party were responsible for the accident, you’d file a third party with the responsible party’s insurance carrier.
If the insurance payout isn’t sufficient to cover your injuries, you may opt to initiate a personal injury lawsuit against those responsible. You might be entitled to compensation for all accident-related injuries, including lost wages, both past and future, a broad range of medical bills, and pain and suffering.
EXPERIENCED PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS SERVING LACONIA, BEDFORD, GOFFSTOWN, PORTSMOUTH, AND MORE
If you were injured as a passenger in a New Hampshire motorcycle accident, contact experienced personal injury lawyers as soon as possible. Call the skilled attorneys of Tenn And Tenn, P.A. Our team can help you fight for the fairest settlement possible to compensate you for your injuries. Call 1-888-511-1010 today or reach out online for your free consultation.