Motorcycle riders often get an unjustified reputation as being 
reckless, risk takers, and that they generally disobey traffic 
laws. This perception is unfounded and there are many statistics 
that back up the fact that most motorcycle accidents are not the 
fault of the motorcycle rider, but that of another driver.

A major study conducted by the University of Southern California 
(USC) found that approximately three-fourths of motorcycle 
accidents involved a collision with another vehicle, usually a 
passenger automobile.  It was also found that in the multiple 
vehicle accidents, the driver of the other vehicle violated the 
motorcycle right-of-way and caused the accident in two-thirds of 
those accidents. Further the study by USC found that the failure 
of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is 
the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of 
the other vehicle involved in collision with the motorcycle did 
not see the motorcycle before the collision, or did not see the 
motorcycle until too late to avoid the collision.

These findings go to show that the motorcycle rider has unjustly 
received a bad reputation from the general public as well as from 
insurance companies that cover motorcycle riders. Motorcycles are 
inherently prone to accidents caused by other drivers because of 
their small size. Motorcycles easily fit into the blind spot of 
typical passenger automobiles. The truth is that most motorcycle 
riders are very good drivers and keep an eye out for motorists 
who do not see them. This awareness of other drivers however does 
not prevent all accidents.

When accidents such as these happen, the insurance company of 
the driver who is at fault will go to great lengths to keep 
from giving the motorcycle rider the money he or she deserves. 
Insurance companies will frequently rush the victim to make a 
quick settlement as a way to save money. Most people in the 
general public are not insurance experts and do not know if they 
are getting a bad deal from the insurance company or not. When a 
check is stuck in front of them it can be quite tempting to sign.

Taking the insurance companies first offer is usually a mistake. 
Other times the insurance company of the other driver will try 
to not pay at all for the accident and resulting injuries. They 
often try to make it appear that the motorcycle rider was at 
fault in the accident. It is not hard to convince a jury of this 
since motorcycle riders have this unjust reputation of being less 
than careful.

This is why it is critically important to have a qualified and 
competent lawyer on your side if you find yourself the victim of 
a motorcycle accident. A qualified lawyer will help make sure 
that you get the settlement that you deserve; a settlement that 
will cover your medical bills as well as paying for the damage 
to your motorcycle. Not having a lawyer to stand up for you will 
cost you more than just money, it will also cause you a great 
deal of headaches and heartache. Trying to fight an insurance 
company on your own, while at the same time dealing with physical 
injuries can be an overwhelming task.

A qualified lawyer is the only one who will be on your side in 
case of an accident. A lawyer works for you and only you. The 
insurance company works for their shareholders and will try very 
hard to keep from getting you the money that you deserve. 

Landon Prescott writes on topics related to insurance and health.
For over 30 years the motorcycle lawyers at Michael H. Silvers, A
Law Corporation, have successfully represented injured motorcycle 
riders with a 98.6% success rate. Motorcycle accident law is a 
very specialized area of law that requires the experience and 
expertise of a motorcycle lawyer, with a proven track record. 
Michael H. Silvers, A Law Corporation has 24 convenient 
locations in California. http://www.michaelhsilvers.com/