The Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) has already investigated multiple traffic-related deaths even though the New Year has just begun. The Atlanta Review-Journal reports that a man tragically died in a single-motorcycle accident in North Las Vegas on the first day of 2018. According to law enforcement, the motorcyclist lost control of his 2016 Harley Davidson and crashed on the southbound lane of Nevada state Route 160. NHP pronounced the local Las Vegas man, who was 62 years old, dead at the accident scene. This was the first motorcycle accident crash investigated by NHP in 2018.
Motorcycle Accidents are Often More Dangerous
There has been a marked increase in deaths among motorcyclists, particularly riders who are over the age of 40. Not only are Nevada motorcyclists much more likely to be involved in a traffic-related accident than their counterparts who are riding in passenger vehicles, but a larger percentage of accidents involving motorcycles are caused by alcohol. Several factors contribute to the higher risk of accidents, injuries, and/or death of motorcyclists including speeding, unsafe lane changes, car doors opening, lane splitting, sudden stops, left turn accidents, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and inexperienced drivers.
Some common motorcycle accident injuries include facial fractures, facial disfigurement, road rash, broken bones, burns, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, loss of limbs, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Accidents involving motorcycles and passenger vehicles account for more than 50% of motorcycle accident fatalities. More than 75% of the time the vehicle collides with the motorcycle from the front and only 5% of the time the car hits the bike from the rear. Not surprisingly, head-on collisions are often fatal to the motorcycle rider.
Nevada Insurance Law
State law mandates minimum auto insurance coverage in Nevada for motorists, and those riding motorcycles are not exception to this rule. Specifically, state law requires a minimum amount of coverage of $15,000 per person for bodily injury, $30,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $10,000 per accident for property damage. This is commonly referred to as 15/30/10 coverage. (It is increasing in July 2018 to 25/50/20.) More often than not, Nevada drivers and others across the country fail to adequately protect themselves. Additionally, few drivers choose to purchase uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM). This coverage is vital because it acts as additional coverage when a crash involves a driver that either does not have enough insurance to pay for all the medical bills and property damage incurred or has not auto insurance at all. Beyond auto insurance coverage, many drivers do not carry health insurance, making the financial hardship even more difficult to overcome if involved in a Nevada car accident.
Nevada Personal Injury Help
If you have been injured in a Nevada motorcycle accident, or know someone who has been hurt or killed in one, contact the seasoned personal injury attorneys at H & P. Fighting on behalf of the injured across Nevada, these aggressive attorneys will push for the best result in your case. Click here today to schedule your initial consultation.
