Motorcycle Accidents Are Devastating
Contact an Experienced Tacoma Motorcycle Accident Attorney for Justice
The Motorcycle Legal Foundation reports there are more than 8.6 million registered motorcycles across the United States. With gas prices on the rise, it is expected that even more people will be using a motorcycle as transportation. According to the most recently available data, in 2019, 5,115 people died in motorcycle accidents, while another 79,000 received severe injuries. Those who ride motorcycles are particularly vulnerable to serious injury in the event of an accident, due to the almost total lack of protection. Even though motorcycles represent only 3 percent of all registered vehicles and account for only 0.6 percent of miles driven, they account for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities and 3 percent of all injuries. Having an experienced Tacoma motorcycle accident attorney like Blake Kremer can make a huge difference in the outcome of your motorcycle accident claim.
Attorney Blake Kremer has a long history of advocacy and service to his community, representing causes and people who might otherwise have found no justice. Blake has been exceptionally successful in activist cases, often winning against immense odds. The Law Office of Blake Kremer takes cases other firms consider unwinnable, ultimately recovering large settlements on behalf of his clients. Blake never hesitates to use litigation as a tool for obtaining justice for his clients, knowing full well that many insurance companies will not make a serious offer until a lawsuit has been filed.
Blake Kremer stands up strong for those who need advocacy—and might not otherwise receive justice. Blake is certainly one of the few injury attorneys who has dedicated himself and his practice to representing those seeking social justice. Because he has the skills necessary to advocate and protect, Blake takes cases of those who otherwise would not have quality representation.
What are the Primary Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?
Riding on two wheels rather than four makes motorcycles much less stable than passenger vehicles. This means the rider’s skill level is extremely important when maintaining control of the motorcycle. Motorcycle accidents are simply more likely to occur among those who are inexperienced, particularly during the first year. This does not mean an accident involving an inexperienced motorcyclist was the biker’s fault, only that the biker may not have been as able to handle unanticipated circumstances as a more experienced biker.
Motorcyclists handle many challenges and dangers and are extremely vulnerable when hit by a vehicle or a semi-truck. While passenger vehicles are surrounded by a glass and steel cage and afforded the protection of safety belts and airbags, motorcyclists have virtually no protection, other than a helmet, if worn. The top causes of motorcycle accidents include:
- The driver of a vehicle makes an unsafe lane change without properly looking to see if there is a motorcyclist in the lane.
- A driver who opens the car door of his or her parked vehicle into the path of an oncoming motorcyclist.
- An impaired or overly fatigued vehicle driver who is not able to drive safely and fails to see a motorcyclist.
- The driver of a vehicle makes a sudden stop, causing a motorcyclist to crash into the rear of the vehicle.
- Drivers make left-hand turns, misjudging the distance of an oncoming motorcyclist can cause a severe accident.
- Motorcycle defects can result in a motorcyclist accident with serious or fatal injuries.
- Inclement weather and poor road conditions can lead to a motorcycle accident.
Where Are Motorcycle Accidents Most Likely to Occur in Tacoma?
In the city of Tacoma—or in any city—more than a third of all motorcycle accidents occur in intersections due to drivers failing to see the motorcycle. Motorists can also misjudge how fast a motorcyclist is traveling, turning in front of the motorcycle and causing the rider to slam into the side of the vehicle. In July 2021, a motorcycle accident led to a double fatality on I-705 near I-5. Another motorcycle accident earlier in July on State Route 7 and yet another on South 82nd ended in fatalities.
Motorcycle accidents can happen anywhere, anytime, in any city, or on a rural road. No matter where your accident occurred, or the circumstances surrounding your motorcycle accident, an experienced motorcycle accident attorney, Blake Kremer, from the Law Office of Blake Kremer can help you through this difficult time. He will help you get the medical treatments you need, and the financial settlement that will help you get your life back on track.
What Should You Do Immediately Following a Tacoma Motorcycle Accident?
The most important thing you can do following a motorcycle accident is to get immediate medical attention. Even if you believe you are “fine” following your motorcycle accident, remember that your injuries can be masked by the rush of adrenaline that flooded your body during the accident. Receiving prompt medical treatment is crucial to the success of a future motorcycle accident claim in that if you did not seek immediate medical attention the insurance company may claim your injuries were not as severe as you are now claiming. That being said, even if you refused a trip to the hospital immediately after the wreck, you should still visit a doctor within the next day or two.
Following your motorcycle accident, do the following, if possible:
- Move away from the flow of traffic to avoid further injury.
- Call 911 for the police and the EMT first responders.
- If you are physically able, give the police officer your version of the accident.
- If your injuries are not too severe, exchange information with the other driver—contact and insurance information.
- Again, if you are physically able, take a few photos with your cell phone of the scene of the accident, including the other driver’s vehicle and license plate.
- If there were witnesses to the accident, get contact information from those witnesses. This information could be an invaluable resource for your Tacoma motorcycle accident attorney.
- Once you have had medical treatment and are home, contact your own insurance company. Relay the facts about your accident to your insurance company.
- As you receive medical treatments, keep every receipt in a file folder so you can be properly reimbursed for the medical expenses. Also, take the time to jot down every detail you can remember regarding your motorcycle accident within a few days of the accident. The smallest detail could be significant in your motorcycle accident claim.
- Contact a Tacoma motorcycle accident attorney as quickly as possible following your motorcycle accident. The quicker your motorcycle accident attorney can begin collecting evidence, the better chance you have of receiving a fair settlement.
What are Some of the Complexities Seen in Motorcycle Accident Claims?
Motorcycle accidents, by their very nature, often result in severe injuries, usually for the motorcyclist. Beyond the severity of the injuries, when a motorcycle accident claim goes to trial, the motorcyclist’s attorney has a steep curve to overcome—the misperceptions many people have about motorcyclists. Thanks to movies and stereotypes, many people still look at motorcyclists as wild, hard-living risk-takers. These stereotypes can hurt a motorcyclist during a trial, resulting in a much lower settlement than the injured motorcyclist deserves. In truth, the vast majority of motorcyclists are safe drivers who follow the rules of the road. A knowledgeable attorney is well aware of these misperceptions and will work aggressively to dispel them.
How Highly Skilled Tacoma Motorcycle Accident Attorney Blake Kremer Can Help
If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident in King, Pierce, Snohomish, or Thurston counties (including Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, and Olympia) or anywhere in Puget Sound, South Sound, or Western Washington, attorney Blake Kremer is ready to help you get through this difficult time. Blake has had his own law practice since 1992 and is a proud third-generation attorney.
At the Law Office of Blake Kremer, Blake believes every client has the absolute right to be heard, have their questions answered, and be treated with respect. As an attorney with a solid dedication to social justice, Blake Kremer always puts the needs of his clients front and center and has obtained some truly impressive settlements on behalf of his clients. To name only a few, Blake obtained a $2,000,000 wrongful death settlement, a $775,000 settlement for the victim of a semi-truck accident, and a $38,869 settlement for the victim of a dog attack.
Attorney Blake Kremer is a highly experienced motorcycle accident attorney who will get you the money you deserve following your motorcycle accident—contact the Law Office of Blake Kremer today. Call (253) 830-5844 today to speak with Attorney Blake Kremer, or (253) 368-4382 to speak with Kate, Blake’s paralegal.
