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Representing the People Against the Powerful

motorcycle accidents

MONTANA motorcycle ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact AVA Law Group today for your free, no-obligation consultation.
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INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT?

AVA LAW GROUP CAN HELP

If you are from Montana or a traveler passing through and were injured in a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Talk to an AVA Law Expert today to understand all your options.
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Riding Under the Big Sky

What You Need to Know After a Motorcycle Accident in Montana

Although motorcycles offer drivers more freedom on open roads, it doesn't come without increased risks. When you take airbags, seatbelts, and the added protection of a steel enclosure, out of the equation, even the most minor change in road conditions can become a deadly problem. For riders who live or frequent the Big Sky State, its treacherous landscape, unpredictable weather, and high highway speeds can end in disaster.
Even with billboards and flashing signs warning drivers to watch out for motorcyclists, Montana roads remain dangerous for riders. Often, drivers overlook a rider's rights. They often unfairly label motorcyclists as reckless liabilities even when the riders operate their bikes within the law. But the truth is that the law requires vehicles to share the road with motorcyclists.
That's why, if the unthinkable happens, the rider's (or their family's) choices are critical in the moments and weeks following a motorcycle injury. Here's all you need to know to stay safe on the road and what you can do to protect your or a loved one's rights in the aftermath of a motorcycle accident.

motorcycle accidents

ARE THE ROADS in Montana Dangerous for Motorcyclists?

The short answer is yes.
In 2019, the Montana Highway Patrol recorded 330 motorcycle accidents statewide.1 Of those 330, 23 accidents resulted in fatalities, and 225 accidents involved injuries.
There's a freedom motorcyclists get when they ride their motorcycles along the backroads and highways of Montana, and it's a type of freedom that most riders can't find anywhere but on the road. Riding a motorcycle requires more physicality than a passenger vehicle. A motorcyclist leans into a turn. Their body becomes a part of the machine. For tourists and local bikers, Montana offers a dynamic experience. Riders drive alongside Montana's rugged mountains, pastoral plains, and pristine lakes and rivers.
But every year, the number of accidents increases. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found a 9% increase in motorcycle accidents between 2020 and 2021. And as the trend of accidents caused by distracted driving continues to increase in Montana, the NHTSA projects the increase in motorcycle accidents to continue throughout 2022. 2

next steps

WHAT TO DO After a Motorcycle Accident

Get to safety

Getting out of the traffic flow is the riders' most important step after an accident. Remember to leave the bike behind (for now). Checking on its condition or damage puts the rider at risk of getting hit by oncoming traffic.

DON'T AGGRAVATE YOUR INJURIES

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 80% of motorcycle accidents in the United States result in injuries or death. 3
An inevitable surge of adrenaline often masks the seriousness of the rider's injuries immediately after an accident. In the hours and days following the crash, as the adrenaline wears off, injuries that seemed minor often reveal more severe damage. Moving a motorcycle after an accident can agitate injuries the rider may not know about yet.
Furthermore, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration lists head injuries as one of the most common injuries after a motorcycle accident. The NHTSA also points out that "head injury is a leading cause of death and serious injury in motorcycle crashes."3
Since head injuries are so common, riders shouldn't take off their protective gear after an accident. That includes the rider's helmet. Taking off the protective equipment puts the rider at risk of worsening head or neck injuries.

CALL 911 AND EMERGENCY SERVICES

After a rider gets to safety and ensures not to aggravate possible injuries, the next step is to contact emergency personnel. It's important to seek medical treatment to assess and document all injuries as soon as possible.
Most accident victims experience shock after a crash, which can mask serious injuries such as Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and concussions. It's essential that riders disclose, document, and seek treatment for any loss of consciousness or memory (even if brief), drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, blurred vision, slurred speech, and ringing of the ears, as all are signs of a possible head injury.
Documenting all injuries and medical appointments, including hospital visits, physical therapy appointments, etc., allows you a layer of protection if/when you need to seek legal counsel. Having documentation will help solidify a timeline that links injuries to the accident.

GATHER EVIDENCE

Filing a police report is the first step to gathering evidence, but if your condition allows you to, documenting the details of the crash scene is also essential after an accident.
Whether or not it's fair, you are thrust into an investigative position when you are in an accident. That's why you need to document the scene of an accident. Make sure to take down the license plate numbers of any vehicles involved. Document the names and statements of any drivers, passengers, or witnesses.
Photos are great for documentation. Make sure to photograph the accident scene. That means photographing any damage to the bikes or other vehicles. Photograph any external injuries. No detail is too small. It's even a good idea to document the weather and road conditions.
Photographing the details of a crash scene is a great way to record all the details for any future legal proceedings you may face in the weeks and months following the accident.

ava law group

HOW TO CHOOSE the Right Motorcycle Injury Attorney

Surveys and studies list distracted driving as Montana's top cause of car accidents. If the annual average number of car accidents in Montana is 20,000, then traffic accidents affect more than 20,000 Montanas yearly.
Montanans work hard to provide for their families and can't afford the financial and emotional toll of a motorcycle accident, no matter how minor.
Motorcycle accidents can turn someone's life upside down. Bills come due. Rent and medical expenses pile up. There's also the emotional and physical toll of a traumatic event.
Settling with an insurance company is tempting in the chaotic aftermath of an accident. But it's important to remember insurance companies are large corporations whose business depends on settling with you at the lowest amount possible. Most of the time, what they offer doesn't cover your needs.
That's why you need an expert in your corner. AVA Law Group is a Billings-based law firm with legal experts born and raised in Montana.
Our personal injury attorneys handle a wide range of motorcycle accident cases throughout Montana, including:
DISTRACTED DRIVER ACCIDENTS
INTERSECTION CRASHES
BROADSIDE COLLISION ACCIDENTS
FATAL MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS
UNSAFE LANE CHANGE ACCIDENTS
DRUNK OR IMPAIRED DRIVER ACCIDENTS
ETC.
If you are from Montana or a traveler passing through and were injured in a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation.
Take the stress off your plate and start focusing on healing and recovery. Talk to an AVA Legal Expert today to understand all your options.
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We provide a team of attorney, paralegals, and case managers to clients at no upfront cost.
AVA Law Group eliminates the confusion of filing a claim by working on your claim and, if necessary, connecting you with one our many partner firms that fits your needs and will get you the best results.
We’re available 24/7 to provide you with the information you need about case qualification.

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ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT: Not available in all states, Andrew Van Arsdale, supervising attorney is licensed only in California, District of Columbia, Montana, and Nevada, but associates with attorneys throughout the country, Principal Office: 2718 Montana Ave. Suite 220, Billings, Montana 59101.  San Diego Office: 3667 Voltaire Street, San Diego, California 92106.

Consult a doctor on all medical decisions. Do not stop taking a prescribed medication without first consulting with your doctor. Discontinuing a prescribed medication without your doctor's advice can result in injury or death. No representation is made that the quality of the legal services performed is greater than the quality of the legal services performed by other lawyers. AVA Law Group, Inc. not accepting cases in states where this advertising conflicts with laws or state rules. Legal representation is not offered or available in Tennessee. While AVA Law Group, Inc. maintains joint responsibility, most cases are referred to other attorneys for principal responsibility.
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