New Jersey is a beautiful state for motorcycle riders, with a varied topography that includes scenic beach highways, garden-state rural routes, and bustling urban meccas. In Cherry Hill and throughout South Jersey, motorcycle enthusiasts enjoy thrilling rides such as Kettle Run Road, Mullica Hills, and the Chatsworth-Tabernacle run. A motorcycle is also a gas-friendly option for daily transportation during the mild weather seasons in Cherry Hill. Unfortunately, the same open-air, two-wheeled design that makes riding a motorcycle in South Jersey such an exhilarating experience is also what leaves motorcyclists vulnerable to severe injuries in a crash.
A motorcycle accident in Cherry Hill is a terrifying and painful experience, especially when the accident occurs due to another party’s negligence or reckless actions behind the wheel. If you or a close family member suffered serious injuries in a Cherry Hill motorcycle accident, the experienced motorcycle accident attorneys at Cuneo & Leonetti are ready to take on the legal aspects of your recovery while you focus on your physical recovery. Call our Cherry Hill personal injury lawyers today for a free case consultation so we can begin strategizing the best way forward for prompt action in your New Jersey motorcycle accident claim.
Why Choose Us for Your Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Cherry Hill?
No one should have to navigate a complex motorcycle accident claim in New Jersey alone, especially against powerful insurance companies that commonly attempt to assign undue fault to the motorcyclist. The motorcycle accident lawyers at Cuneo & Leonetti have extensive experience and successful backgrounds in New Jersey injury claims, including motorcycle accident cases in Cherry Hill. Our firm offers injured motorcyclists the following advantages:
- A free case consultation and no upfront fees—instead, we only take our fee after we secure your settlement or court award
- A personalized strategy for each client’s unique case. We understand that your experience and injuries are unique to you and we never take a cookie-cutter case approach that could miss out on avenues of compensation you’re due in your claim
- A strong track record of success for injured clients in New Jersey to put a powerful voice behind your pursuit of compensation and justice
- A history of securing millions of dollars in compensation for injured clients in Cherry Hill and the surrounding area
Our team has the experience, access to experts, cutting-edge technology, and keen investigative skills necessary to maximize your chance of making a full financial recovery after a motorcycle accident.
New Jersey Motorcycle Accident Statistics
More people than ever are taking advantage of the lower gas costs of motorcycle transportation but data makes it clear that motorcyclists face a much greater risk of fatalities and serious injuries in a crash compared to the drivers and passengers seatbelted into cars and trucks. The following alarming statistics highlight the vulnerability of motorcyclists sharing the road with other vehicles and drivers who may not take reasonable precautions:
- Around 5,000 motorcycle riders are killed in accidents each year nationwide
- Although motorcycles are only 3.5% of registered vehicles on the road, motorcyclists accounted for 14% of traffic fatalities in 2021
- Motorcyclists are five times more likely to suffer injuries in a crash than passenger car riders and 28 times more likely to die
- 99 motorcyclists died in motorcycle accidents in New Jersey in 2021 and four of the deaths were passengers
- Only 81% of fatal motorcycle accident victims in New Jersey were wearing a helmet in 2017 and helmet use declined in New Jersey between 2020 and 2021
- New Jersey ranked 23rd in the nation for motorcycle accident fatalities despite being a northern state while most of the states higher on the list have year-round riding weather
Some motorcycle accidents occur due to reckless operating behaviors on the part of the biker, but more often, negligent drivers cause accidents to vulnerable motorcyclists
Common Types of Motorcycle Accidents in Cherry Hill
Motorcycles have a slim profile that makes it more difficult for car drivers to see them and accurately judge their speed. However, drivers have a duty to practice all reasonable precautions to prevent causing an accident. Common types of motorcycle accidents in New Jersey accident claims include the following:
- Rear-end collisions due to drivers who fail to leave enough distance between their vehicle and a motorcycle
- Side swipes due to drivers making unsafe lane changes
- Run-off-the-road accidents
- Side-impact collisions due to a driver’s failure to yield the right of way
- Driver/motorcycle left turn collisions
- Car door accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Phantom driver accidents
In phantom driver accidents in New Jersey, a driver’s unsafe actions cause a motorcycle to swerve or suddenly brake, resulting in an accident without a collision. In some phantom-driver accidents, the car driver may not be aware that they caused an accident.
Common Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents in Cherry Hill
Motorcycle injuries range in severity from mild injuries to catastrophic injuries and fatalities. Common injuries in New Jersey motorcycle accidents include the following:
- Fractures
- Road rash abrasions
- Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Knee injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Traumatic limb loss
- Bruises, lacerations, and soft-tissue injuries
No matter the severity of the injury, if another driver’s negligent, reckless, or wrongful actions caused the accident, the motorcyclist suffers pain, expensive medical bills, and time away from work. Some are left with life-altering disabilities. A successful motorcycle accident claim in Cherry Hill is an important step forward after a crash.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Cherry Hill
Motorcycle accidents leave riders at a serious disadvantage when the accident involves a driver in a full-sized car or truck. Direct contact with the road or obstacles in a collision cause serious injuries. After a motorcycle accident, you may be unconscious or unable to move safely, in which case you can do little other than wait in place for help. However, if you can move safely and use your phone—or hand it to someone else to use for you—It can be a valuable tool to document evidence you can use later to recover the compensation you need. Use your phone to do the following after a motorcycle accident:
- First, call 911 to report the accident and request EMS
- Use the phone’s camera to take photos of your damaged motorcycle before anyone moves it
- Photograph any involved vehicle(s) and any damage to the vehicle
- Take photos of the accident scene, capturing anything relevant like a stop sign, signal light, or intersection
- Take photos of your visible injuries
- Record a brief statement about what you remember of the accident since trauma may fade the memory later
- Add the contact information of the driver
- Add the contact information of eyewitnesses
Having an eyewitness is the best way to prove a negligent driver is at fault for the accident. All too often, these witnesses walk away without leaving their contact information. When a motorcycle accident occurs in a place without traffic cameras, an eyewitness can be the key to recovering compensation for damages like medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering compensation.
Document Evidence of Your Injuries After a Motorcycle Accident in New Jersey
Always go to a hospital immediately after the accident. It’s best to ride with the ambulance, but otherwise, arrange transportation to an ER straight from the accident scene. Going to the hospital immediately from the scene proves that the injuries occurred in the accident. At the hospital, and in the days after the accident, do the following:
- Ask for a thorough examination as well as treatment for obvious injuries
- Get a detailed medical report of the doctor’s findings, your treatment recommendations, and your prognosis
- Always follow your doctor’s orders carefully and keep all medical bills, receipts, and proof of related expenses
- Ask for a copy of the police report
- Call the Cherry Hill motorcycle accident lawyers at Cuneo & Leonetti before speaking to insurance company representatives
Insurance companies may protect their profits at your expense. It’s best to direct all communication with an insurer after an accident to your motorcycle accident lawyer from Cuneo & Leonetti.
What Type of Motorcycle Accident Compensation is Available?
Motorcycle accident injuries range from painful road rash abrasions and soft-tissue injuries to severe trauma such as brain injuries, multiple fractures, or spinal cord damage. These injuries come with consequences that impact all aspects of the victim’s life. The consequences of an accident are known as your “damages” in a personal injury claim, including after a motorcycle accident in Cherry Hill. In the event of a car accident, your Cherry Hill car accident attorney from Cuneo & Leonetti will carefully calculate the damages in your case and seek compensation for any or all of the following:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical expenses for further treatment or rehabilitative care
- Lost income
- Future income loss
- Diminished future earning capacity due to accident-caused disability
- Pain and suffering
- Other non-economic damages that might apply in your case such as loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, disfigurement compensation, or traumatic limb loss
- Wrongful death compensation for family members of motorcycle accident victims who die from their injuries
Serious injuries have serious consequences but even mild, fully recoverable injuries can cause significant financial hardship for some motorcyclists and their families with just a single missed paycheck and a large hospital bill. The motorcycle accident lawyers in Cherry Hill are ready to advocate for your rights and best interests throughout the claim process and in court if necessary.
How can a Cherry Hill Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Help?
When someone else caused your motorcycle accident in New Jersey and you suffered serious injuries, you have the burden of proving the at-fault party’s negligence and liability for damages. This can be an overwhelming task when you’re trying to focus on healing from injuries. Your lawyer from Cuneo & Leonetti will tackle your motorcycle accident claim by doing the following:
- Investigate all aspects of your accident by examining the police report, viewing any photos or videos, deposing eyewitnesses, and consulting with accident reconstruction experts
- Document evidence of liability
- Carefully calculate your damages to maximize the amount available to you under New Jersey’s insurance laws
- Prepare a lawsuit if your damages significantly outmeasure the amount of compensation available under the terms of the policy
- Craft a compelling case for your compensation and send a demand package to the insurance company
- Negotiate with the insurance adjuster assigned to your claim to achieve a large out-of-court settlement whenever possible
- Take your case to court and argue aggressively for your rights to full compensation before a jury
An attorney anticipates and promptly addresses common insurance company tactics used to deny claims, undervalue them, or unfairly assign blame to the victim. They’ll also diligently file all paperwork and ensure prompt attention to your case.
How to Determine Liability in a New Jersey Motorcycle Accident
When someone else causes an accident to a motorcyclist the injury victim has the burden of proving the other party’s negligence by a preponderance of the evidence. To meet this burden of proof, your Cherry Hill motorcycle accident lawyer must document evidence demonstrating the following legal points of liability:
- The at-fault party owed a duty of care to you and others on the road to take reasonable measures to avoid causing injuries
- They breached this duty through negligence or reckless actions behind the wheel
- Their breach of duty directly caused the accident and your injuries
- You suffered significant damages from the injury
Negligent drivers are by far the most common liable parties in motorcycle accident claims in New Jersey, but in less common circumstances, the liable party could be a negligent road crew that left a hazard in place or the manufacturer of a defective motorcycle part.
Call the Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Cherry Hill Today
New Jersey places a two-year time limit on motorcycle accident claims. It’s important to allow ample time for your lawyer to investigate the claim and negotiate with insurers and still be within the state’s statute of limitations to file a lawsuit in court should it become necessary in your case.
Call or contact the dedicated client advocates at Cuneo & Leonetti today so we can get started on your financial recovery while you focus your energy on your physical recovery.