On Behalf of Buckley Law Offices, P.C.
Quick Summary
Motorcycle accidents are different in almost every way that matters. The injuries are more severe. The bias against riders runs deep, in insurance adjustments, in jury rooms, and in how law enforcement writes accident reports. And the window for preserving evidence is short, especially when the other driver's insurer has an adjuster on-scene before the tow truck has left.
The Bias Problem In Motorcycle Accident Cases
Riders know it. Insurers lean on it. The assumption, unfair, but real, is that motorcyclists are risk-takers who bear responsibility for whatever happens to them on the road. Adjusters use it to undervalue claims. Defense attorneys use it in court.
The response isn't to hope it goes away. The response is to build a case that makes the facts louder than the bias. Witness statements, accident reconstruction, dashcam footage from other vehicles, police report analysis, all of it counters the narrative before it takes hold.
What Causes Most Motorcycle Accidents In Concord
Left-turn accidents are the most common. A car at an intersection fails to see an oncoming motorcycle and turns left directly into the rider's path. Route 9 and the various intersections around downtown Concord see this regularly.
Lane changes are the second most frequent cause. A driver checks mirrors but doesn't see the bike, or simply doesn't look. On Route 93 north of Concord, this happens at highway speed.
Road hazards are uniquely dangerous for motorcyclists. Gravel, potholes, debris, or wet leaves on a curve, what's annoying for a car can be fatal for a bike. If a public entity failed to maintain a road properly and that failure caused your accident, there may be a government liability claim alongside any driver liability.
New Hampshire Helmet Law And How It Affects Your Case
New Hampshire does not require adult riders to wear helmets. Not wearing one is your legal right. But in a personal injury claim, the at-fault driver's insurer will use it if your injuries include head trauma. They'll argue that a helmet would have reduced your injuries, and try to reduce their payout accordingly.
This is a legal argument your attorney can contest. The other driver's negligence caused the accident. New Hampshire's comparative fault rules govern how liability is allocated. Your choice not to wear a helmet is relevant only to the extent that it can be specifically connected to specific injuries.
Evidence That Matters, And Disappears Fast
Skid marks fade. Debris gets cleared. Intersection cameras overwrite footage. The scene changes within hours. If witnesses don't give statements immediately, their memories change.
Your attorney should be working on evidence preservation immediately after you retain them. That means photographing the scene, getting traffic camera footage before it's overwritten, identifying and interviewing witnesses, and requesting the police report and any dispatch recordings.
Buckley Law Offices, Representing Concord Motorcyclists
