Many, if not all of us, have an image of a motorcycle accident involving a motorcycle and a car. But very few have witnessed a collision between two motorcyclists.
Come to think of it, bikers like riding together. That means they can crash into each other when on the road.
But how often does this happen? Let’s find out.
What Happens When Two Motorcycles Crash?
When two motorcycles crash, the motorcyclists and passengers (if any) will likely be thrown off the bike. You may land on the pavement or even a fixed object and hurt yourself badly.
If you are still conscious after the crash, there are a few things you should do immediately:
- Move away from the flow of traffic
- Call the police and first responders
- Don’t take out your helmet and safety gear
- Collect information about the other motorcyclist and motorbikes
- Take note of any odd behavior from the other motorcyclist
- Collect information from any witnesses and bystanders
Remember, confronting the other motorcyclist angrily will not be of any use. Stay calm and wait for the police to come and do their job.
Sometimes after a crash between two motorcycles, the one at fault party may attempt to flee the scene.
If the other motorcyclist flees, try to master how their motorbike looks, the license number plate, and additional information to help track them down.
How Often Do Motorcycles Hit Each Other?
Crashes between two motorcycles are not as common as between a car and a bike. Statistically speaking, collisions with passenger vehicles account for three-fourths of motorcycle accidents.
On the other hand, single-vehicle accidents in which a motorcycle collide with the road or a fixed object account for a quarter of motorcycle accidents. It means that crashes between two motorcycles are statistically insignificant.
We cannot discredit the possibility of two motorcycle crashes, though. They occur but are so rare that accounting for them is almost impossible.
What Injuries Most Often Result from Accidents Between Motorcycles?
1. Road Rash
Road rash is the most common motorcycle accident injury, with symptoms ranging from minor to severe. Typically, road rash is a skin abrasion that occurs when a rider is thrown off the bike and skids on the pavement.
If not treated on time, road rash can lead to serious complications such as infection and nerve damage. Fortunately, wearing protective clothing can protect you from these injuries in case of a crash
2. Head and Neck Injuries
Research has proven that larger motorbike engines increase the risk of head injuries. riders and passengers without a helmet are especially at risk of sustaining head and neck injuries in case of an accident.
These injuries can potentially lead to brain damage, facial disfigurement, or even death.
3. Traumatic Brain Injuries
Riders can suffer traumatic brain injuries (TBI) with or without helmets. TBI can range from mild to severe depending on the crash’s impact.
If the two motorcycles did not crash while speeding, you could escape with a mild brain injury whose recovery is relatively easy.
But a bad motorcycle crash can result in severe TBI, rendering you physically or mentally incapacitated or even leading to death. TBI accounts for a significant number of riders who do not survive motorcycle accidents.
4. Broken Bones
Broken bones are very likely when riders collide with each other. During motorcycle accidents, riders often hurt their arms, hands, legs, and ribs.
The severity of broken bones depends on the situation, but fractures might require surgery and physical therapy before you get back on the bike.
5. Leg Injuries
According to the CDC, 30% of non-fatal injuries from motorcycle crashes occur to the rider’s feet and legs. This is probably because a motorcyclist’s legs are often hit during a collision.
It could also be because legs are the first body part to land on the ground when falling. Broken bones, road rash, and dislocated knees are examples of leg injuries.
6. Back and Spinal Injuries
Any trauma to the spinal column can cause detrimental injuries for riders and passengers. The trauma can result in such injuries as torn ligaments, herniated discs, and displaced vertebra.
As far as injuries are concerned, spinal cord injury is one of the worst that a motorist can suffer. The trauma can cause temporary or permanent paralysis which can affect your life forever.
7. Internal Bleeding
Any blunt force or penetrating trauma suffered during motorcycle crashes can result in internal bleeding.
A sudden fall that follows when two motorcycles crash head-on may also hurt internal organs and lead to internal bleeding.
Internal bleeding in the head, heart, lungs or large blood vessels can be fatal. Unfortunately, these injuries may go undetected because symptoms take time to manifest.
8. Psychological Injuries
Injuries from motorcycle accidents don’t have to be physical. Motorcycle accidents are traumatic experiences that can have long-term psychological consequences.
For example, an injured biker can struggle with severe anxiety, depression, or PTSD.
Psychological injuries can particularly be critical for victims who suffered a permanent injury such as paralysis, TBI, or disfigurement.
What Does Insurance Do About Accidents Between Motorcycles?
Like any other accident case, it is standard procedure for your insurance company to call you as soon as you report an accident.
During that call, the insurer will match the person to their policy. They will then determine what conspired in the accident, the injuries sustained, and the damage to both motorcycles.
This process enables insurers to know if everyone is okay and, if not, what happened and who will bear the medical costs.
Your insurer then assigns you a claims adjuster you will contact once your claim is filed. The insurance adjusters will:
- Coordinate teams assessing medical records
- Investigate the accident
- Examine vehicular damage
- Manage repairs and medical treatments, if any
- Determine fault
The insurance company is responsible for handling the claims process. Since every case is different, the more organized you are, the easier your claims process becomes.
While adjusters do their job, you will undergo medical treatment, and so will your motorcycle repairs. Each insurance company will cover its own rider’s damages.
This process of helping you get back on your feet again is referred to as indemnification. Your insurance provider indemnifies you, not the other way around.
Later, the insurance company will assess fault and negotiate to know which one will reimburse the other for claims paid.
Who Is at Fault in Accidents Between Two Motorcycles?
If you suffer injuries in an accident involving two motorcycles, you may be entitled to compensation for the damages incurred. However, determining liability in accidents involving more than a single vehicle is a challenging task.
If two motorcycles crash today, each rider will likely blame the other, and each will have an account of how the accident occurred.
So, an investigation has to be conducted (like in any other accident case) to determine liability. The lawyers for each party will:
- Examine both motorcycles involved in the accident.
- Question the parties involved (both orally and in writing). There will be two riders involved and probably two sets of passengers. Police might also be affected.
- Determine the path of the motorcycles before the crash, at the time, and after the crash.
Sometimes both riders are partially at fault so they are assigned proportional blame. For example, if you are found to be 60 percent at fault, your insurance company will pay 60 percent of the claims, and the other company will pay for the rest.
But in some cases, if a party is more than 50 percent of the fault, their insurer pays for everything. Only no-fault states require each rider’s insurer to pay for its customers’ claims.
Unlike riders, their passengers can file claims against the rider carrying them and that of the other motorcycle involved in the accident.
Overall, you can see how complex the task of determining what insurance company will pay for the victim’s damages is. That’s why it’s recommended to have an experienced motorcycle accident attorney who is more knowledgeable about liability.
What If One of the Motorcycles was Uninsured?
It’s surprising that there is not much difference in the process when uninsured or underinsured riders are involved.
Every state has its laws on what qualifies as uninsured and underinsured. If an uninsured rider hits you and you sustain injuries, your insurer will compensate you.
However, you must have collision insurance or uninsured motorist coverage for your insurer to pay for your damages.
If you have either of these, your insurance company pays you then it contacts the uninsured rider to get reimbursed for its payments.
What Should You Do if Involved in a Crash Between Two Motorcycles?
Determining how motorcycle accidents involving two motorcycles (vehicles) occurred can be challenging even for motorcycle accident injury attorneys and their accident investigators.
If you or your loved one have been injured, hiring an experienced attorney handling claims for this type of collision is important.
At Legal Giant, you can count on our attorneys to put your interests first when protecting your rights. Contact us today for a free consultation with one of our trusted attorneys.
