It really didn’t seem fair on any level. The experienced motorcyclist was traveling along the highway toward home as usual when a car pulled out of the convenience store lot just ahead. There was no way at all to avoid this vehicle. Now, the automotive insurance company is trying to dispute the claim. A personal injury lawyer in Hawaii can help by providing skilled legal representation.
A No-Fault State
Scenarios like this involving motorcycles and passenger vehicles are not uncommon, unfortunately. Insurers may attempt to pay a settlement that is lower than reasonable and less than the maximum of the policy. What policyholders find especially troubling about this is the fact that Hawaii is a no-fault state in regard to automotive insurance. That means that in some respects, it doesn’t matter who was at fault for the accident.
The injured person’s own policy is supposed to pay for medical expenses and lost wages. Motorcyclists are not required to carry this type of coverage, but owners of passenger vehicles are. Nevertheless, many motorcyclists do choose this coverage because it protects them in case of an accident. Their own medical insurance will pay for bills above and beyond that of the policy’s maximum, but there would not be any replacement of lost wages.
Insurers and Lawsuits
A personal injury lawyer in Hawaii works to persuade the insurer to pay the compensation that is deserved. If the maximum of the coverage is too low to pay for everything, the driver who caused the accident could be sued. This is the point at which it really does matter who was at fault. Usually it’s the driver of the passenger vehicle, not the motorcyclists.
Relevant Statistics
Statistics verify this. More than two-thirds of collisions between motorcycles and passenger cars are caused by the car driver, according to Motorway America. Often, the other driver violates the motorcyclist’s right of way, such as making a left turn in front of an oncoming bike. Motorcycles aren’t as easy to see as cars, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. Someone who has been injured in a situation like this can contact a lawyer such as Randal Yoshida, beginning at the website Autoaccidentattorneyhonolulu.com.
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