Motorcycle Injury Attorneys in Omaha, NE 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2013 alone 4,668 motorcyclists were killed in traffic accidents and another 88,000 were injured. Compared to passenger car occupants, motorcyclists were 26 times more likely to die in a traffic fatality. If you’ve been hurt in a accident, you may be facing a range of challenges. Riders are among the most vulnerable road users. When other drivers make mistakes, motorcyclists are often the ones who suffer the most serious and life-changing injuries. If you’ve been seriously injured, are struggling with medical and rehabilitation expenses, or have had to miss time at work due to your accident, you don’t need to suffer alone. Rensch & Rensch Law are top accident attorneys in Omaha, NE. We can help you.

Many motorcyclists are safe road users, following the law and taking precautions to avoid accidents. Unfortunately, even the most cautious motorcyclist cannot prevent an accident when another driver makes an error. In the pain, trauma, and confusion that immediately follows an accident, you may not always know what to do. If you’ve been hurt, first get proper medical attention immediately. Then, seek the assistance of an accident law firm in Omaha, NE. Rensch & Rensch Law are the best accident lawyers in the state and understand the risks that motorcycle riders face. We know common road errors drivers make and will fight inside or outside of court to get you the justice and recovery you deserve.

Justice for Motorcycle Accident Victims in Omaha, NE 

Human error accounts for the majority of all accidents. What are some common driver errors that lead to accidents? Here are a few:

• Changing lanes. Drivers aren’t always looking out for motorcycles when they are driving. Motorcycles are more likely to be in a driver’s blind spot. One of the common accidents that leads to  injuries occurs when drivers change lanes without properly looking.
• Rear-end collisions. Rear-end collisions occur when a driver misjudges the speed of the driver in front. In some cases, drivers don’t realize that a light has changed. In other instances, alcohol or drugs are involved and affect a person’s reaction time. Unfortunately, when motorcyclists are rear-ended, the bike doesn’t offer the same buffer that trunks and bumpers in cars do. You are more likely to sustain more serious injuries as a result of this kind of crash.
• Opened car doors. If you’re driving in an area where cars are parked on the side of the road, your risk of being hit by an opened car door increases. Many bikers and motorcyclists die every year because a driver or passenger failed to look before getting out of his or her car.
• Speeding can lead to a deadly accident in every case, but when a motorcyclist encounters a speeding vehicle, the risk of serious and life-altering injuries increases.
• Driver distraction. Cell phone use, text messaging, and making phone calls account for more accidents every year. Drivers who aren’t paying attention to the road are more likely to hit motorcyclists.
• Improper turns. Drivers don’t always judge their distance and timing well when it comes to motorcycles. While drivers are accustomed to judging speeds of cars, they are not as practiced in judging speeds and distances with motorcycles.

Many of the same factors that lead to passenger car accidents affect motorcyclists. Unfortunately, when riders get hit, they face more serious injuries, longer recovery periods, and may even have to miss time from work. If you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle accident, you need a top accident lawyer in Omaha, NE working for you. Contact Rensch & Rensch Law today. Other drivers may try to pass the blame onto you. We know how to study your case to make sure that you receive the money you deserve to recover and move forward with your life.

Find a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Omaha, NE

Attorney Richard J. Rensch on road trip.

A qualified injury attorney will understand the unique challenges that riders face. Insurance companies sometimes try to downplay injuries and fault to avoid having to pay. You need an accident law firm that can work with insurance companies to make sure you get the recovery you deserve. You may only have a limited amount of time to seek money to cover your medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and recovery expenses. Rensch & Rensch Law are top motorcycle accident attorneys in Omaha who will take the time to review the details of your case, speak to witnesses, talk to insurers, and fight for the best possible outcome. Don’t suffer alone. Contact Rensch & Rensch Law today. 

A Rider’s Rules of the Road:

City Streets and High Speed Roadways

Attorney Richard J. Rensch

Senior partner of Rensch & Rensch Law, Richard Rensch, is an avid motorcyclist.  Spring, summer and fall, Dick rides his Harley Lowrider to work nearly every day – except when in court.  His daily roundtrip combines over 15 miles of Omaha’s heaviest high speed freeway traffic with the city’s mixed urban neighborhood commuter traffic.  His younger brother, Jeff, recently bought a BMW 1200.  They ride together from time to time and therefore Jeff, on occasion, is the object of brotherly advice intended to improve his well-being, riding experience and life expectancy.  The following highlight the most important insights Dick has learned about safe riding practices that you (as a novice or old pro) might want to consider:

• Lane position. Visibility and precaution are the key considerations.  When driving on any road or city street with just two lanes of travel (one for each opposing direction) stay away from the center line.  Give yourself time to move out of the way – to the right – for traffic crossing the center line.  For similar streets in residential districts when passing by vehicles stopped at intersections obeying stop signs waiting to cross or turn onto your street, get close to the center (when no oncoming traffic is approaching) to make yourself more visible to those drivers at stop signs.  When traveling on four lane streets through town (two lanes for each opposing direction) – follow generally the same rules.  Try to stay out of the outside or curb lane for visibility sake, and position yourself on the far right border of the inside lane of travel.

• 2-3 Second Rule Minimum. This is mandatory if you want to live out your life expectancy.  It is not a 1 second rule.  Feel free to extend to 4 seconds.  This means you must travel (at any speed) at least 2-3 seconds behind the moving vehicle in front of you.  To determine the proper distance is simple.  Watch the vehicle in front of you pass a landmark that you will be forced to pass as you follow.  As the landmark is passed by the vehicle ahead, start counting 1001, 1002, 1003.  Slow down until you can count two to three seconds off before reaching the same landmark.  It is a scientific certainty that it takes the human brain ¾ of a second to perceive a danger and another ¾ of a second to act upon such danger.  That mean before you can apply your brakes at 60 miles per hour, you will have traveled 132 feet (about ½ the length of a football field!) after a potentially fatal situation presents itself ahead of you.  By keeping the 2-3 second rule you will give yourself a chance to recognize and effectively react to most emergency situations.

• Eyes forward. It is the object ahead of you that kills you.  Focus your awareness out ahead of you.  Constantly sweep your forward danger horizon.  Your danger horizon is the imaginary horizontal arch extending out ahead as far as you can reasonable discern approaching objects, traffic patterns and road configurations that pose any potential for harm.  You cannot allow anything to block your view of the danger horizon for more than a few seconds at a stretch.  Strategically maintain a position within your lane that allows for your best view of your danger horizon.  Continuous monitoring for and early detection of dangerous road debris such as truck tire shreds (called gators) or potholes, will save your life – over and over again.  You want to stay ahead of the information available to you in order to diffuse any potential harm and prevent emergencies from happening altogether.

• Cover both your front and rear brakes in traffic. In city driving when going through intersections and in mid to heavy traffic, keep two fingers over the right front brake lever and the ball of your right foot touching the rear brake pad.  That will cut down on the read and react time (discussed above), in case an emergency arises.  Your front brake is more important to you for a quicker stop.  60-80% of the brake power shifts to the front (because of the combined forward weight shift of the rider and bike) in a slowdown.    Practice braking on lonely stretches of roads or in empty parking lots.  Always expect a dangerous emergency.   Never rely on the driving abilities of anyone on the roadways – but yourself.

These pointers are intended to add to the arsenal of defensive riding strategies the reader has acquired to date.  Following these and other time tested biker rules of the road, should dramatically enhance your riding pleasure and well-being along with those who share the highways with you.