Motorcycle Accident Bias Can be a Problem
That’s certainly quite the mouthful of a title. However, if we break it down, we can see there are a number of moving parts to this idea; many of them lead to motorcycle accident bias in the courtroom and in other legal situations. We experience it every day, so let’s check out how the Car Crash Captain explains what’s going on here.
What Cultural Stereotypes Surround Motorcycles?
When you think of a biker, what comes to mind? Most likely you have two images.
You think of the big bad biker riding a Harley Davidson. A no-nonsense attitude, handlebar mustache, and a vest with a bunch of patches on it that you have no idea what they mean. He would never wear a helmet in a million years.
Or, you think of a younger guy on a street bike that can go from 0 to 100 in under 3 seconds. Probably wearing some protective gear (or maybe just a hoodie), and a helmet with a tint so dark you can’t hardly shine a light through it. You hear him coming from a mile away as him and his buddies “race” through the city.
Of course, neither of these groups represent the majority of motorcycle riders. They’re just two categories of riders.
How do these Stereotypes Influence the Public?
It doesn’t help that the stereotypes are perpetuated and often depicted poorly by the media.
TV shows and movies show both stereotypes in a poor light. One is an outlaw, bent on doing whatever he pleases with no regard for authority. The other is a street-racing punk, whipping through traffic and breaking all sorts of traffic laws.
The news doesn’t make things much better. Nobody is going to click and read a story about a middle-aged man who carefully rides his motorcycle to work each day so he can ease congested traffic, save money on gas, and find a better parking space. Reports like that from 2013 of a group of bikers chasing down a Range Rover in NYC do, however, get a lot of attention.
As these stereotypes are perpetuated, it puts a bad taste in the public’s mouth. Suddenly ALL riders are seen as terrible people that break the laws. And if they’re in a motorcycle wreck, well, it was probably their own fault… right?
This Leads to an Influence on Insurance and Juries
Since insurance companies, judges, and juries are all human beings, they have likely been subjected to the poor depiction of those who ride motorcycles. Even though their jobs are to come into this as unbiased as possible, it’s hard to shake those cultural stereotypes that have been perpetuated for years.
If you’ve been in a motorcycle wreck in Texas, even if you were following every law, it’s automatically assumed that you were speeding or otherwise riding carelessly or recklessly – even though that wasn’t the case.
Insurance companies may more quickly deny a claim, juries may need extra convincing that you’re an upstanding citizen and a safe rider, and overall, it’s a harder fight to show that you were innocent and are the victim.
How Herbert Law Group Helps Overcome Motorcycle Accident Bias
That’s why you need Herbert Law Group on your side.
We have handled a lot of cases that involve motorcycle wrecks. We know how to show that you weren’t riding dangerously, and we know how to show that your needs are way higher than what the insurance company settlement is likely to be.
Long before you’re in a wreck, know that Herbert Law Group has your back. Also, get some sort of helmet-cam or handlebar cam. It’s much harder to refute video evidence if it comes down to that.
If you have already been in a wreck, or your loved one was killed in a wreck, then we should talk immediately. Call our offices at 214-414-3808, or fill out the contact form on our site, and we’ll be in touch for a free conversation to find out exactly what happened.