How Can Biases Against Motorcycle Riders Affect Your Injury Case?

Riding a motorcycle is far riskier than driving a car, and the numbers prove it. In 2023, motorcyclists faced 31.39 fatalities per 100 million miles traveled, compared to 1.13 for car occupants. Despite these grim stats, riders often struggle to get justice after accidents. Bias against motorcyclists isn’t just a stereotype—it affects police reports, insurance claims, and courtroom decisions, making fair compensation harder to secure..

At Saavedra Law Firm, we’ve spent years advocating for injured motorcyclists and their families and have seen how these misconceptions can harm injured riders. Here’s what you need to know about bias, how it can affect your case, and how to fight back. 

Common Biases Against Motorcyclists

Society has long perpetuated harmful stereotypes about motorcycle riders that bear little resemblance to reality. Many people, including law enforcement officers, insurance adjusters, and potential jurors, unconsciously view motorcyclists through a distorted lens.

These misconceptions typically paint riders as reckless thrill-seekers who disregard traffic laws and engage in dangerous behaviors like excessive speeding or aggressive lane splitting. The stereotype extends to assumptions about irresponsibility, suggesting that anyone who chooses to ride a motorcycle must inherently accept unreasonable risks.

Such preconceived notions create a troubling double standard. While car drivers involved in accidents are often viewed as victims of unfortunate circumstances, motorcyclists face immediate scrutiny about their riding choices, safety gear, and behavior, regardless of the facts surrounding their accident.

How Biases Affect Legal Claims

These prejudices can devastate your injury claim in several critical ways, often before you even realize what’s happening.

Police Reports and Initial Fault Determination

When officers respond to motorcycle accidents, ingrained biases can influence their initial assessment of the situation. They might assume you were speeding, weaving between vehicles, or riding recklessly, even when evidence suggests otherwise. These assumptions often find their way into official police reports, creating a damaging narrative that insurance companies and opposing attorneys will use against you.

Insurance Company Tactics

Insurance adjusters frequently exploit anti-motorcycle sentiment to minimize settlements. They may argue that your injuries were inevitable given your “choice” to ride, or suggest that any responsible person would have avoided the situation entirely. This victim-blaming approach can result in significantly lower settlement offers compared to similar car accident cases.

Jury Perception in Court

If your case reaches trial, juror bias presents perhaps the greatest challenge. Unconscious prejudices can cause jurors to question your credibility, minimize your suffering, or assign blame based on stereotypes rather than evidence. Even when facts establish another driver’s fault, biased jurors might urge for reduced compensation based on their negative perceptions of motorcyclists.

Warning Signs of Bias in Your Case

Watch out for these red flags that bias may be affecting your claim: 

• Police reports that highlight your motorcycle use while ignoring the other driver’s actions. 
• Insurance adjusters focusing on your riding experience rather than the accident’s cause. 
• Settlement offers that seem unusually low compared to similar cases. 
• Witness statements that emphasize your motorcycle rather than the other driver’s behavior. 

How to Fight Bias in Your Case

Overcoming bias requires a strategic approach that focuses on facts and humanizes your story. Here’s how to combat it: 

1. Collect Strong Evidence

• Gather objective evidence like traffic camera footage, dashcam or helmet cam videos, and police dispatch records. 
• Make sure witness statements align with the physical evidence. 

2. Use Expert Testimony

• Accident reconstruction experts can analyze the facts and determine who was truly at fault. 
• Motorcycle safety instructors can testify about your safe riding habits and adherence to traffic laws. 

3. Hire an Experienced Attorney

• Work with a lawyer who understands the unique challenges motorcyclists face and knows how to address bias in police reports, insurance negotiations, and courtrooms. 

We’ll Help You Fight Back

Bias against motorcyclists represents a serious threat to fair compensation in injury cases. These prejudices can influence every aspect of your claim, from initial police reports to final jury verdicts. However, with proper legal representation and a strategic approach, you can overcome these obstacles and secure the compensation you deserve.

Don’t let unfair stereotypes prevent you from obtaining justice. If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact Saavedra Law Firm today for a free consultation. We’ll work to present you as a responsible and experienced rider, rather than a reckless stereotype.