Motorcycle Accidents Caused by Dogs on the Road

One serious risk presented to motorcycle operators and their passengers is that of a dog running into the roadway. While striking a dog with a car can result in serious injury or death to the dog, striking a dog with a motorcycle can result in serious injury or death to the motorcycle operator and any passenger. Of course, hitting the dog is not the only bad outcome. Dogs running loose can force motorcyclists to lose control, run off the road or into oncoming traffic. If you have been injured in a motorcycle wreck, you could be entitled to compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, scarring or disfigurement for injuries sustained in the accident and more.

While the dog may have caused the accident, it is not the dog’s fault, of course. Instead, the person who owns or otherwise takes responsibility for the dog is not supposed to let the dog run loose. Subject to certain exceptions, if the person who is responsible for the dog allows the dog to run loose and the dog causes a motorcycle accident, then that person is responsible for the crash and the resulting injuries. 

When a dog causes a motorcycle crash, it typically results in a claim against the homeowner’s insurance policy of the dog owner or the person responsible for the dog. Most homeowner’s policies cover this type of accident. Of course, if the person has individual assets, a claim can be made against those assets as well, if necessary.

One challenge to this type of case is identifying the dog and then identifying the person who is responsible for the dog. This is especially true if the dog does not have tags or a microchip. A prompt investigation is imperative. To prove ownership of the dog, it may be necessary to contact individuals who live or work near the accident scene. In addition, it is helpful to start an investigation before the motorcycle is repaired or sold for salvage, because often the bike will contain blood or hair of the dog that can be used for identification purposes.

Our award-winning accident attorneys can help you investigate your motorcycle accident and bring a claim against those responsible for your wreck. And, we can help you receive all the compensation that you deserve. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation so that you can find out if we think you have a case. If we think you have a case and you decide to hire us, we handle all motorcycle accident cases on a contingency basis, which means we only get paid if we recover money for you and your family. But before you hire a lawyer, please do your homework. We encourage you to review How to Select an Injury Attorney, How to Prepare for a Meeting with an Injury Attorney and other important topics on our FAQ page. Then, once you are ready to get started, give us a call. We would love to interview for the chance to be your lawyer.