Rancho Cucamonga Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
What Are Causes Of Motorcycle Accidents?
Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable not just because they lack the protection, but because they are much smaller. This disadvantage makes motorcycles more difficult for other drivers to notice on the road. It also means that motorcycles and their passengers are more likely to be thrown farther in the event of a wreck.
Motorcycles are also more vulnerable to an accident because other motorists do not keep a close enough eye out for them. Only 8% of households possess a motorcycle, which provides us a rough estimate of how common motorcycles are on US streets. Since motorcycles aren't as prevalent as normal passenger cars, motorists might be less likely to look out for them.
For instance, a motorcycle riding in a driver's blind spot or crossing through an intersection at a 2-way stop might be less likely to be seen by a motorist that is only looking for other passenger cars.
Since motorcycles are harder to detect than other cars, motorcyclists have to always drive defensively. Bikers can never assume that other motorists can see them, especially the motorists of cars in front of them. Motorcycle accidents typically occur when drivers:
- Pull out of a side street, parking lot, or driveway in front of a motorcycle;
- Make a sudden turn in front of a motorcycle;
- Make a lane change in front of or broadside to a motorcycle; or
- Attempt to pass another vehicle, and fail to spot the motorcyclist in either the passing lane or the target lane.
What Are The Most Common Motorcycle Injuries?
A motorcycle gives you little protection in a crash. This means your body ends up taking the full force of the impact with another vehicle.
Commonly, this results in life-threatening and life-altering injuries to motorcycle crash victims. In fact, nearly 5,000 motorcyclists were killed in collisions in just one recent year.
While motorcycles only comprise 3 percent of registered vehicles, motorcycle crashes result in 15 percent of all vehicle crash deaths. Not every motorcycle accident will cause death, yet it shows the seriousness these kinds of accidents lead to.
Some common injuries are:
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Road rash
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Amputation
- Death
That's not to say that survivors can never return to a normal life, but it might take some time and effort, including physical rehabilitation. A motorcycle accident lawyer can help you recover the compensation needed to pay for those treatments.
Liability For Rancho Cucamonga Motorcycle Accidents
As these facts suggest, motorcyclists wounded in accidents are commonly the victims of negligence. Every negligence claim is made up of four major elements: a duty, a breach of that duty, an injury caused by the breach, and injuries sustained by the plaintiff. Drivers of motor vehicles owe a duty of care to everyone else that uses public roads. That includes bicyclists, pedestrians, and other drivers-- including motorcyclists.
When a motorist violates that duty by being careless, inebriated, fatigued, or distracted, and ends up causing a crash which results in injury or even wrongful death to another individual, the motorist might be held civilly liable to the injured party. He or she can seek a negligence claim with the assistance of a motorcycle crash lawyer in Rancho Cucamonga.
A motorcyclist hurt in a collision may have a claim if he can prove that another motorist was at fault. When a motorcycle driver has followed all of the traffic laws but is still involved in an accident, odds are that it has been caused by the driver of another vehicle. It might be not seeing the motorcyclist, speeding, being intoxicated, or a combination of the three.
What Should I Do After A Motorcycle Accident?
If you have been involved in a motorcycle crash, immediately contact the police to make a report if they are involved in an accident. This is especially true if there is an injury or fatality.
If urgent medical aid is needed, provide what help you can, seek assistance, and call emergency medical assistance. If you are the one who is hurt, you should seek immediate medical help. Even if your injury seems minor and you do not need immediate aid, it is a good idea to get medical care, as some injuries are not immediately apparent.
Further, at the scene you need to collect the contact and insurance information for the other parties. And you also want contact info for independent witnesses, as investigating law enforcement don't always gather that info.
Contact a motorcycle crash lawyer soon after the accident. We strongly suggest that you do this before speaking to any insurance provider.
Contact Our Rancho Cucamonga Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
After your accident, along with speaking with the police and obtaining any necessary medical attention, you should call a qualified and experienced personal injury lawyer with experience handling motorcycle crashes. Serving victims throughout the Rancho Cucamonga area, the motorcycle crash lawyers at First Law Group can assist you.
Too often, accident victims believe that an insurance carrier-- either their own or the other driver's-- will properly compensate them for any injuries they have suffered. Unfortunately, many insurance companies are reluctant to pay, even when liability and damages are obvious. This is especially true when the damages are substantial.
Even when an insurer appears liable, beware. Lots of adjusters will try to settle claims quickly. They will urge you to sign an agreement that will let them close the case-- and thus limit their exposure.
Even if the offer appears sufficient or even generous, it is important to ensure your rights are protected. Consult an attorney and make sure you understand the consequences of the agreement.
The fact is, not all injuries are immediately apparent. And for some serious injuries, even if you expect full recovery, you can not be sure that the complete recovery you hope for will materialize.
In those instances, signing a release of claims too soon can reduce your settlement to an amount that is considerably less than what you need or what you legally have a right to recover. Major injuries might consist of:
- Spine damage;
- Multiple broken bones;
- Severe bruising and/or "road rash";
- Traumatic head injuries.
And, of course, some motorcycle crashes are fatal. If someone you love has been killed in a motorcycle collision, speak to an attorney to determine whether there's a wrongful death action to pursue against a negligent driver.
At First Law Group, we really care about our community and we are driven by our passion for clients. Our personal injury lawyers in Rancho Cucamonga, California are always available to take your call. For a Free Consultation, call us at (626) 888-8264, or visit our website: FirstLG.com
