How Can an Accident Attorney Help With Your Motorcycle Accident?

Attorneys with experience handling motorcycle accidents are familiar with the problems confronting injured riders. Additionally, lawyers with experience handling motorcycle crashes know how to counter the liability defenses typically raised in these cases.

Motorcycle vs car crashes happen all too frequently with the traffic congestion in Southern California. It is not uncommon for riders to come across distracted drivers. Drivers are often staring at the sites on Pacific Coast Highway, or are just not paying attention. As a result, after a motorcycle vs car accident, you will almost certainly be contacted by a car insurance company.

After a motorcycle accident, you should consult a personal injury lawyer who is familiar with the insurance claims process. A personal injury lawyer with experience handling motorcycle accidents will be able to address any liability defense that arises. Moreover, the attorney will help the injured rider maximize recovery for the damages the rider incurred. A personal injury attorney can also help surviving family members receive maximum compensation for the loss of a motorcycle rider.

Determining who is at-fault in a motorcycle accident

Despite the frequency of these injuries and fatalities, drivers fail to follow basic traffic safety rules around motorcycle riders. Even when a motorcycle rider follows all the rules of the road, drivers of cars frequently blame motorcycle riders for collisions.

Because of a motorcycle’s small size, drivers often just do not see a rider and cause a collision. Additionally, California is the only state that explicitly allows for lane splitting by a motorcycle rider. As a result, unfamiliar drivers make unsafe lane changes near motorcycle riders with terrifying frequency. Oftentimes, motorcycle riders suffer devastating injuries.

Nonetheless, drivers of cars still regularly blame the motorcycle rider for accidents which occur.

Following an accident with a motorcycle rider, the at-fault driver’s car insurance will usually request the driver’s recorded statement. Even if the driver accepted fault at the scene, their story often changes when they speak to their insurance. Drivers frequently tell their insurance that a motorcycle rider made an unsafe lane change or passing maneuver. Car insurance adjusters will take the facts provided by their insured and make a liability determination.

Any number of the factors stated above can go into attributing fault in a motor vehicle vs. motorcycle accident. However, once a insurance adjuster has made a liability determination, it is very hard to get them to change their position.

It is important to work with an attorney who understands the rules of the road as it pertains to motorcycle riders. Don’t let an advocate such as an insurance adjuster tell you that you are at fault if you are not.

Damages you may be entitled to after a motorcycle accident

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, it is important to know what damages you may be entitled to recover. An initial consultation with one of our injury attorneys will help us gain an understanding of your loss.

Our injury attorneys will ask you questions about medical care you received for your injuries. We will also ask you about future medical care your doctors may have recommended. Additionally, our attorneys will have questions about time you missed from work due to your injuries.

Compensation for motorcycle accident injuries frequently includes, but is not limited to the following:

• Past medical expenses
• Future medical expense
• Past lost wages
• Future loss of earnings
• Past pain and suffering
• Future pain and suffering

Additionally, if a motorcycle accident results in a loved one’s death, a wrongful death lawyer can help. A wrongful death attorney will assist the family with filing a claim or will file a wrongful death action. In either legal action, compensation for motorcycle wrongful death claims frequently include, but are not limited to the following:

• Past pain and suffering
• Future pain and suffering
• Future Financial Support
• Burial Expenses
• The Value of Household Services
• Loss of Consortium
• Other Financial Losses Associated with the Rider’s Death

Reach out to our injury attorneys for a free consultation. We will help you determine what compensation you may be entitled to!