What Are Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?
Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable not only because they lack the protection, but because they are much smaller. This disadvantage makes motorcycles more difficult for other motorists to see while driving. It also means that motorcycles and their passengers are more likely to be thrown further in the event of a collision.
Motorcycles are also more vulnerable to a collision since other motorists don't keep a close enough eye out for them. Only 8% of households possess a motorcycle, which provides us a general estimate of just how common motorcycles are on US roadways. Since motorcycles aren't as common as normal passenger vehicles, drivers might be less likely to watch out for them.
For example, 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 driver who is only looking for other passenger vehicles.
Since motorcycles are more difficult to see than other cars, motorcyclists have to always drive defensively. Bikers can never assume that other motorists can see them, especially the motorists of vehicles in front of them. Motorcycle crashes commonly happen when motorists:
What Are the Most Common Motorcycle Injuries?
A motorcycle provides you little protection in an accident. This means your body ends up taking the full force of the impact with another vehicle.
Commonly, this causes life-threatening and life-altering injuries to motorcycle accident victims. In fact, nearly 5,000 motorcyclists were killed in accidents in just one recent year.
While motorcycles only comprise 3 percent of registered vehicles, motorcycle crashes result in 15 percent of all vehicle accident deaths. Not every motorcycle accident will cause death, however it shows the seriousness these kinds of collisions lead to.
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 crash attorney can help you recover the compensation required to pay for those treatments.
Liability for Pasadena Motorcycle Accidents
As these facts suggest, motorcyclists injured in crashes are commonly the victims of negligence. Every negligence case is comprised of four main elements: a duty, a breach of that duty, an injury caused by the breach, and damages suffered by the plaintiff. Drivers of motor vehicles owe a duty of care to everybody else that uses public roads. That includes bicyclists, pedestrians, and various other motorists-- including motorcyclists.
When a driver breaches that duty by being careless, intoxicated, fatigued, or distracted, and ends up causing a collision which leads to injury or even wrongful death to another person, the driver might be held civilly liable to the injured party. He or she can pursue a negligence claim with the help of a motorcycle crash attorney in Pasadena.
A motorcyclist hurt in an accident might have a claim if they can prove that another motorist was at fault. When a motorcycle driver has obeyed all of the traffic laws yet is still involved in an accident, odds are that it has been caused by the driver of another vehicle. It could be not seeing the motorcyclist, speeding, being intoxicated, or a combination of the three.
What Should I Do After a Motorcycle Crash?
If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, immediately contact the authorities to file a report if they are involved in an accident. This is especially true if there is an injury or death.
If urgent medical aid is necessary, render what help you can, look for assistance, and call emergency medical help. If you are the one that is injured, you should seek immediate medical help. Even if your injury seems small and you do not need immediate aid, it is a good idea to get medical care, as some injuries are not immediately noticeable.
Additionally, at the scene you need to get the contact and insurance details for the other parties. And you also want contact information for independent witnesses, as investigating police officers do not always collect that info.
Contact a motorcycle crash attorney soon after the accident. We strongly suggest that you do this before talking to any insurance company.
Contact Our Pasadena Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
After your accident, aside from talking to the police and getting any necessary medical attention, you need to contact a qualified and experienced personal injury attorney with experience dealing with motorcycle crashes. Serving victims throughout the Pasadena area, the motorcycle crash lawyers at Tim D. Wright can assist you.
Too often, accident victims believe that an insurance company-- either their own or the other driver's-- will sufficiently compensate them for any injuries they have suffered. However, plenty of insurance providers are unwilling to pay, even when liability and injuries are clear. This is especially accurate when the injuries are significant.
Even when an insurance carrier seems responsible, beware. Many insurance adjusters will attempt to settle insurance claims quickly. They will advise you to sign an agreement that will let them close the case-- and therefore minimize their exposure.
Even if the offer appears sufficient or even generous, it is vital to ensure your rights are protected. Consult an attorney and be sure you understand the consequences of the agreement.
The truth is, not all injuries are readily apparent. And for some serious injuries, even if you anticipate full recovery, you can not be sure that the full recovery you expect will materialize.
In those cases, 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 include:
And, obviously, some motorcycle crashes are deadly. If someone you love has been killed in a motorcycle crash, speak to an attorney to find out whether there's a wrongful death action to pursue against a negligent driver.
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