What Are Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?
Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable not only because they lack the protection, but because they are much smaller. This downside 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 farther in the event of a wreck.
Motorcycles are also more susceptible to a wreck because other motorists do not keep a close enough eye out for them. Just 8% of households possess a motorcycle, which provides us a rough estimate of just how common motorcycles are on US streets. Given that motorcycles aren't as prevalent as regular passenger vehicles, drivers may be less likely to look out for them.
For instance, a motorcycle riding in a motorist's blind spot or crossing through an intersection at a 2-way stop may be less likely to be seen by a driver that is only watching for other passenger cars.
Because motorcycles are more difficult to see than other vehicles, motorcyclists should always drive defensively. Bikers can never presume that other motorists can see them, especially the motorists of cars in front of them. Motorcycle crashes commonly occur when drivers:
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.
Often, this causes serious and life-altering injuries to motorcycle crash victims. In fact, almost 5,000 motorcyclists died in collisions in just one recent year.
While motorcycles just make up 3 percent of registered vehicles, motorcycle crashes result in 15 percent of all vehicle accident deaths. Not every motorcycle crash will lead to death, but it shows the severity these types of accidents result in.
Some common injuries are:
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 San Gabriel Motorcycle Accidents
As these facts suggest, motorcyclists wounded in collisions are commonly the victims of negligence. Every negligence case is made up of four essential 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 everybody else who uses public roads. That includes bicyclists, pedestrians, and other motorists-- including motorcyclists.
When a driver breaches that duty by being careless, inebriated, tired, or distracted, and ends up causing a collision which leads to injury or even wrongful death to another person, the motorist might be held civilly liable to the injured party. They can pursue a negligence claim with the help of a motorcycle crash attorney in San Gabriel.
A motorcyclist injured in a crash may have a claim if he can demonstrate that another motorist was at fault. When a motorcycle driver has obeyed all of the traffic laws however is still involved in a collision, odds are that it has been caused by the driver of another vehicle. It might be not seeing the motorcyclist, speeding, being inebriated, or a mixture of the three.
What Should I Do After a Motorcycle Accident?
If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, immediately call the police to make a report if they are involved in an accident. This is particularly true if there is an injury or fatality.
If urgent medical help is necessary, render what aid you can, look for assistance, and call emergency medical assistance. If you are the one who is hurt, you should seek immediate medical help. Even if your injury appears small and you do not need immediate help, 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 details for the other parties. And you also want contact information for independent witnesses, as investigating police officers don't always collect that info.
Call a motorcycle accident lawyer soon after the collision. We strongly advise that you do this before talking to any insurance carrier.
Contact Our San Gabriel Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
After your accident, along with talking to the police and receiving any necessary medical attention, you need to call a qualified and experienced personal injury attorney with experience dealing with motorcycle accidents. Serving victims throughout the San Gabriel area, the motorcycle accident lawyers at Tim D. Wright can help you.
Too often, accident victims think that an insurance company-- either their own or the other motorist's-- will sufficiently compensate them for any injuries they have suffered. Unfortunately, plenty of insurance providers are unwilling to pay, even when liability and injuries are obvious. This is particularly accurate when the injuries are significant.
Even when an insurance carrier seems liable, beware. Many adjusters will attempt to settle claims quickly. They will urge you to sign an agreement that will allow them to close the case-- and thus limit their exposure.
Even if the offer seems adequate or even generous, it is vital to ensure your rights are defended. Speak to a lawyer and make sure you know the consequences of the agreement.
The reality is, not all injuries are readily apparent. And for some major injuries, even if you expect complete recovery, you can not be certain that the full recovery you expect will materialize.
In those instances, signing a release of claims prematurely can limit your settlement to an amount that is substantially less than what you need or what you legally have a right to recuperate. Serious injuries might include:
And, of course, some motorcycle accidents are fatal. If someone you love has been killed in a motorcycle collision, contact a lawyer to determine whether there's a wrongful death action to pursue against a negligent driver.
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