What Are Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?
Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable not only because they lack the protection, but because they are smaller. This downside makes motorcycles more difficult for other motorists to notice 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 collision because other motorists don't keep a close enough eye out for them. Just 8% of households own a motorcycle, which provides us a general estimate of just how common motorcycles are on US roadways. Given that motorcycles aren't as prevalent as regular passenger cars, drivers may be less likely to watch 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 motorist who is only watching for other passenger cars.
Since motorcycles are more difficult to detect than other vehicles, motorcyclists have to always drive defensively. Bikers can never presume that other drivers can see them, particularly the drivers of vehicles in front of them. Motorcycle crashes often happen when motorists:
What Are the Most Common Motorcycle Injuries?
A motorcycle provides you little protection in a crash. This means your body ends up taking the full force of the impact with another vehicle.
Frequently, this results in serious and life-altering injuries to motorcycle accident victims. In fact, almost 5,000 motorcyclists died in crashes in just one recent year.
While motorcycles only make up 3 percent of registered vehicles, motorcycle accidents cause 15 percent of all vehicle accident fatalities. Not every motorcycle accident will cause death, but it shows the severity these kinds of accidents cause.
Some common injuries are:
That's not to say that survivors can never resume a normal life, but it may take some time and effort, including physical therapy. A motorcycle crash attorney can help you receive the compensation required to pay for those treatments.
Liability for Santa Ana Motorcycle Accidents
As these facts suggest, motorcyclists injured in crashes are commonly the victims of negligence. Every negligence claim is comprised of four main 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 thoroughfares. That includes bicyclists, pedestrians, and other motorists-- including motorcyclists.
When a driver violates that duty by being careless, intoxicated, fatigued, or distracted, and ends up causing a crash which results in injury or even wrongful death to another individual, the driver might be held civilly liable to the injured party. They can pursue a negligence claim with the assistance of a motorcycle crash lawyer in Santa Ana.
A motorcyclist wounded in a crash might have a claim if he can demonstrate that another driver 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 could be not seeing the motorcyclist, speeding, being intoxicated, or a mixture 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 a crash. This is especially true if there is an injury or fatality.
If immediate medical aid is needed, provide what aid you can, look for assistance, and call emergency medical help. If you are the one who is injured, you should seek immediate medical help. Even if your injury appears minor 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 should collect the contact and insurance information for the other parties. And you also want contact information for independent witnesses, as investigating law enforcement don't always gather that information.
Call a motorcycle crash lawyer soon after the accident. We strongly recommend that you do this prior to talking to any insurance company.
Contact Our Santa Ana Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
After your accident, along with speaking with the authorities and getting any necessary medical attention, you should call a qualified and experienced personal injury attorney with experience dealing with motorcycle accidents. Serving victims throughout the Santa Ana area, the motorcycle accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Tim D. Wright can help you.
Too often, accident victims believe that an insurance company-- either their own or the other driver's-- will adequately compensate them for any injuries they have suffered. However, many insurance companies are unwilling to pay, even when liability and damages are clear. This is particularly accurate when the injuries are substantial.
Even when an insurance carrier seems liable, be wary. Lots of insurance adjusters will try to settle claims quickly. They will urge 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 crucial to make sure your rights are defended. Consult a lawyer and be sure you know 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 certain that the full recovery you hope for will materialize.
In those situations, signing a release of claims prematurely can reduce your settlement to an amount that is significantly less than what you need or what you legally have a right to recover. Major injuries may consist of:
And, obviously, some motorcycle accidents are fatal. If somebody you love has been killed in a motorcycle crash, speak to a lawyer to determine whether there's a wrongful death action to pursue against a negligent driver.
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