What are Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?
Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable not just because they lack the protection, but because they are smaller. This downside makes motorcycles more difficult for other motorists 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 collision.
Motorcycles are also more susceptible to a wreck since other drivers do not always keep a close enough eye out for them. Just 8% of households own a motorcycle, which gives us a general estimate of just how common motorcycles are on US streets. Since motorcycles aren't as prevalent as regular passenger cars, motorists might be less likely to watch out for them.
For instance, a motorcycle riding in a driver'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 looking for other passenger vehicles.
Since motorcycles are harder to detect than other vehicles, motorcyclists must always drive defensively. Bikers can never presume that other drivers can see them, particularly the drivers 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.
Commonly, this causes life-threatening and life-altering injuries to motorcycle crash victims. In fact, almost 5,000 motorcyclists died in crashes in just one recent year.
While motorcycles just make up 3 percent of registered vehicles, motorcycle accidents cause 15 percent of all vehicle collision fatalities. Not every motorcycle accident will cause death, however it shows the seriousness these types of crashes cause.
Some typical injuries are:
That's not to say that survivors can never return to a normal life, but it may take some time and effort, including physical rehabilitation. A motorcycle accident attorney can help you receive the compensation needed to pay for those treatments.
Liability for Alhambra Motorcycle Accidents
As these facts suggest, motorcyclists injured in crashes are often the victims of negligence. Every negligence claim is comprised of four major 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 drivers-- including motorcyclists.
When a motorist violates that duty by being careless, inebriated, fatigued, or distracted, and ends up causing a collision which leads to injury or even wrongful death to another individual, the driver may be held civilly liable to the injured party. They can seek a negligence claim with the assistance of a motorcycle crash lawyer in Alhambra.
A motorcyclist wounded in an accident might have a claim if he can demonstrate that another driver was at fault. When a motorcycle driver has obeyed all of the traffic laws but is still involved in a crash, chances are that it has been caused by the driver of another vehicle. It could 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 contact the authorities 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, render what help you can, seek assistance, and call emergency medical help. If you are the one who is injured, you should seek immediate medical help. Even if your injury seems minor 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 should collect the contact and insurance details for the other parties. And you also want contact information for independent witnesses, as investigating law enforcement don't always gather that info.
Contact a motorcycle crash attorney soon after the crash. We highly recommend that you do this prior to speaking to any insurance provider.
Contact Our Alhambra Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
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 Alhambra area, the motorcycle accident lawyers at Mendez & Sanchez can help you.
Too often, accident victims believe that an insurance company-- 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 injuries are obvious. This is particularly true when the injuries are substantial.
Even when an insurance provider appears liable, be wary. Many adjusters will try to settle claims quickly. They will urge you to sign an agreement that will allow them to close the case-- and thereby reduce their exposure.
Even if the deal 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 fact is, not all injuries are immediately apparent. And for some major injuries, even if you anticipate complete recovery, you can not be certain that the complete recovery you hope for will happen.
In those situations, signing a release of claims too soon can limit your settlement to an amount that is substantially less than what you need or what you legally have a right to recover. Severe injuries can consist of:
And, of course, some motorcycle crashes are deadly. If somebody you love has been killed in a motorcycle crash, contact a lawyer to find out whether there's a wrongful death action to pursue against a negligent driver.
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