What are Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?
Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable not just because they lack the protection, but because they are smaller. This disadvantage makes motorcycles more difficult for other drivers to notice on the road. 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 susceptible to a wreck because other drivers don't always keep a close enough eye out for them. Just 8% of households possess a motorcycle, which gives us a rough estimate of just how common motorcycles are on US roads. Because motorcycles aren't as prevalent as normal passenger cars, motorists may be less likely to look 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 motorist who is only watching for other passenger vehicles.
Since motorcycles are harder to detect than other cars, motorcyclists must always drive defensively. Bikers can never presume that other drivers can see them, especially the drivers of vehicles in front of them. Motorcycle accidents commonly happen when motorists:
What Are The Most Prevalent Motorcycle Injuries?
A motorcycle gives you little protection in a collision. This means your body ends up taking the full force of the impact with another vehicle.
Frequently, this causes serious and life-altering injuries to motorcycle accident victims. In fact, approximately 5,000 motorcyclists died in crashes in just one recent year.
While motorcycles only comprise 3 percent of registered vehicles, motorcycle accidents cause 15 percent of all vehicle crash fatalities. Not every motorcycle crash will cause death, however it shows the seriousness these kinds of crashes inflict.
Some common injuries are:
That's not to say that survivors can never resume a normal life, but it might take some time and effort, including physical rehabilitation. A motorcycle crash attorney can help you receive the compensation needed to pay for those treatments.
Liability for San Gabriel Motorcycle Accidents
As these facts suggest, motorcyclists hurt in crashes are commonly the victims of negligence. Every negligence case consists 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 everybody else that uses public roads. That includes bicyclists, pedestrians, and various other motorists-- including motorcyclists.
When a motorist violates that duty by being careless, inebriated, fatigued, or distracted, and ends up causing an accident which leads to injury or even wrongful death to another person, the motorist might be held civilly liable to the injured party. He or she can seek a negligence case with the assistance of a motorcycle accident attorney in San Gabriel.
A motorcyclist injured in a collision might have a claim if he can prove that another driver was at fault. When a motorcycle driver has followed 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 might 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 call the authorities to file a report if they are involved in an accident. This is particularly true if there is an injury or fatality.
If immediate medical help is needed, provide what aid you can, seek assistance, and call emergency medical help. If you are the one who is injured, you should seek immediate medical assistance. Even if your injury seems small and you do not need immediate help, it is a good idea to seek 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 info for independent witnesses, as investigating police officers do not always gather that info.
Contact a motorcycle crash lawyer soon after the collision. We highly suggest that you do this prior to talking to any insurance company.
Contact Our San Gabriel Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
After your accident, aside from speaking with the authorities and obtaining any necessary medical attention, you need to contact a qualified and knowledgeable personal injury lawyer with experience handling motorcycle accidents. Serving victims throughout the San Gabriel area, the motorcycle accident attorneys at Mendez & Sanchez can assist you.
Too often, accident victims think that an insurance carrier-- either their own or the other motorist's-- will sufficiently compensate them for any injuries they have sustained. Unfortunately, plenty of insurance companies are unwilling to pay, even when liability and damages are obvious. This is particularly true when the injuries are significant.
Even when an insurer appears responsible, beware. Many insurance adjusters will try to settle insurance claims quickly. They will urge you to sign an agreement that will let them close the case-- and therefore reduce their exposure.
Even if the deal seems adequate or even generous, it is important to ensure your rights are protected. Talk to an attorney and make sure you know the consequences of the agreement.
The fact is, not all injuries are readily apparent. And for some major injuries, even if you expect full recovery, you can not be certain that the complete recovery you expect will happen.
In those cases, 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 recover. Serious injuries might consist of:
And, of course, some motorcycle accidents are fatal. If someone you love has been killed in a motorcycle accident, get in touch with an attorney to determine whether there's a wrongful death action to pursue against a negligent motorist.
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