When to Call a California Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
As top motorcycle accident lawyers in California, we know how devastating these crashes can be—especially when injury victims don’t fight for compensation. If you’re suffering serious injuries after a wreck caused by someone else, contact us to schedule a free consultation.
It isn’t hard to understand why so many Southern Californians choose to ride motorcycles. With nearly year-round perfect weather and coastal views that most of the country can only dream about, this region is an attractive destination for travelers of all kinds.
Of course, there is a downside: As the most populous state in the U.S., we have a little bit of a traffic problem. And more cars on the road almost always means more motorcycle accidents.
Despite being more vulnerable to serious injuries than car passengers, some motorcyclists are reluctant to seek legal assistance after an accident—even when they deserve a settlement. Frequently stereotyped as irresponsible and reckless, injured motorcyclists may expect to be blamed for the accident, or they may just be unaware of their rights.
If you or a loved one suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle accident, you may be wondering: How do I know when to call an Orange County motorcycle accident lawyer? Rest assured, we can help answer that.
This article will explain everything you need to know about when to call a motorcycle accident attorney, how much your case is worth, and why partnering with a legal expert may be your best option to secure compensation.
Are you drowning in debt after an accident you didn’t cause? The Costa Mesa personal injury attorney team at Case Barnett Law may be able to help you secure compensation. Call our law office at (949) 409-0055 to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our compassionate attorneys.
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California Motorcycle Accident Statistics
If you’ve never researched the prevalence of California motorcycle accidents before, the stark reality might shock you. The following are among the most notable motorcycle accident statistics, as provided by the California Highway Patrol (CHP):
- In 2020, there were 4,420 motorcycle-related collisions resulting in injury or death.
- Of those accidents, there were 4,732 reported injuries, as well as 488 fatalities, which marks a nine percent increase in fatalities from 2019.
- Despite motorcycles only accounting for three percent of registered California vehicles in 2020, motorcyclists were 15% of all vehicle-related fatalities.
- According to the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to die in an accident than passengers in other types of motor vehicles.
As these statistics reveal, motorcyclists face higher rates of injury and death than passengers in other types of vehicles, due in large part to the open, unprotected nature of their vehicles.
Although motorcycle accidents can happen for any of the same reasons other types of vehicles crash, many causes are specific to their vehicle. These include car doors opening in front of them, lane switching, lane splitting, inclement weather, hazardous road conditions, corner turns, left turns and motorcycle defects.
When to Call a California Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Not all motorcycle accident victims are eligible to receive compensation, just like many people involved in car accidents don’t have grounds for a lawsuit. So how do you know when you should call a California motorcycle accident lawyer?
Although your eligibility to pursue legal action depends on the specific details of your case, it’s a good idea to call a California motorcycle accident attorney if both of the following are true:
- Your motorcycle accident was caused by a party other than yourself.
- You suffered serious injuries and significant losses as a result of your accident.
If another person or party caused you to crash and suffer serious injuries, you shouldn’t be the one footing the bill for your recovery. Although it’s tempting to settle your claim as quickly as possible by accepting the insurance company’s first offer, there are a few things you should be aware of.
Not only are insurance adjusters incentivized to pay out as little as possible, but they may also try to trick you into saying something that hurts your claim. A personal injury attorney in Orange County can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf, and if they refuse to settle for a fair amount, your lawyer can help you pursue a motorcycle accident lawsuit.
How Much Is My Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?
After you’ve been seriously injured in an accident, it’s hard enough to hold everything together without having to worry about a lawsuit. Before deciding whether or not to pursue legal action, many of our clients want to know how much their motorcycle accident case is worth.
This is a perfectly reasonable question, but the reality is that it depends almost entirely on the details of your case. As a general rule of thumb, the more losses you’ve experienced as a result of the accident and the more liability attributable to the defendant, the more compensation you stand to gain.
Types of Compensation
Motorcycle accidents fall under the legal category of personal injury. In personal injury cases, there are typically two types of compensation that injury victims are able to pursue:
- Economic damages. These types of damages refer to losses that are financial in nature. They could include compensation for medical expenses, future medical treatment, and therapies, property damage, lost wages, etc.
- Non-economic damages. In contrast to economic damages, non-economic damages refer to losses that can’t be calculated with a dollar amount. These include things like loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), pain and suffering, etc.
In rare cases, the court may also award the plaintiff with punitive damages. Whereas economic and non-economic damages are types of compensatory damages (meant to compensate you for losses), punitive damages are designed to punish the defendant and deter them from similar actions in the future. These damages are only awarded when the court believes the defendant acted in an egregious, callous, or malicious manner.
Case Barnett Law: Top California Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Serving Orange County
Whereas a car passenger may be able to walk away from an accident unscathed, that same accident may leave a motorcyclist unable to walk at all. As some of the most vulnerable travelers on the road, motorcyclists deserve the chance to secure compensation when their lives are endangered by another party.
