California Motorcycle Accidents, Injuries, and Legal Claims

Motorcycles aren’t inherently dangerous, especially when you practice safe riding habits. However, even the best-prepared motorcyclist can’t avoid every accident. After all, a great many motorcycle crashes aren’t caused by the rider but by a distracted, negligent, or otherwise reckless driver. Although every accident is different in circumstance and outcome, there are several common types of crashes that tend to end in injury.

Common Types of Motorcycle Accidents

While motorcycle accidents can happen in many different ways, some kinds of crashes are more common than others. Here are several of the most common types of motorcycle accidents:

T-bone. When the front end of one vehicle hits the side of another, it’s called a T-bone crash. T-bone crashes typically happen at intersections when one vehicle is traveling straight, and the other is attempting to make a left turn. Motorcyclists are frequent victims of T-bone crashes since a bike’s smaller profile means that other motorists are less likely to “notice” a motorcycle or accurately gauge its speed and approach.

Rear-end. This is when a motorcyclist is hit from behind by another vehicle. Rear-end accidents can be devastating, especially when the at-fault driver is traveling at a high rate of speed. The force from the crash can cause the rider to fly over their own handlebars, potentially pinning them beneath their own bike or another vehicle. Rear-end accidents that happen at stop signs and traffic signals are usually caused by distracted drivers.

Head-on. These collisions are among the most dangerous types of motorcycle accidents because they often occur at high speeds. Head-on collisions are responsible for an estimated three-quarters of all motorcycle-related deaths.

Left-turn. These crashes are a particular and notorious risk for motorcyclists. They happen when a left-turning vehicle fails to see an oncoming motorcycle and ends up striking the bike. Left-turn crashes can impact different parts of a motorcycle and lead to various injuries.

Typical Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Any motorcycle accident—no matter its type—has the potential to cause significant and even catastrophic injury, such as:

Road rash. This happens when a rider’s skin makes sudden contact with a paved road. While road rash may not sound serious, it can be a debilitating injury requiring skin grafts and a months-long recovery.

Broken bones. Although a motorcyclist can break potentially any bone in a crash, they are at a higher risk for suffering broken fingers, wrists, and ribs. While some of these injuries can be mitigated or avoided through the use of proper protective gear, bones are often broken from the sheer force of impact.

Facial and dental injuries. Facial and dental injuries often occur in riders who do not use helmets or who use helmets that do not fully cover the face and chin. These injuries can be disfiguring and permanently alter a person’s appearance.

Skull injuries. A skull injury can occur when a rider’s head or helmet hits the ground, another vehicle, or object. Severe skull fractures can necessitate surgery if bone fragments manage to pierce or otherwise enter the brain.

Traumatic brain injuries. Also known as TBIs, traumatic brain injuries range from mild to debilitatingly severe. TBIs include concussions and internal bleeding. A severe TBI can lead to permanent disability and decreased cognitive function.

Spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord injuries happen when a motorcyclist’s spinal column is partially fractured, pierced, or compressed. Spinal cord damage can significantly alter an individual’s ability to lead an independent life and are often responsible for paralysis and loss of bodily functions control.

Even seemingly minor injuries—like road rash—can take months to recover from, costing a motorcyclist tens of thousands of dollars in medical costs alone.

When you consider an accident victim’s lost income, as well as the need for services like physical rehabilitation and continued care, the overall cost of an accident can stretch into the hundreds of thousands—even millions—of dollars.

Motorcycle Crash Liability

When you are hurt in an accident that was not your fault, you may be entitled to collect compensation through a personal injury claim. However, figuring out who to hold accountable is often easier said than done. The potential defendants in a motorcycle accident case include:

Another driver, if their negligence resulted in injury to a motorcyclist

A private business, if a biker was hurt by someone—like a truck driver or deliveryman—who was on the clock at the time of the crash.

A government entity, like a county roads commission, if it failed to maintain safe roadways or otherwise facilitated an accident

A motorcycle maker or parts manufacturer, if a mechanical defect caused the crash or made it more likely to happen.

Since one or more parties may be at fault in a motorcycle accident, crash claims often involve multiple defendants.

Motorcycle Accident & Injury Overview

Common Types of Motorcycle Accidents

Typical Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Motorcycle Crash Liability

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