Motorcycle enthusiasts can be found all over the state of California and for good reason. The weather in California is superb for riding and the state offers an endless array of sights and landscapes to make riding even more enjoyable. Whether you prefer to cruise along the ocean or take advantage of the numerous mountain ranges you are sure to find a ride to suit your mood in California. The over 1.3 million registered motorcycles in California are a testament to the beauty of the state for bikers. Unfortunately, with all of those bikers cruising the highways, country roads and mountain passages, motorcycle fatalities are also on the rise in California. Motorcycle fatalities actually reached and all time low in 1998, but have been increasing each year since then. For the year 1998, motorcycle fatalities numbered just 200. Sadly, that number has crept back up to around 500 a year for the last few years. The increase in the number of fatalities is not just a reflection of the increase in the number of bikers. In general, motorcyclists represent a disproportionate number of accidents compared to other forms of transportation. Motorcycle owners represent just over 2% of all registered vehicles in the state of California, but they account for over 9% of all fatalities.
What makes these statistics even more disturbing is that fact that in over half of all motorcycle accidents, the other vehicle was at fault. A biker can use all the precautions available – leathers, helmet and years of experience riding – and still end up the victim of someone else’s careless or negligent driving. The sad fact is that despite efforts to educate the general driving public of the presence of motorcycles, many drivers simply do not see them until it is too late. While nothing can turn back the clock after a fatal motorcycle accident, you may have legal options that you should consider pursuing.
If you have lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, statistically speaking the chances are good that they were not at fault – or at least were less at fault than the other driver. If this is the case, then you may be entitled to file a claim in a California wrongful death lawsuit. The law in California limits who may file as a claimant as well as the time within which you may file so it is in your best interests to consult a California motorcycle accident attorney as early as possible after the loss. As the claimant in a wrongful death lawsuit you may be entitled to receive compensation for the loss of income, support, consortium and a number of other losses that you have suffered as a result of the other driver’s negligence. You owe it to yourself, your family and your loved one to hold the other driver responsible for their negligence.
If your loved one was killed in a fatal motorcycle accident in the state of California and you believe that another driver was at fault, please contact California motorcycle accident attorney Emery Ledger at Ledger & Associates for a free detailed evaluation of your case at 1-800-300-0001 or online at www.ledgerlaw.com.
