Call An Experienced California Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Contact The Ledger Law Firm Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Today!

Motorcycle enthusiasts are numerous in this country and motorcycle sales are at an all time high. Many who ride do it safely and with a respect for other drivers. But no matter how careful a motorcyclist may be, he or she is still in a more vulnerable position than other kinds of drivers. Motorcycle accidents occur everyday. Even with proper licensing, motorcycle training, and helmet use, a motorcycle rider hit by a car or truck faces difficult odds. Unfortunately, with the rise in motorcycle sales comes an increase in motorcycle-related injuries and deaths. Motorcycles and bike riders have always been more prone to accidents involving other vehicles due to the smaller size of the motorcycle.

California Motorcycle Accident Facts and Statistics

Motorcycles offer the freedom of the open road. With the wind in your face and nothing between you and the elements, riding a bike can be an exhilarating experience. But climbing on to a motorcycle also comes with an increased risk. The dangers of negligent drivers and road hazards can result in a crash. Protective gear won’t protect you from the hard impact of hitting the pavement.

According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, motorcycle crash fatalities rose from 2013 to 2014 from 54 to 60 per 100,000 registered vehicles. Operators who rode over the legal BAC limit of .08 jumped up from 23 to 28 percent while improperly licenses motorcycle fatalities decreased by one percent.

The state has also seen a steady increase in motorcycle fatalities from 2011 to 2016. The number of deaths has climbed from 898 to 1,056 during that period with in-helmeted loss of life holding steady and operators wearing protective head gear rising from 385 to 511.

The highest number of fatal motorcycle crashes occurred in Los Angeles County with a high 145 with San Diego County running second at 52 deaths followed by Orange County at 41 in 2016.  In many cases, car and trucks often cause the crashes due to:

• Distracted Driving
• Reckless and Negligent Driving
• Speeding
• Improper Lane Changes
• Failure to follow traffic signs, signals and stops
• Tailgating
• Turning without signaling
• Failure to yield right of way

Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

In 2008 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration commission the ‘Motorcycle Crash Causes and Outcomes: Pilot Study” in Orange County, California, using data from law enforcement agencies in the jurisdictions Capistrano, Santa Ana, Westminster, Riverside, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, and Long Beach [1]. Unfortunately, no conclusive information came from this pilot study, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Traffic Safety Facts 2013 Data states that common crash involvement includes:

• Collisions with a motor vehicle in transport
• Frontal collisions in two-vehicle crashes
• Fixed objects
• Vehicles turning left in front of motorcycle
• Both vehicles going straight

What Are the Best Steps to Take after a Motorcycle Accident?

A Newport Beach motorcycle accident can result in severe injuries. Protect your rights to legal compensation after a collision by taking these steps.

Get Medical Help

Motorcycle accidents typically result in severe injuries, including back injuries, and fractures. All of these injuries require urgent medical care. Get medical help even if your injury seems minor.

Get Information

Exchange contact information with the motorist involved in the crash. You should get his name, address, phone number, as well as his auto insurer information.

Report the Accident

An accident report must be filed both with your local police department as well as the California Highway Patrol. Also remember to file a report with your auto insurance company.

Procure Evidence

The scene of an accident can be a valuable source of evidence for your claim. Take pictures of the damage to your motorcycle, as well as the damage that occurred to the other vehicle. Don’t discount the importance of such evidence. A rear-ender, for instance, is very often seen as the fault of the person doing the rear ending, and any photographs of the damage can help you establish the motorist’s liability in causing a crash. Take pictures of debris at the scene, missing traffic signs, and other pieces of evidence.

Contact Witnesses

Talk to witnesses at the scene. They can provide very valuable testimony when it comes to corroborating your statements in court. Don’t forget to take down their names, phone numbers, and contact information.

Remain Silent

Avoid talking to the insurance company of the other driver involved, without having an attorney present. Remember, you do not have to make a statement to the other driver’s insurance company. Do not do anything that jeopardizes your case – your California motorcycle accident lawyer may find it challenging to file a successful claim on your behalf.

Contact a California Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Call an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in California, and learn how you can protect your legal rights to compensation.

The experienced Newport Beach motorcycle accident attorneys at the The Ledger Law Firm are dedicated to the representation of persons who have suffered injuries in these accidents. They represent victims from their offices in California and Washington State.

What Kind of Compensation Am I Entitled to After a Motorcycle Accident?

If you are the victim in a motorcycle accident in California and Newport Beach, compensation your entitled to receive may include:

1. Rental Reimbursement
2. Payment of your medical bills, and any future medical bills
3. Medical treatment, whether you have insurance or not
4. Repair or replacement of your motorcycle
5. Recovery of your loss of earnings and any future losses
6. Reimbursement for your out of pocket expenses incurred
7. Maximum recovery for pain and suffering of your physical and emotional injuries

We will make sure, if you are involved in an accident involving motorcycles. We will help to make sure you receive:

1. The best medical treatment available so you make the best medical recovery possible
2. The maximum monetary compensation for your physical, financial, and emotional losses

Motorcycle Accidents Happen We Can Help

Motorcycles have the disadvantage of not being “crashworthy”, meaning they do not stand up well upon impact. Riders are unprotected and are often thrown off their bikes in an accident.

While the inherent nature of motorcycle riding poses many dangers, the fact that cars and truck drivers fail to acknowledge the rights of motorcycle riders adds to these risks. Because of their smaller size, they are often harder to spot and easier to ignore. Motorcyclists are also more susceptible to an accident in adverse weather conditions. If your loved one was injured or killed while on a motorcycle, we’ll find out if negligence was involved. Our Newport Beach motorycle accident attorneys are advocates for the rights of the injured motorcyclist and will investigate the accident to discover if alcohol or speeding was a contributing factor. After a motorcycle accident the odds may seem against you, but with our legal services we can get you the help you need.

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1. Motorcycle Crash Causes And Outcomes: Pilot Study
2. Traffic Safety Facts (2013 Data)