Motorcycle Accidents

With excellent weather year-round and beautiful scenery up and down the coast, Southern California is an ideal place for motorcycle enthusiasts. Unfortunately, with constant traffic and many impatient drivers, it can also be a very dangerous place for motorcyclists as well. Motorcycle accidents often lead to catastrophic, life-altering injuries for victims involved. The financial burden of these injuries can be overwhelming. Orange County motorcycle accident lawyers at the Serendib Law Firm are dedicated to making sure the proper liable parties are the ones who bear that burden. Most of the time, it is another driver’s negligence that causes a motorcycle crash. In these circumstances, victims may pursue personal injury claims to recover the costs associated with their injuries. Families who have lost loved ones in a devastating fatal collision may also be entitled to damages in a wrongful death suit. If you need legal assistance in the aftermath of a motorcycle accident, please contact the Serendib Law Firm today to find out more about how we can help.

A variety of factors can contribute to causing a motorcycle collision. However, most often, one of those factors is a negligent act taken by the driver of another vehicle. When a car or truck strikes a motorcycle, the most severe injuries are those sustained by the motorcycle rider, as there is little protection between them and the impact of the vehicle or the road. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported that those involved in a motorcycle collision are 16 times more likely to be injured, and 35 times more likely to suffer fatal injuries compared to accidents involving a standard passenger car. If you or a loved one was involved such a collision, it is important to consult a knowledgeable Southern California motorcycle crash attorney as soon as possible to explore your legal options.

Common causes of serious motorcycle accidents include:

• Speeding
• Drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Distracted drivers
• Tailgating
• Weather or other dangerous road conditions

Motorcyclists are of course responsible for maintaining their own safety on the road. This includes wearing the proper protective gear such as leather clothing or helmets to decrease the likelihood of more severe injuries in the event of a crash. Helmets in particular help protect riders from traumatic brain injury and are also thirty-seven percent effective in preventing fatalities. In California, lane splitting is permissible under the law, which allows motorcyclists to drive on the lane dividers to pass stopped or slower traffic. As a result, some drivers do not take proper care to check for motorcycles when changing lanes or making other maneuvers, which can lead to serious collisions. Even if a victim has contributed in part to causing their own injuries, they may still receive compensation from other responsible parties. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in Orange County can help determine who is at fault and to what degree.

Drivers who act negligently on the road are legally responsible for the harm they cause. Negligence exists when a party has breached their duty to act as a reasonable and prudent person would under the same or similar circumstances, and this breach causes another’s injury. The injured victim must also sustain damages as a result. For example, a driver who hits an oncoming motorcyclist while rushing to make a left turn without the right of way could be an unreasonable action leading to liability. In a successful personal injury claim, motorcycle accident victims can recover damages for past and future medical expenses, lost income, loss of earning capacity, as well as pain and suffering.

In California, personal injury suits must be filed within two years from the date of the accident, and time is of the essence in these circumstances as evidence can be lost and witness recollections could fade. Motorcycle accident victims considering legal action should contact an Orange County injury attorney at the Serendib Law Firm as soon as possible. Our firm offers comprehensive and committed legal representation for clients throughout Southern California, including Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties. If you have questions about your options in the aftermath of a serious motorcycle accident, please call us at 1-800-LAW-8225 (800-529-8825) or contact us online to speak with an attorney today.