If you sustained injuries in a Southern California motorcycle accident, you need to contact a skilled motorcycle accident lawyer in Los Angeles right away.
It’s crucial to have an experienced legal advocate on your side when pursuing a serious personal injury claim.
You should concentrate on recovering from your injuries rather than the added stress of fighting with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
Contact the Weinberg Law Offices and let our professional and knowledgeable team assist when you need it the most.
While California may be a paradise for motorcycle riders with scenic roads and a favorable climate, traffic headaches and inattentive drivers can quickly turn it into a nightmare.
California ranks as one of the top states for motorcycle fatalities. Those riders who survive a collision may have permanent injuries and require lifelong medical assistance.
Successfully resolving an injury claim requires hiring the best motorcycle accident lawyer in Los Angeles.
Common Causes of Southern California Motorcycle Accidents
Like other personal injury claims, most motorcycle accidents are anything but accidents. Negligence is typically the main reason a motorcycle rider is injured. Some of the most common causes of accidents include:
- Distracted drivers, such as talking on the phone, texting, talking to passengers, looking at the GPS, eating, etc.;
- Traffic violations, including speeding or running a red light or stop sign;
- Drug and alcohol use;
- Tailgating; and
- Fatigued drivers.
Not all motorcycle collisions are entirely the other driver’s fault, either. Adverse weather and poor road conditions can contribute to accidents.
There are often cases in which states and cities negligently design roads and highways in ways that they know In some cases, the motorcycle rider may have some liability as well.
Riders who consistently weave in and out of traffic or split lanes increase their risk of an accident.
California’s Motorcycle Helmet Law
California has a universal helmet law, which means all riders must wear a helmet that complies with the minimum Department of Transportation (DOT) standards.
While no one can physically force you to wear a helmet, you could be fined in an accident. Also, the other driver’s insurance company will use the lack of a helmet against you. Even if you did nothing to cause the accident, they will argue you are partially at fault for your injuries.
If you received head, brain, or neck injuries, it’s doubtful that you would receive 100% of your demand amount, however, we would do everything possible to make sure you get as much as you are entitled to.
Attorney Yoni Weinberg was once involved in a motorcycle accident while trekking through mountains in northern Thailand, so he knows firsthand what it is like to be in that kind of situation.
This first-hand experience is crucial when a personal injury attorney is attempting to describe to a jury the feeling that a motorcyclist feels as he is launched from his motorcycle and hits the ground.
The shock, the pain, the fear of riding again are all factored into a motorcycle injury case.
Proving Liability in a California Motorcycle Accident
Before you can successfully collect any compensation in a claim, you need to prove the other driver was negligent, reckless, or acted intentionally. There are four key elements of liability in a motorcycle accident. They are:
- The defendant must owe you some legal duty;
- The defendant must have breached this duty;
- The breach is the cause of the accident and your injuries; and
- You must have sustained a loss, such as medical expenses and lost wages.
California is what’s known as a pure comparative negligence state. That means you can still collect a portion of your damages even if you are a percentage at fault for the accident. For example, if a jury finds you 10% at fault, you can still collect 90% of your total damages.
The other driver’s insurance adjuster will try everything possible to place additional liability on you, which is why you need a skilled Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer representing you.
Insurance companies rely on the fact that you don’t have a claims background or negotiate claims for a living. They will typically offer you less money than your case is worth to get you to settle.
Their goal is to limit their exposure in severe injury cases. You may not even be done with medical treatment yet, but they hope you need money now, which will encourage you to settle.
Common Injuries in a California Motorcycle Accident
When a vehicle and motorcycle collide, it is easy to understand why motorcycle riders often have severe to catastrophic injuries.
Vehicle occupants have multiple safety features that protect them in a collision, whereas motorcycle riders only have the protective gear they are wearing.
The average vehicle weighs over 4,000 pounds, which is why it’s disastrous when a motorcycle rider makes a direct impact with a car.
Some of the most common injuries we see in motorcycle accidents involve the legs, feet, arms, and head. These injuries include:
- Fractured or broken bones;
- Lacerations and abrasions;
- Road rash and abrasions;
- Crushed limbs;
- Burns;
- Skull fracture;
- Brain injury;
- Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis; and
- Soft tissue strains and sprains.
Wearing proper safety gear may not eliminate injuries, but it can reduce their severity. You still have the right to pursue compensation for your injuries, even if you weren’t wearing full protective gear.
However, it’s even more critical to have the best motorcycle accident lawyer in Los Angeles fighting for you. You need a lawyer who can build the strongest case possible.
How a Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Help You Get the Best Compensation
Understandably, you might be wondering exactly how a lawyer can assist you in a personal injury case. When you retain the Weinberg Law Offices, we will conduct an independent investigation.
The sooner you retain us after an accident, the sooner we can begin collecting evidence. It’s crucial to preserve all evidence, especially if your case eventually goes to trial.
We will track down and speak with witnesses, order medical records and other documentation, and hire experts when necessary.
Our office will also handle all communication with the insurance company. You don’t need to worry about negotiating your potential settlement, either. The other driver’s insurance company will want you to give a recorded statement.
However, you should not agree to one without legal representation. The claims adjuster is looking for you to say something that will allow them to place additional liability back onto you.
Should the insurance company be unwilling to negotiate in good faith, it may be necessary to file a lawsuit. We have the skills and financial resources to litigate your case, even if the defendants include large corporations, such as a driver’s employer.
We aren’t afraid to take a case to trial if that’s what is necessary to get you the maximum compensation possible.
Contact the Weinberg Law Offices Today
If you are searching online for a motorcycle accident lawyer in Los Angeles near you, please contact the Weinberg Law Offices. We have years of experience assisting injured motorcycle victims all over Los Angeles County, including Sherman Oaks.
We offer free, no-obligation initial consultations, by phone, zoom, or in person, so there is no risk to meeting with our team. Let us protect your rights after a motorcycle collision and help you fight for the maximum compensation possible.
Disclaimer: This content should not be construed as legal advice.