Motorcycle accidents happen every day on California’s roads, causing serious injury or worse. In fact, 565 motorcyclists died in collisions in 2021 in the state, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety.
It’s important to understand your rights after a motorcycle accident as a driver who behaved carelessly behind the wheel can be held accountable for resulting losses. The Vista accident lawyers at Miller & Steele Law Firm exclusively represent accident victims, including many motorcycle riders. We’ll work with you to navigate the legal system and get compensation for your crash.
Give us a call today at (760) 439-2210 to schedule a free consultation with a Vista motorcycle accident lawyer who is ready to fight for you.
Why Should I Hire Miller & Steele Law Firm for My Motorcycle Accident Case?
Motorcycle accidents tend to result in serious, life-altering injuries. After an accident, it’s critical that you work with an attorney who can take decisive legal action while you focus on your recovery. The choice of attorney you make is an important one. Some of the reasons we think the Miller & Steele Law Firm is the right choice for you is:
- Our experience – We have decades of combined legal experience we can put to use to handle every aspect of your claim from investigation to litigation.
- Our results – We have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our deserving clients in and out of court.
- Our case readiness – Our Vista personal injury attorneys have participated in more than 100 jury trials. We prepare every case as though it is going to trial to maximize our clients’ compensation.
- Our focus – Our law firm focuses exclusively on personal injury cases. We give every client the personalized attention they deserve.
Contact us today for a free case review with an experienced Vista motorcycle accident lawyer.
Who is Responsible for Motorcycle Accidents?
There are many potential reasons for a motorcycle accident to occur. Because motorcycles are smaller than the average car, it can make it difficult for drivers to see on the road. However, some of the most common reasons motorcyclists are involved in collisions include:
- Unsafe left turns on the part of other drivers who don’t see the motorcyclist
- Unsafe lane changes
- Speeding
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
If a driver is negligent in these or other ways that are a direct cause of a motorcycle crash, they can be liable for losses. That’s because under California Civil Code Section 1714, “everyone is responsible, not only for the result of their willful acts but also for an injury occasioned to another by their want of ordinary care or skill in the management of their property or person.”
It doesn’t matter if the driver meant to do something unsafe — if they violated a safety rule or weren’t as careful as a hypothetical reasonable person would have been in their situation, they bear monetary responsibility for resulting losses. Their auto insurer should cover the bills including paying for:
- Past and future medical care you need as a result of the motorcycle accident.
- Lost wages and loss of earning power if injuries prevent you from working to your full capacity
- Pain and suffering resulting from the accident
- Emotional distress, including any PTSD you experience as a result of the motorcycle collision
Dealing with Insurance Companies After a Motorcycle Accident
Many people mistakenly believe that insurance companies will take care of them after an accident. However, insurance companies are highly profitable businesses, notorious for raking in millions of dollars a year in premiums while minimizing claims as much as possible. They do everything they can to deny claims and minimize the value of others.
One way that insurance adjusters do this is by using prejudice against motorcyclists. Unfortunately, motorcyclists sometimes have a reputation of being dangerous, so insurance adjusters exploit this bias by immediately blaming them for the accident. They may claim you were drinking, not visible enough, or violating some traffic law. An experienced lawyer can help gather evidence to prove the other driver was at fault, not you.
Insurance companies also use various tactics to deceive claimants from recovering the financial compensation they are due. For example, they may claim they need a recorded statement from you, just so they can try to twist your words around to deny claims. Or, they may ask you to sign a medical release form so they can obtain irrelevant medical records from a long-ago accident that they can blame your current injuries on.
You should not trust insurance companies to treat you fairly after an accident – especially in situations where you have suffered considerable damages for which they owe you. An experienced attorney can safeguard your rights.
What Evidence Can Prove Liability in a Motorcycle Accident Case?
To recover compensation for your motorcycle accident claim, you will need strong evidence of liability, such as:
- Accident reports and statements the at-fault party made to law enforcement
- Videos from traffic cameras, dashcams, and surveillance videos
- Accident scene photos
- Physical evidence, including skid marks and debris in the roadway
- Witness statements
- Event data recorder information, such as the speeds the vehicles were going and their direction of travel at the time of the accident
Contact an experienced Vista motorcycle accident lawyer today so we can launch an investigation into your case and preserve evidence to prove fault.
Statute of Limitations For Filing A Motorcycle Accident Claim
There’s a two-year time period when you can bring your motorcycle accident claim after being injured in a crash or losing a loved one in an accident. California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 explains this limit applies to cases involving “injury to, or..the death of, an individual caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another.”
If you wait beyond this time, you will be unable to move forward with your accident claim, so don’t hesitate to get started with the help of a Vista truck accident attorney.
Let The Vista Motorcycle Accident Lawyer of Miller & Steele Law Firm Help You
Miller & Steele Law Firm can provide you with the legal representation you need to get compensation. Our Vista motorcycle accident lawyers understand the California rules applied to car accident claims and we have recovered millions in compensation for our clients through our knowledgeable and dedicated advocacy.
Give us a call at (760) 439-2210 to schedule your free consultation and learn more about how we can help you.