While riding a motorcycle can be exhilarating, getting into a motorcycle accident can be catastrophic. The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that 6,335 motorcyclist fatalities occurred in 2023, which represented 15% of all traffic fatalities and the highest number of motorcyclists killed since 1975. Based on vehicle miles traveled, motorcyclists were approximately 28 times more likely than occupants in passenger vehicles to be killed in a motor vehicle accident and five times more likely to be injured.
If you are injured in a motorcycle crash, the personal injury law firm of Belal Hamideh can help. Our firm has recovered over $100 million for our clients. We can provide targeted legal advice and representation to you. Contact us today for a free case review.
Why You Need a Long Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Motorcycle accidents cause serious injuries. Dealing with the aftermath of a serious accident can be a lot to handle. You might be coordinating medical appointments, concerned about your financial future, and experiencing tremendous pain and suffering.
A motorcycle accident lawyer can serve as your legal advocate while you focus on your recovery. They can also deal with insurance company tactics designed to minimize the financial compensation you recover. They fight back against insurance company tactics such as:
- Blaming you for the accident: Insurance companies try to leverage outdated stereotypes that motorcyclists are dangerous drivers. An experienced lawyer can
- Minimizing your injuries: Insurance companies may try to get you to answer leading questions in an attempt to minimize injuries. They may also try to question the necessity of your medical treatment. An experienced attorney can handle communications with the insurance company to avoid these issues.
- Delaying your insurance claim: Insurance companies may delay the processing of a claim to frustrate the process, get you to give up on it, or convince you to accept the first lowball offer they make. Motorcycle accident lawyers are familiar with this tactic and fight back against it.
- Requesting excessive documentation: Insurance companies sometimes try to frustrate the legal process by requesting unnecessary documentation or the same documentation multiple times. If you don’t comply, they may deny your claim. An experienced lawyer can ensure that the insurance company receives the information it needs to process your claim.
- Making lowball settlements: Insurance companies are familiar with the severe injuries that motorcycle crashes can cause. They may try to offer a quick settlement in hopes you will take it. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can negotiate for a fair settlement that factors in all your damages.
Our personal injury attorneys can discuss your legal rights and options during a free, no-obligation consultation. Call us today to get started.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists are at a unique risk of being involved in an accident. Some of the leading causes of motorcycle crashes include:
- Not seeing the motorcyclist: Because motorcyclists are lower to the ground, some motorists may fail to spot them before pulling out in front of them or switching lanes.
- Turning in front of a motorcyclist: Motorists often fail to see motorcyclists or misjudge their speed or distance, causing them to turn into the path of an oncoming motorcyclist.
- Following too closely: Drivers of passenger vehicles may follow too closely. If a motorcyclist brakes in front of them, the driver may rear-end them.
- Distracted driving: Drivers may be distracted by cell phone use, adjusting radio and climate controls, talking to passengers, looking out the window, or some other cause.
- Lane splitting: Lane splitting, a practice in which motorcyclists move between lanes of stopped or slow-moving traffic, is legal in California. However, motorcyclists must carefully execute this maneuver, and motorists must keep a proper lookout for motorcyclists.
- Speeding: Motorists may speed, which increases the likelihood of losing control of their vehicle and requires more time to come to a stop once they recognize a hazard.
- Impaired driving: Drunk or drugged driving is responsible for a large percentage of motor vehicle crashes.
- Inexperienced driving: Motorcyclists may ride together. However, inexperienced motorcyclists may not safely handle their bikes, leading to collisions with other nearby bikers.
- Road hazards: Motorcycle riders are more susceptible to road hazards than other motorists, including potholes, wet pavement, debris in the roadway, or sharp turns.
These and other hazards can cause life-altering injuries.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Because motorcycles lack a steel frame, seatbelts, and airbags, motorcycle accident victims often suffer serious injuries, including the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Facial injuries and lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Nerve damage
- Loss of limbs and other amputations
- Internal injuries
- Broken bones
- Biker’s arm
- Road rash
- Disfigurement and scarring
Who Is Responsible for a Motorcycle Accident?
Our personal injury lawyers can carefully review your claim to determine who is legally responsible for your injuries, such as:
- Negligent motorists: The car driver may be responsible for the accident due to speeding, drunk driving, or some other cause.
- Other motorcyclists: The rider of the motorcycle you were a passenger on may be responsible for the accident, or another motorcyclist traveling nearby may be to blame.
- Governmental entities: The government agency responsible for maintaining the roadway may be to blame in the case of road hazards.
- Product manufacturers: Product manufacturers may be to blame for accidents caused by defective parts.
An experienced Long Beach motorcycle accident attorney can investigate your case to determine who is responsible for your injuries.
Damages You Can Recover in a Motorcycle Accident
Because motorcycle accidents tend to result in catastrophic injuries, injured riders need access to the maximum available financial relief to help pay for medical bills, lost income, and other losses. Damages may compensate you for losses such as:
- Medical expenses – A personal injury claim can provide compensation for the payment of medical bills, emergency medical treatment, rehabilitative care, and all other medical expenses related to your motorcycle injuries. Medical experts can also testify about the need for future medical expenses.
- Lost wages – You can seek compensation for your lost income. This can add up to a significant amount, given the time you may miss from work due to long recovery periods and seeking medical treatment.
- Reduced earning capacity – You can also seek compensation for your diminished earning capacity.
- Funeral expenses and burial costs – In a wrongful death lawsuit, damages for funeral costs and burial expenses may be awarded.
- Property damage costs – You can seek compensation for the costs to repair or replace your damaged bike and other damaged property.
- Home modifications – If the motorcycle accident causes permanent disabilities or long-term physical impairment, you can seek damages for modifications you need to make to your home or vehicle.
- Pain and suffering – You can also pursue compensation for the considerable pain and suffering you’ve had to endure due to someone else’s negligence.
- Emotional distress – You can also seek compensation for emotional distress and mental anguish.
- Scarring or disfigurement – Motorcycle injuries can be severe and result in significant scarring or disfigurement.
- Loss of enjoyment of life – Motorcycle injuries can interfere with your enjoyment of life and your ability to ride and enjoy hobbies. You can seek compensation for these losses.
Punitive damages may be available in some motorcycle accident cases, such as those involving drunk drivers.
Our experienced attorneys can help with your personal injury claim and provide you with dedicated legal support to pursue the maximum compensation available under California law.
California’s Comparative Negligence Rule
In California, a pure comparative fault system is used, so as long as someone else shares some fault for the accident, you can seek compensation through a personal injury claim. This is true even if you are mostly at fault for the accident.
However, your compensation is reduced by your degree of fault. So, if you are found 40% at fault for the accident, your financial compensation is reduced proportionately by 40%.
What You Should Do After a Motorcycle Accident
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, try to take the following steps to protect your legal rights:
Contact the Police
Contact law enforcement immediately. A law enforcement officer can respond to the scene and prepare a collision report. The police officer can take the drivers’ statements, take measurements, draw diagrams, and take pictures. Ask how to receive a copy of the police report.
Seek Medical Attention
Don’t delay in seeking medical attention. Your health is the top priority. If emergency responders recommend going to the emergency room, accept the offer.
Exchange Information
Get the other driver’s license number and insurance information. Ask for their name and contact information, too.
Document the Accident Scene
Because the accident scene will quickly be cleaned up to prevent secondary accidents, it’s important to preserve evidence while it’s available. Use your phone or someone else’s to take pictures of the crash site, including crossroads, traffic signs and signals, road and weather conditions, skid marks, property damage, and road debris. This information can help with accident scene reconstruction.
Hire an Experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
A motorcycle accident lawyer can help with the next steps involved in your case, including seeking traffic camera footage and testimony from accident reconstruction experts to help prove how the accident occurred. Our lawyers work on a contingency basis, so you don’t have to pay attorney fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
Deadline to File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in California
California’s statute of limitations generally provides two years to file a lawsuit after a personal injury occurs. If you don’t file your personal injury case within this timeline, you can forfeit your right to recover compensation through the California civil court system.
Contact Our Motorcycle Accident Attorneys to Take Advantage of a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one was injured in a motorcycle accident, the legal team at Belal Hamideh can help. We want to protect your legal rights and help you recover the compensation you need.
Our experienced attorneys have handled more than 2,000 cases. We are uniquely equipped to handle the most complex personal injury cases. Contact us today for a free consultation.