Whether motorcyclists are just passing through, enjoying a weekend ride, or commuting to work, it is common to see them throughout the roads of California. Most of these riders enjoy choosing a motorcycle as their mode of transportation yet they're also cognizant of the greater risks when they decide to ride. Why?
Although motorcyclists wear safety gear to protect themselves, and adhere to the rules of safety in California, they cannot control the actions of others they share roads with. When a motorcycle is in an accident involving a car, even if it seems like a relatively small accident, the motorcycle rider can still suffer serious injuries.
With drastically less protection when compared to those riding in a car, motorcyclists are about five times more likely to be injured and 26 times more likely to be killed in an accident
In 2013, 4,668 people died in motorcycle accidents nationwide, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) figures. Another 88,000 motorcyclists were injured the same year. The seriousness of this data and the danger of motorcycle accidents should never be understated, and a motorcycle accident lawyer can help you recover damages in the event of a crash or injury.
If you've suffered injuries in a motorcycle crash involving another vehicle, and the other driver was at fault, you are entitled to make a claim against that driver to recover money in compensation for your damages. But you may be experiencing frustration if you have attempted to deal with the insurance company on your own. Insurance companies, as profit-oriented corporations, are always focused on their bottom line, and whenever possible, deny or underpay accident claims. This is especially the case with motorcycle accidents, where insurers often assume that if you ride a motorcycle, you are a risk-taker and probably responsible for you own injuries. This bias has no basis in fact.
The NHTSA reports that a majority of all fatal motorcycle accidents involve another vehicle; in 42 percent of those collisions, a car or truck has struck a cycle while turning left into the path of a motorcycle either coming straight from the opposite direction or traveling in the same direction, and in the process of passing the car or truck. Because in these types of accidents the motorcycle has the right of way, the fault is with the driver of the other vehicle.
In other cases, an accident may be caused by obstacles or debris in the roadway, in which case the responsible party might be a road construction company or government department doing roadwork, a trucking company that lost cargo or left a tire tread in the road following a blowout.
Nevertheless, it can be difficult to overcome the biased misperception that the biker is automatically at fault, and it usually takes an experienced Sacramento area motorcycle accident attorney to prove it: one who has experts - such as accident reconstructionists and traffic engineers - available to help support your claim.
Injuries From Motorcycle Crashes
If you or a family member suffered serious injuries caused by another driver, don't make the mistake of engaging with their insurance adjuster. It could be a costly mistake. Refer the adjuster to your lawyer, who knows the law and has the resources to prove your case and push the insurance company to make a reasonable settlement offer, or if necessary, take them to court.
Motorcycle accidents cause serious, catastrophic injuries. Some of the more common types of injuries include:
- Spinal cord injuries - paraplegia and tetraplegia (quadriplegia)
- Brain damage
- Shattered bones
- Torn or overstretched ligaments and tendons
- Amputations
- Facial injuries
- Lacerations
- Severe scarring and disfigurement
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Herniated discs
- Neck and back injuries
- Road burn
- Death
Because injuries are often so severe, the ability of the victim to obtain the best quality of medical treatment and to be able to achieve a reasonable standard of living following a motorcycle accident often depends on recovering an adequate settlement from the driver or other party that caused the crash. This can be extremely challenging, and typically requires retaining a seasoned Elk Grove personal injury attorney to represent you.
Hire a Top-Rated Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
In and around Sacramento, California, you will find the top quality legal representation you need at the law firm of attorneys John M. O'Brien & Grant Zehnder. With over 25 years of experience and a law practice dedicated entirely to personal injury matters, our firm has earned the highest possible ratings from Martindale-Hubbell and Avvo, and has successfully concluded thousands of cases and recovered millions of dollars for injured clients.
In our client-centered law practice, we focus on your needs and goals, and keep you informed and involved at every stage of the process, returning all phone calls and emails promptly.
To get straightforward answers to all of your questions and learn about your legal options, contact the O'Brien & Zehnder Law Firm to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation today. Don't wait, because if you miss a filing deadline, you will lose your right to a recovery.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY ABOUT THEIR CASES
My wife suffered injuries in a car crash. Mr. O'Brien and Mr. Zehnder's skilled courtroom presentation and remarkable negotiation skills overturned adverse circumstances. We recommend Mr. O'Brien.
ROBERT H.
I was stunned after a distracted driver rear-ended me. Thankfully, John O'Brien and his team worked efficiently and tirelessly, helping me cover the piling medical bills.
CRISTINA O.
I lost my father because of a drunk driving accident. It was a difficult period, but John O'Brien and his colleague Grant Zehnder helped me obtain justice, closure, and compensation. Thank you!
JERRY R.
The O'Brien & Zehnder Law Firm expertly negotiated my car accident while I concentrated completely on health recovery. I wholeheartedly appreciate everything they have done for me.
KHAILA R.
Owing to Mr. O'Brien and Mr. Zehnder's professional representation, I'm riding my motorcycle again after almost a year of recovery. I am very thankful I chose Mr. O'Brien.
ROBERT
My daughter was seriously injured by a car while walking across the crosswalk. We are grateful for the aggressive fight John O'Brien put up, helping us obtain higher compensation.
CRISTOPHER
The O'Brien & Zehnder Law Firm was recommended to me by a friend after I was involved in a car accident. Their patience, consideration, and readiness to explain the process impressed me.
PAUL S.
All we wanted after our car accident was to go back to normal. Mr. O'Brien understood and offered attentive and compassionate support. They presented our options but never pressured us.
DANNY
I recently had the pleasure of watching John O'Brien masterfully try a difficult personal injury case to a jury in Butte County. John represented a man who sustained a lumbar disc injury in a car accident.
Larry Buckley