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What are Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?
Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable not only because they lack the protection, but because they are much smaller. This downside makes motorcycles harder for other motorists to see on the road. It also means that motorcycles and their passengers are more likely to be thrown farther in the event of a wreck.
Motorcycles are also more vulnerable to an accident because other drivers don't keep a close enough eye out for them. Only 8% of households own a motorcycle, which gives us a general estimate of just how common motorcycles are on US streets. Since motorcycles aren't as common as normal passenger vehicles, drivers might be less likely to watch out for them.
For instance, a motorcycle riding in a motorist's blind spot or crossing through an intersection at a 2-way stop may be less likely to be seen by a driver who is only looking for other passenger cars.
Since motorcycles are more difficult to spot than other cars, motorcyclists should always drive defensively. Bikers can never presume that other drivers can see them, particularly the motorists of cars in front of them. Motorcycle crashes often occur when motorists:
What Are the Most Prevalent Motorcycle Injuries?
A motorcycle provides you little protection in a collision. This means your body ends up taking the full force of the impact with another vehicle.
Commonly, this results in life-threatening and life-altering injuries to motorcycle crash victims. In fact, almost 5,000 motorcyclists were killed in collisions in just one recent year.
While motorcycles only comprise 3 percent of registered vehicles, motorcycle accidents cause 15 percent of all vehicle crash fatalities. Not every motorcycle accident will lead to death, yet it shows the seriousness these kinds of crashes inflict.
Some common injuries are:
That's not to say that survivors can never resume a normal life, but it may take some time and effort, including physical therapy. A motorcycle accident attorney can help you receive the compensation needed to pay for those treatments.
Liability for Reseda Motorcycle Accidents
As these facts suggest, motorcyclists wounded in crashes are often the victims of negligence. Every negligence claim is comprised of four essential elements: a duty, a breach of that duty, an injury caused by the breach, and injuries sustained by the plaintiff. Drivers of motor vehicles owe a duty of care to everybody else that uses public roads. That includes bicyclists, pedestrians, and various other motorists-- including motorcyclists.
When a motorist breaches that duty by being careless, intoxicated, fatigued, or distracted, and ends up causing an accident which leads to injury or even wrongful death to another person, the driver may be held civilly liable to the injured party. He or she can pursue a negligence claim with the assistance of a motorcycle accident attorney in Reseda.
A motorcyclist wounded in a crash might have a claim if they can prove that another motorist was at fault. When a motorcycle driver has followed all of the traffic laws however is still involved in an accident, chances are that it has been caused by the driver of another vehicle. It might be not seeing the motorcyclist, speeding, being inebriated, or a mixture of the three.
What Should I Do After a Motorcycle Crash?
If You Have Been Involved in a Motorcycle Accident, immediately contact the police to file a report if they are involved in an accident. This is particularly true if there is an injury or death.
If urgent medical help is necessary, provide what help you can, seek assistance, and call emergency medical help. If you are the one who is hurt, you should seek immediate medical aid. Even if your injury appears minor and you do not need immediate aid, it is a good idea to get medical care, as some injuries are not immediately apparent.
Additionally, at the scene you need to get the contact and insurance information for the other parties. And you also want contact info for independent witnesses, as investigating law enforcement do not always gather that info.
Contact a motorcycle crash attorney soon after the accident. We strongly suggest that you do this prior to speaking to any insurance provider.
Contact Our Reseda Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
After your accident, along with talking to the police and obtaining any necessary medical attention, you need to consult with a qualified and experienced personal injury attorney with experience handling motorcycle crashes. Serving victims throughout the Reseda area, the motorcycle accident attorneys at Drake Law Firm can assist you.
Too often, accident victims think that an insurance carrier-- either their own or the other driver's-- will properly compensate them for any injuries they have suffered. Unfortunately, lots of insurance companies are unwilling to pay, even when liability and damages are clear. This is especially true when the injuries are substantial.
Even when an insurance provider appears responsible, be wary. Many adjusters will try to settle insurance claims quickly. They will advise you to sign an agreement that will let them close the case-- and thus reduce their exposure.
Even if the deal seems sufficient or even generous, it is vital to ensure your rights are protected. Talk to an attorney and make sure you comprehend the consequences of the agreement.
The fact is, not all injuries are immediately apparent. And for some major injuries, even if you anticipate full recovery, you can not be certain that the full recovery you expect will materialize.
In those situations, signing a release of claims too soon can limit your settlement to an amount that is substantially less than what you need or what you legally have a right to recover. Major injuries might consist of:
And, of course, some motorcycle crashes are fatal. If somebody you love has been killed in a motorcycle accident, get in touch with an attorney to determine whether there's a wrongful death action to pursue against a negligent driver.
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