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What are Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?
Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable not just because they lack the protection, but because they are smaller. This disadvantage makes motorcycles more difficult for other drivers to notice while driving. It also means that motorcycles and their passengers are more likely to be thrown further in the event of a collision.
Motorcycles are also more susceptible to an accident since other motorists don't keep a close enough eye out for them. Only 8% of households own a motorcycle, which provides us a rough estimate of just how common motorcycles are on US roads. Given that motorcycles aren't as common as normal passenger cars, 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 motorist who is only looking for other passenger vehicles.
Since motorcycles are more difficult to spot than other cars, motorcyclists have to always drive defensively. Bikers can never presume that other motorists can see them, particularly the motorists of cars in front of them. Motorcycle crashes typically happen when drivers:
What Are the Most Prevalent Motorcycle Injuries?
A motorcycle gives you little protection in an accident. This means your body ends up taking the full force of the impact with another vehicle.
Frequently, this causes severe and life-altering injuries to motorcycle accident victims. In fact, approximately 5,000 motorcyclists were killed in crashes in just one recent year.
While motorcycles only comprise 3 percent of registered vehicles, motorcycle accidents result in 15 percent of all vehicle collision fatalities. Not every motorcycle crash will result in death, but it shows the severity these kinds of crashes lead to.
Some usual injuries are:
That's not to say that survivors can never return to a normal life, but it might take some time and effort, including physical therapy. A motorcycle accident lawyer can help you receive the compensation required to pay for those treatments.
Liability for Sherman Oaks Motorcycle Accidents
As these facts suggest, motorcyclists wounded in accidents are commonly the victims of negligence. Every negligence case is made up of four major elements: a duty, a breach of that duty, an injury caused by the breach, and damages 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, inebriated, fatigued, or distracted, and ends up causing a collision which leads to injury or even wrongful death to another person, the driver might be held civilly liable to the victim. They can seek a negligence claim with the help of a motorcycle crash lawyer in Sherman Oaks.
A motorcyclist hurt in a crash might have a claim if he can demonstrate that another motorist was at fault. When a motorcycle driver has followed all of the traffic laws but is still involved in a collision, 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 crash, immediately call the authorities to make a report if they are involved in an accident. This is particularly true if there is an injury or death.
If immediate medical help is necessary, render what help you can, look for assistance, and call emergency medical help. If you are the one that is injured, you should seek immediate medical aid. Even if your injury appears small and you do not need immediate help, it is a good idea to seek medical care, as some injuries are not immediately apparent.
Further, at the scene you need to collect the contact and insurance information for the other parties. And you also want contact info for independent witnesses, as investigating police officers do not always collect that information.
Contact a motorcycle crash lawyer soon after the collision. We highly suggest that you do this before speaking to any insurance carrier.
Contact Our Sherman Oaks Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
After your accident, along with talking to the authorities and obtaining any necessary medical attention, you need to contact a qualified and knowledgeable personal injury lawyer with experience dealing with motorcycle crashes. Serving victims throughout the Sherman Oaks area, the motorcycle accident attorneys at Drake Law Firm can assist you.
Too often, accident victims believe that an insurance provider-- either their own or the other motorist's-- will properly compensate them for any injuries they have suffered. Unfortunately, many insurance companies are reluctant to pay, even when liability and damages are clear. This is particularly accurate when the injuries are significant.
Even when an insurance company appears liable, beware. Lots of insurance adjusters will attempt to settle claims quickly. They will advise you to sign an agreement that will let them close the case-- and thus minimize their exposure.
Even if the deal appears sufficient or even generous, it is vital to ensure your legal rights are defended. Contact a lawyer and make sure you know the consequences of the agreement.
The truth is, not all injuries are immediately apparent. And for some major injuries, even if you anticipate full recovery, you can not be sure that the full recovery you hope for will materialize.
In those situations, signing a release of claims too soon can reduce your settlement to an amount that is significantly less than what you need or what you legally have a right to recuperate. Serious injuries may consist of:
And, of course, some motorcycle accidents are fatal. If somebody you love has been killed in a motorcycle collision, speak to an attorney to determine whether there's a wrongful death action to pursue against a negligent driver.
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