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What are Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?
Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable not just because they lack the protection, but because they are smaller. This disadvantage makes motorcycles more difficult for other drivers to see 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 a collision since other motorists do not keep a close enough eye out for them. Only 8% of households own a motorcycle, which gives us a rough estimate of just how common motorcycles are on US roadways. Given that motorcycles aren't as common as regular passenger cars, drivers might be less likely to look out for them.
For example, a motorcycle riding in a driver's blind spot or crossing through an intersection at a 2-way stop might 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 vehicles, motorcyclists need to always drive defensively. Bikers can never presume that other drivers can see them, especially the motorists of vehicles 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 crash. This means your body ends up taking the full force of the impact with another vehicle.
Often, this results in life-threatening and life-altering injuries to motorcycle accident 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 result in 15 percent of all vehicle accident deaths. Not every motorcycle accident will cause death, yet it shows the severity these kinds of crashes inflict.
Some typical 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 rehabilitation. A motorcycle crash lawyer can help you recover the compensation required to pay for those treatments.
Liability for Encino Motorcycle Accidents
As these facts suggest, motorcyclists hurt in crashes are often the victims of negligence. Every negligence claim is comprised of four major 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 everyone else who uses public roads. That includes bicyclists, pedestrians, and other motorists-- including motorcyclists.
When a motorist violates that duty by being careless, inebriated, tired, or distracted, and ends up causing an accident which leads to injury or even wrongful death to another individual, the driver may be held civilly liable to the victim. They can seek a negligence claim with the help of a motorcycle crash lawyer in Encino.
A motorcyclist injured in a crash might have a claim if they can prove that another driver was at fault. When a motorcycle driver has obeyed all of the traffic laws but 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 combination of the three.
What Should I Do After a Motorcycle Accident?
If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, immediately call the police to file a report if they are involved in a crash. This is particularly true if there is an injury or death.
If urgent medical help is needed, provide what aid you can, look for assistance, and call emergency medical assistance. If you are the one who is hurt, you should seek immediate medical help. Even if your injury seems minor and you do not need immediate aid, it is a good idea to get medical care, as some injuries are not immediately noticeable.
Additionally, 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 law enforcement don't always gather that info.
Call a motorcycle crash attorney soon after the collision. We highly advise that you do this prior to speaking to any insurance provider.
Contact Our Encino Motorcycle Accident Attorney
After your accident, in addition to talking to the police and obtaining any necessary medical attention, you need to get in touch with a qualified and knowledgeable personal injury attorney with experience handling motorcycle crashes. Serving victims throughout the Encino area, the motorcycle accident lawyers 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 adequately compensate them for any injuries they have suffered. Unfortunately, many insurance companies are reluctant to pay, even when liability and injuries are obvious. This is particularly true when the injuries are significant.
Even when an insurance provider seems responsible, be wary. Lots of adjusters will try to settle insurance claims quickly. They will advise you to sign an agreement that will allow them to close the case-- and therefore limit their exposure.
Even if the offer appears sufficient or even generous, it is important to make sure your rights are defended. Consult an attorney and be sure you comprehend the consequences of the agreement.
The truth is, not all injuries are immediately apparent. And for some serious injuries, even if you expect complete recovery, you can not be certain that the complete recovery you hope for will happen.
In those cases, signing a release of claims prematurely can reduce your settlement to an amount that is considerably less than what you need or what you legally have a right to recover.
And, of course, some motorcycle accidents are deadly. If someone you love has been killed in a motorcycle accident, get in touch with an attorney to find out whether there's a wrongful death action to pursue against a negligent driver.
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