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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 much smaller. This downside 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 a wreck because 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 streets. Because motorcycles aren't as common as normal passenger vehicles, motorists may be less likely to watch out for them.
For example, a motorcycle riding in a motorist's blind spot or crossing through an intersection at a 2-way stop might be less likely to be seen by a motorist that is only watching for other passenger cars.
Since motorcycles are harder to see than other cars, motorcyclists should always drive defensively. Bikers can never assume that other motorists can see them, particularly the motorists of vehicles in front of them. Motorcycle accidents typically happen when motorists:
What Are the Most Common Motorcycle Injuries?
A motorcycle gives 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 severe and life-altering injuries to motorcycle crash victims. In fact, almost 5,000 motorcyclists died in crashes in just one recent year.
While motorcycles just comprise 3 percent of registered vehicles, motorcycle crashes result in 15 percent of all vehicle crash fatalities. Not every motorcycle crash will cause death, but it shows the seriousness these types of collisions inflict.
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 rehabilitation. A motorcycle accident attorney can help you recover the compensation required to pay for those treatments.
Liability for Burbank Motorcycle Accidents
As these facts suggest, motorcyclists hurt in crashes are commonly the victims of negligence. Every negligence claim is made up 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 thoroughfares. That includes bicyclists, pedestrians, and various other motorists-- including motorcyclists.
When a driver 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 individual, the motorist might be held civilly liable to the victim. They can seek a negligence case with the assistance of a motorcycle crash attorney in Burbank.
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 yet is still involved in an accident, chances are that it has been caused by the driver of another vehicle. It could 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 Crash, immediately contact the authorities to file a report if they are involved in a crash. This is especially true if there is an injury or death.
If immediate medical help is needed, render what help you can, seek assistance, and call emergency medical assistance. If you are the one that is injured, you should seek immediate medical assistance. 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 noticeable.
Furthermore, at the scene you should collect the contact and insurance details for the other parties. And you also want contact information for independent witnesses, as investigating police officers do not always collect that info.
Call a motorcycle accident lawyer soon after the crash. We strongly suggest that you do this before speaking to any insurance company.
Contact Our Burbank Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
After your accident, aside from speaking with the authorities and obtaining any necessary medical attention, you need to consult with a qualified and knowledgeable personal injury lawyer with experience dealing with motorcycle crashes. Serving victims throughout the Burbank area, the motorcycle accident attorneys at Drake Law Firm can help you.
Too often, accident victims think that an insurance company-- either their own or the other motorist's-- will sufficiently compensate them for any injuries they have suffered. However, plenty of insurance providers are unwilling to pay, even when liability and injuries are clear. This is especially accurate when the injuries are substantial.
Even when an insurance provider appears responsible, beware. Many insurance adjusters will attempt to settle insurance claims quickly. They will urge you to sign an agreement that will let them close the case-- and thus reduce their exposure.
Even if the deal appears adequate or even generous, it is crucial to ensure your rights are protected. Speak with an attorney and be sure you comprehend the consequences of the agreement.
The fact is, not all injuries are readily apparent. And for some major injuries, even if you expect complete recovery, you can not be sure that the full recovery you hope for will materialize.
In those cases, signing a release of claims too soon can limit your settlement to an amount that is significantly less than what you need or what you legally have a right to recuperate. Serious injuries might include:
And, obviously, some motorcycle accidents are deadly. If someone you love has been killed in a motorcycle collision, contact a lawyer to find out whether there's a wrongful death action to pursue against a negligent motorist.
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