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What are Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?
Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable not only because they lack the protection, but because they are much smaller. This disadvantage makes motorcycles harder for other motorists 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 vulnerable to a collision because other drivers don't keep a close enough eye out for them. Just 8% of households own a motorcycle, which gives us a general estimate of just how common motorcycles are on US roads. Given that motorcycles aren't as common as normal passenger vehicles, drivers might be less likely to look out for them.
For instance, a motorcycle riding in a driver'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 see than other cars, motorcyclists should always drive defensively. Bikers can never presume that other motorists can see them, particularly the motorists of cars in front of them. Motorcycle crashes commonly happen when drivers:
What are the Most Prevalent Motorcycle Injuries?
A motorcycle gives you little protection in a collision. This means your body ends up taking the full force of the impact with another vehicle.
Commonly, this causes severe and life-altering injuries to motorcycle accident victims. In fact, nearly 5,000 motorcyclists were killed in accidents in just one recent year.
While motorcycles just make up 3 percent of registered vehicles, motorcycle accidents result in 15 percent of all vehicle collision fatalities. Not every motorcycle accident will result in death, yet 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 may take some time and effort, including physical therapy. A motorcycle accident attorney can help you receive the compensation required to pay for those treatments.
Liability for North Hollywood Motorcycle Accidents
As these facts suggest, motorcyclists injured in accidents are commonly 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 damages sustained by the plaintiff. Drivers of motor vehicles owe a duty of care to everyone else that uses public thoroughfares. That includes bicyclists, pedestrians, and various other drivers-- including motorcyclists.
When a motorist violates that duty by being careless, intoxicated, fatigued, or distracted, and ends up causing a collision which leads to injury or even wrongful death to another person, the motorist may be held civilly liable to the victim. They can pursue a negligence claim with the assistance of a motorcycle crash attorney in North Hollywood.
A motorcyclist injured in an accident might have a claim if they can demonstrate that another motorist was at fault. When a motorcycle driver has obeyed all of the traffic laws yet is still involved in an accident, odds 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 call the police to make a report if they are involved in a crash. This is particularly true if there is an injury or death.
If immediate medical aid is necessary, render what help you can, seek assistance, and call emergency medical assistance. If you are the one who is hurt, 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 apparent.
Additionally, at the scene you should get 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 gather that information.
Call a motorcycle crash attorney soon after the crash. We highly advise that you do this before talking to any insurance provider.
Contact Our North Hollywood Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
After your accident, aside from speaking with the authorities and getting any necessary medical attention, you need to call a qualified and experienced personal injury attorney with experience dealing with motorcycle accidents. Serving victims throughout the North Hollywood area, the motorcycle accident attorneys at Drake Law Firm can help you.
Too often, accident victims believe that an insurance carrier-- either their own or the other driver's-- will adequately compensate them for any injuries they have suffered. However, lots of insurance providers are unwilling to pay, even when liability and injuries are clear. This is particularly accurate when the damages are significant.
Even when an insurance provider seems liable, be wary. Lots of insurance adjusters will try to settle insurance claims quickly. They will urge you to sign an agreement that will allow them to close the case-- and thereby minimize their exposure.
Even if the offer appears sufficient or even generous, it is important to ensure your legal rights are protected. Talk to an attorney and make sure you know the consequences of the agreement.
The fact is, not all injuries are readily apparent. And for some serious injuries, even if you expect full recovery, you can not be certain that the full recovery you expect will materialize.
In those situations, signing a release of claims prematurely can limit your settlement to an amount that is considerably less than what you need or what you legally have a right to recuperate. Severe injuries can consist of:
And, obviously, some motorcycle crashes are deadly. If somebody you love has been killed in a motorcycle collision, get in touch with a lawyer to determine whether there's a wrongful death action to pursue against a negligent motorist.
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