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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 much smaller. This disadvantage makes motorcycles harder for other motorists to notice 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 susceptible to a collision since other motorists do not always keep a close enough eye out for them. Only 8% of households possess a motorcycle, which provides us a general estimate of how common motorcycles are on US roadways. Given that motorcycles aren't as prevalent 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 detect than other cars, motorcyclists have to always drive defensively. Bikers can never presume that other motorists can see them, especially the drivers of vehicles in front of them. Motorcycle crashes often occur when drivers:
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.
Frequently, this results in severe and life-altering injuries to motorcycle crash victims. In fact, approximately 5,000 motorcyclists died in accidents in just one recent year.
While motorcycles just make up 3 percent of registered vehicles, motorcycle accidents cause 15 percent of all vehicle accident fatalities. Not every motorcycle crash will result in death, however it shows the seriousness these kinds of accidents result in.
Some common injuries are:
That's not to say that survivors can never resume 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 Topanga Motorcycle Accidents
As these facts suggest, motorcyclists wounded in collisions are often the victims of negligence. Every negligence claim is made up of four major elements: a duty, a breach of that duty, an injury caused by the breach, and injuries suffered by the plaintiff. Drivers of motor vehicles owe a duty of care to everybody else who uses public thoroughfares. That includes bicyclists, pedestrians, and various other drivers-- including motorcyclists.
When a driver violates that duty by being careless, intoxicated, fatigued, or distracted, and ends up causing an accident which causes injury or even wrongful death to another individual, the driver might be held civilly liable to the victim. They can seek a negligence case with the assistance of a motorcycle accident attorney in Topanga.
A motorcyclist wounded in a collision might have a claim if they can prove that another driver 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 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 especially true if there is an injury or death.
If immediate medical aid is needed, provide what help you can, look for assistance, and call emergency medical assistance. If you are the one who is injured, you should seek immediate medical assistance. 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.
Furthermore, at the scene you need to collect the contact and insurance information for the other parties. And you also want contact information for independent witnesses, as investigating police officers don't always collect that info.
Call a motorcycle accident lawyer soon after the collision. We highly suggest that you do this before speaking with any insurance provider.
Contact Our Topanga Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
After your accident, aside from speaking with the authorities and obtaining any necessary medical attention, you should consult with a qualified and experienced personal injury lawyer with experience dealing with motorcycle accidents. Serving victims throughout the Topanga area, the motorcycle crash lawyers at Drake Law Firm can assist you.
Too often, accident victims believe that an insurance carrier-- either their own or the other motorist's-- will adequately compensate them for any injuries they have suffered. Unfortunately, lots of insurance providers are reluctant to pay, even when liability and injuries are clear. This is particularly true when the damages are substantial.
Even when an insurance company seems 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 therefore minimize their exposure.
Even if the offer seems adequate or even generous, it is vital to make sure your legal rights are defended. Consult a lawyer and be sure you understand 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 complete recovery you expect will happen.
In those instances, 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 recover. Major injuries may include:
And, of course, 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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