Northern California Motorcycle Crash Attorney
Northern California Types of Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents occur in various ways, with various types of vehicles. A motorcyclist who is involved in an accident with a truck, sedan, SUV, big rig, motor home or bus, can experience severe harm. Unlike a vehicle that is framed with steel and equipped with airbags and seatbelts, a motorcycle offers very limited protection for the biker. Each year, countless bikers are injured and die from the following types of motorcycle accidents:
Rear-end collisions
All too often a car, truck, SUV, or commercial vehicle will rear-end a motorcycle because they failed to see the biker in traffic. The most minor rear end collision can propel the biker into oncoming traffic and result in severe injury or death. Ejected motorcyclists thrown into traffic are at high risk of being run over by an oncoming vehicle.
Head-on collisions
Head-on collisions may have numerous causes, an unsafe passing attempt, a distracted driver, an impaired driver, a driver falling asleep at the wheel, or a driver losing control of their vehicle because of a tire blowout. A biker may suffer catastrophic injuries or possibly die from an unavoidable head-on collision with a car or truck.
Hit and run collisions
Hit and run accidents in California are on the rise. Fleeing the scene of an accident after hitting or running a biker off the road is a punishable crime. Drivers that do not remain at the scene of an accident not only commit a crime, but also completely disregard the well being of the biker.
Illegal, unsafe, or sudden lane changes
A driver who changes lanes abruptly without signaling may be responsible for colliding with a motorcyclist. Drivers have a responsibility to only change lanes when a vehicle can be moved with reasonable safety, under California Vehicle Code Section 21658 (a). Although a motorcycle may be harder to see than a passenger car, truck, or SUV, failure to see a motorcyclist when one should have may be deemed negligent or reckless.
Unsafe Left Turns and U-Turns
Motorcyclists are frequent victims of unsafe left turns and U-turns, where the driver of an automobile is deemed responsible for a collision under California Vehicle Code Section 21801 (a), which states "The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left or to complete a U-turn upon a highway, or to turn left into public or private property, or an alley, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching from the opposite direction which are close enough to constitute a hazard at any time during the turning movement, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to the approaching vehicles until the left turn or U-turn can be made with reasonable safety." The typical motorcycle accident only allows the biker less than two seconds reaction time. With such little time, bikers are not able to avoid the collision with a motorist who drives directly into their path of travel.
Improper obstructions
Landowners and tenants have a responsibility to warn bikers of any obstructions that could potentially cause a motorcycle accident. Ropes and chains strung across parking lots or closed off streets should be clearly marked with warning signs.
Single motorcycle accidents
When a biker is involved in a single motorcycle accident, the blame is often placed on the biker. However, in some situations, upon further investigation by a skilled attorney, it is discovered that the accident was caused by a defective part or hazardous road condition.
After a Northern California Motorcycle Accident
Immediately after a motorcycle accident, an attorney that specializes in biker law should be contacted to help you protect your rights. The complexity of personal injury law requires an attorney who can properly investigate the accident scene, handle negotiations with insurance carriers and prepare your claim for trial, if the claim cannot be settled fairly out of court. The professional northern California motorcycle accident attorneys at Estey Bomberger can aggressively pursue compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We work with some of the best experts in the country in motorcycle dynamics and accident reconstruction to maximize liability and the compensation you are entitled to receive.Motorcycle Accident Injuries
The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that approximately 80 percent of all motorcycle accidents result in injury or death for a biker. Severe injuries can permanently change the life of a biker, affecting all aspects of their life including jobs and relationships. Common motorcycle accident injuries include head injuries, back injuries, spinal cord injuries, facial injuries, whiplash, neck injuries, bone fractures, road rash, lacerations, cuts, bruises and loss of a limb (amputation). When injuries are serious, the financial compensation you receive after an accident may impact the quality of the rest of your life.We Work on a Contingency Fee Basis
At the law firm of Estey Bomberger, our northern California personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. Put simply, you will not have to pay us anything to represent you, unless we are able to obtain financial compensation for your damages. In the unlikely event that we are unable to obtain compensation, you owe us nothing. Call our firm today at (800) 890-6722. We can schedule you a free consultation with an attorney immediately. Do not delay in contacting a lawyer; under a statute of limitations, you only have a very limited amount of time to file a personal injury claim in California.