California leads the nation in motorcycle riders, with nearly 815,000 registered motorcycles in the state. Due to Los Angeles’ highway traffic, motorcycling is an attractive way for many residents to get around town, but it does not come without its risks.
In 2016, more than 5,096 motorcycle collisions resulted in death in Los Angeles County. That same year, motorcycle accidents accounted for a whopping 15% of all motor vehicle accidents in California.
Motorcycle crashes are common in Los Angeles. Accidents still happen even when motorcyclists adhere to all the recommended safety precautions.
Common road hazards such as slippery roads, potholes, and heavy traffic can be disastrous for motorcycle riders. Unlike traditional cars, motorcycles do not have a sturdy metal cage to protect passengers. Even the most minor hazards can have horrible consequences.
Motorcycle riders are more likely to face more serious injuries and even death when in accidents. If you’ve had this type of incident, you must work with an experienced injury law firm.
However, motorcyclists are not always at fault when involved in an accident. If you sustained catastrophic injuries in a motorcycle accident, Adamson Ahdoot LLP can help. We will review your case and fight for justice, so you can focus on moving forward with your life.
Seeking Help from Motorcycle Accident Lawyers from Adamson Ahdoot
This might be your first motorcycle accident for you or your loved one. You are likely to feel overwhelmed by the legal process. At Adamson Ahdoot, we have the necessary experience handling complex personal injury cases, determining fault, combating a greedy insurance company, and winning maximum financial compensation for our clients.
Motorcyclists involved in accidents face a heightened risk of injury and death, often resulting in costly hospital stays, loss of employment, and mounting unpaid bills. It’s advisable to call personal injury attorneys after a motorcycle accident.
Sometimes, an accident is severe enough to leave you with lasting scars, disfigurement, disability, or loss of bodily function. Adamson Ahdoot can help you strengthen your case, parse through California law, fight insurance companies, and guide you through the tedious litigation proceedings.
Contact Adamson Ahdoot today at (800) 310-1606 to schedule your free consultation with one of our motorcycle accident attorneys.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents in Los Angeles are on the rise. Between 2003 and 2012, California saw a 23% increase in accidents and fatalities.
Los Angeles holds the unfortunate distinction of a 49% increase in motorcycle accidents during the same period. Sadly, 59% of these accidents resulted in death.
Most motorcycle accident cases occur when a rider is struck or otherwise collides with a car, truck, bus, or other vehicles. While the car passengers are often protected, the motorcycle rider does not have much to lessen the blow. On average, motorcyclists are up to 27 times more likely than other drivers to die in an accident.
The most common causes of accidents include:
- Left-turn accidents: Motorcycles will likely be struck during right-of-way errors, misjudgments, and illegal left turns.
- Inexperienced drivers: New drivers are among the leading causes of accidents. These drivers tend to make unsafe decisions and misjudgments and drive more recklessly.
- Not adhering to traffic rules and regulations: You have probably seen drivers weaving through traffic on the highway. Unsafe lane changes and failure to check blind spots can result in a motorcycle collision.
- Lane Splitting: Riding between two lanes of traffic is a practice known to motorcyclists. Although prohibited in many states, California permits lane splitting during stopped and slow-moving traffic, thanks to Califonia’s lane splitting law, which allows it during stopped and slow-moving traffic.
- Car doors: More often than you would think, car doors open in front of motorcycle riders. Colliding with these doors can have awful consequences.
- Speeding: You’ve probably seen many vehicles speed on the freeway. Speeding is the leading cause of all vehicle accidents.
- Driving under the influence: Intoxicated drivers are a risk to others. Other drunk drivers can also hit motorcyclists. In these cases, the driver may be subject to criminal and civil liability.
- Sudden stops: Similar to cars, making sudden stops on a motorcycle increases the likelihood of rear-end accidents. Rear-end accidents can be lethal to motorcyclists.
- Dangerous road hazards and conditions: Potholes, crumbling pavement, and road debris pose risks to all drivers. For motorcycles, these road hazards increase the driver’s risk of losing control.
- Manufacturing defects: At times, a part on a bike fails and can cause the operator to lose control. The motorcycle manufacturer may be liable if a defective part is found to have caused an accident.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Severe injuries are all too common for motorcyclists involved in accidents. Without the metal frame protection of a car, motorcyclists are left more vulnerable to serious injury, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injury
- Fractured and broken bones
- Road rash
- Internal organ injury
- Limb amputation and disfigurement
- Wrongful death
Traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries may leave a motorcycle accident victim unable to perform everyday tasks due to paralysis, loss of cognitive function, coma, and other issues. As tragic as death is, a surviving motorcycle accident victim is often left with a lifetime of medical bills, mental trauma, and expensive treatment.
Road rash may sound like a seemingly benign ailment, but can cause incredible discomfort. It is a type of skin abrasion caused by the friction of bare skin colliding with rough pavement. Road rash is a superficial injury that can be treated at home most of the time.
Because motorcycles can reach high speeds, road rash sustained in a motorcycle accident may be more severe. In some cases, road rash can remove several layers of skin. If this happens, the motorcycle rider may need skin grafts. The process of grafting skin is not pleasant and comes with a lengthy recovery time.
Nearly 98% of all motorcyclists involved in an accident have been injured in some capacity. Half of these accidents result in serious injury. About 50% of motorcycle accident victims will sustain an injury to their upper leg, lower leg, knee, or ankles, while 13% of victims will injure their groin.
Receiving Your Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Claim
After your free consultation, an Adamson Ahdoot accident attorney will work closely with local law enforcement, contact witnesses, and speak with relevant experts to strengthen your case, both at the accident scene and throughout the legal process. In California, multiple parties can be found liable for a motorcycle accident.
If multiple parties are at fault, testimony will determine which party holds the most responsibility. Even partially responsible victims may still be entitled to obtain financial compensation.
If you feel you may be at fault in any way, it is important to contact an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer right away. Our team will work tirelessly to decipher all the details of your accident so that you can walk away from this horrible time in your life with renewed confidence.
Understanding California Law
California law rests on pure comparative negligence. After a full investigation into your case and arguments by your attorney, the court will assign the plaintiff and the defendant percentages of fault. These percentages determine how much compensation each party is entitled to receive.
For example, if the court has set a $250,000 award, someone who is 25% responsible for their accident would receive $187,500 in damages (the remaining 75%).
If your case involves multiple at-fault parties, California law can hold each party separately or jointly accountable for the accident. In either event, all at-fault parties are responsible for repaying any economic losses or hardships incurred by the injured motorcyclist due to the accident. As a personal injury law firm, Adamson and Ahdoot motorcycle accident lawyers are well-versed in determining this kind of liability.
California law stipulates that all motorcycle riders are required to wear a motorcycle helmet. Failure to wear a helmet when involved in an accident could be used as evidence to limit the liability of other parties, especially in cases of traumatic brain injury. You should note that not wearing a helmet does not automatically exclude you from receiving fair compensation for your motorcycle accident claim.
At Adamson Ahdoot, you can be confident that your Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer is equipped with the litigation skills required to handle even the most complex motorcycle accident claims and lawsuits, ensuring effective representation for injury claims stemming from personal injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents. Our legal team is dedicated to advocating for the rights of motorcycle accident victims, offering comprehensive support and expertise throughout the motorcycle accident lawsuit.
Calculating Damages
After fault is determined in your case, you may be entitled to damages. In legal terms, damages mean the compensation paid to you by the at-fault driver. A qualified motorcycle accident lawyer will guide you through the process of calculating your damages.
Calculating damages for your case may be based on several factors. Below are common issues to consider when calculating damages:
- Medical treatment: Including past and future medical bills, rehabilitation, treatments, and related healthcare costs associated with the accident
- Repair for property damage: If your vehicle has been damaged or totaled, the responsible party may have to pay the full cost for a motorcycle repair or replacement at its pre-crash value
- Lost income: If you miss work, become disabled, or otherwise lose wages as a result of your injuries, a motorcycle accident lawyer may be able to help you recoup lost pay
- Non-economic damages: Pain and suffering, mental hardship, trauma, and distress may award you additional financial compensation.
- Punitive damages: In addition to economic and non-economic damages, your case might warrant the court to award additional compensation to punish the at-fault party
Contact A Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Adamson Ahdoot is a team of personal injury lawyers firm with the resources to handle new motorcycle accident cases at any time while maintaining a personal, compassionate, and thoughtful atmosphere for our clients.
We pride ourselves on being tenacious in the courtroom, as well as thoughtful listeners to our clients’ concerns. We deal with the complex parts of recovery – like speaking with an insurance provider – so you can focus on other aspects. We aim to keep our motorcycle accident attorneys as approachable as possible so that you can feel comfortable calling us with questions about your case at any time.
At Adamson Ahdoot, we put people first. We understand that Los Angeles is a multilingual and multicultural city, and we proudly provide services to both English and Spanish-speaking clients. We also stand ready to help you or your loved ones in several other languages
Our team handles motorcycle accident lawsuits and personal injury claims on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients only pay legal fees if compensation is recovered. Whether it’s a motorcycle wreck resulting in a catastrophic injury or an automobile accident causing motorcycle injuries, our firm prioritizes providing legal representation without upfront costs. This approach enables individuals to pursue justice for their injuries without financial burden, ensuring access to legal recourse regardless of a client’s financial circumstances.
With our firm’s more than 100 years of collective legal experience, you can trust that our skilled lawyers will use proven expertise to protect your rights and provide remarkable legal representation. They will keep you informed every step of the way and help you overcome this challenging time in your life.
Call Adamson Ahdoot today at (800) 310-1606 to schedule your free case evaluation. Let our team represent you in court. You can visit our website for case results of settlements on motorcycle accidents and other injuries. Visit our website for case results and blog posts on motorcycle accidents to help you understand how we’ve handled common motorcycle accident injuries.
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