888-341-3071
495+The motorcycle accident lawyers at The JLF Firm specialize in protecting the rights of those injured due to another’s negligence. If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle crash, our experienced legal team is prepared to advocate for you against insurance companies and pursue the maximum compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case.
Do I Need to Hire a California Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?
No, legal representation is not required…
However, keep in mind that a motorcycle accident is a traumatizing experience, often leaving victims struggling with physical, emotional, and financial repercussions. Undergoing the complicated claims process while injured makes an already challenging situation more difficult to overcome.
Securing professional legal representation is crucial for managing the demanding claims process. It also alleviates clients’ stresses so they may focus on their recovery.
Experienced motorcycle accident attorneys can evaluate a case, determine potential compensation, gather crucial evidence (police reports, medical records, witness testimony), and negotiate with insurance companies to recover a full and fair settlement.
If necessary, a dedicated legal team can also represent clients in court to maximize compensation for all incurred damages.
How the California Motorcycle Accident Lawyers at The JLF Firm Will Benefit Your Case
Our award-winning personal injury attorneys at The JLF Firm have extensive legal experience securing the maximum settlements and verdicts for motorcycle accident victims. Other benefits we offer to our clients and their families include the following:
- Free Case Evaluation: Provide a detailed overview of the personal injury claims process and explain all available legal options with realistic outcomes
- Collect Evidence: Obtain all documentation proving liability and damages, including police reports, medical records, street video surveillance, and witness testimonies
- Aggressive Negotiations: Manage communication with insurance adjusters to protect the client’s best interests, refuting low settlement offers from the insurance companies
- Trial Representation: File a lawsuit and represent the client in court before a judge and jury to secure the maximum compensation, if necessary
- 24/7 Legal Support: Provide around-the-clock support that adheres to clients’ schedules, keeping them up to date with case progression
Following a serious motorcycle accident, it is crucial to avoid accepting a quick settlement offer from an insurance company. These companies often attempt to minimize liability by pressuring injured victims into accepting inadequate compensation.
Consulting with an experienced Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorney is essential to properly evaluate your personal injury case and determine its true value.
When Should I Contact a Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?
Even when uncertain about pursuing legal action, it is highly recommended to consult with a local Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible.
Motorcycle accident attorneys provide valuable guidance on interacting with insurance companies, advising what to say and, more importantly, what not to say. This prevents irreparable missteps, safeguarding victims’ legal options.
Additionally, an early consultation with a motorcycle accident attorney is crucial in gathering time-sensitive evidence. This may include capturing photographs of transient evidence like tire skid marks at the accident scene or contacting witnesses while their recollections are still fresh.
Deadlines Exist: Motorcycle Accident Statute of Limitation in California
Delaying legal counsel after an accident not only jeopardizes valuable evidence but can also affect the ability to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit.
The statute of limitations, which sets the timeframe for filing a claim, is generally two years from the date of the accident. However, the filing period can vary significantly depending on specific circumstances. Certain factors may shorten the deadline to as little as six months, while others might extend it.
Failure to file within the applicable statute of limitations will result in losing the right to pursue compensation from the responsible party.
What Damages Can I Seek In a Motorcycle Accident Claim?
Depending on the circumstances surrounding the motorcycle accident, compensation may be available for economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages. A qualified Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer can evaluate the motorcycle accident case to establish all applicable damages.
Economic Damages
In a personal injury case, these damages represent verifiable financial losses directly resulting from the motorcycle accident. Economic damages can be objectively documented through receipts, invoices, bills, and other financial records. Common examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Current medical expenses, including doctor appointments, surgeries, and medications
- Future medical bills, including rehabilitative care or other necessary medical care
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Other out-of-pocket expenses
- Property damage, including motorcycle repairs or replacement
Non-Economic Damages
In California motorcycle accident claims, non-economic damages address intangible losses. These damages are difficult to quantify because they do not possess a specific dollar value like calculable medical bills for economic damages. Common examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Loss of enjoyment of life or inability to participate in interests due to severe injuries
- Disfigurement or permanent scarring
- Loss of consortium or companionship
Punitive Damages
In cases where the defendant’s actions are deemed particularly egregious, punitive damages may be awarded. These damages are not primarily intended to compensate the injured party but rather to punish the negligent party and discourage similar future behavior.
Wrongful Death in a California Motorcycle Accident Case
Due to the violent nature of a motorcycle crash, accidents can tragically result in fatalities. In the event of such a devastating outcome, California law grants surviving family members the right to file a wrongful death claim against the responsible party.
This claim may be filed by a surviving spouse, children, or other specified family members to pursue financial compensation on behalf of the decedent. While no dollar value can replace the loss of a loved one, financial security can help surviving family members navigate the difficult period of grief and begin to rebuild their lives.
The experienced motorcycle accident attorneys at The JLF Firm are dedicated to supporting and guiding families through the complexities of the wrongful death claim process, ensuring they receive the full and fair compensation they deserve.
Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in California
To hold another party liable for a motorcycle accident, it must be demonstrated that the defendant’s negligence caused the crash. In most motorcycle accident claims, accidents result from the following examples of driver negligence:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving or intoxicated driving
- Failure to yield
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Unsafe lane changes
Other Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Road Hazards
Roadway defects, even those that may appear minor, can present significant dangers to motorcyclists. Loose gravel, debris, and any other condition that compromises road surfaces can create a hazardous riding and driving environment.
While some road hazards may be caused by weather, the State of California and its counties have a responsibility to maintain safe roadways. This includes promptly addressing and repairing known defects, from broken street lights to filling potholes.
If a motorcycle accident occurs due to a road hazard, the injured rider may have grounds to file a claim against the responsible entity, such as the City of Los Angeles, for negligence in maintaining safe road conditions.
Defective Parts
Defective motorcycle parts can also contribute to some accidents. A tire blowout, brake failure, electrical malfunction, or any other product defect can lead to a motorcycle crash, potentially making the bike manufacturer or parts supplier liable.
Additionally, improper maintenance or repairs can also lead to a motorcycle accident. If a recent service on a bike was inadequately performed, the repair shop or technician could be held liable.
A thorough investigation is necessary to determine if a defective part or faulty service played a role in the motorcycle accident.
Proving Negligence in a California Motorcycle Accident Case
Proving the other party’s negligence is necessary to recover compensation in a motorcycle accident claim. Negligence is defined as the failure to exercise reasonable care.
This is a complex process requiring legal expertise in tort law and knowledge of California motorcycle laws.
At The JLF Firm, we are prepared to establish the necessary elements of negligence in your case to pursue the maximum settlement you deserve.
1. Duty of Care
The defendant owed the plaintiff (the motorcyclist) a duty of care to act in a reasonable manner. In a motorcycle accident case, it must be demonstrated that the defendant had a legal obligation to follow traffic laws and prevent harm to other road users.
2. Breach of Duty
The defendant breached this duty of care. This involves demonstrating that the defendant did not follow traffic laws, such as failing to follow the speed limit or running a red light.
3. Causation
The breach of duty caused the personal injury accident. This involves demonstrating that the defendant’s breach of duty to speed and run a red light directly caused the traffic collision with the motorcyclist.
4. Damages
The plaintiff suffered economic and/or non-economic damages as a result of the accident. This may include property damage, medical expenses, lost income, or pain and suffering. The extent of these damages must be documented and demonstrated.
How Comparative Negligence Affects Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Victims
Under California’s pure comparative negligence laws, a plaintiff may still recover compensation for a motorcycle accident even if partially at fault. However, compensation will be reduced by the assigned percentage of fault, as assigned by the courts.
For example, if a speeding motorcyclist collides with a driver who ran a stop sign, and the motorcycle rider is found 20% at fault for a case that was initially worth $50,000 in damages, the claim would be reduced by $10,000, resulting in a final award of $40,000.
Our Los Angeles motorcycle injury lawyers will clarify how these comparative negligence rules apply to your case and will assist in recovering the maximum compensation available.
Lane Splitting
Lane splitting is when a motorcyclist rides between two lanes of traffic moving in the same direction. While legal in California, it is inherently dangerous, posing significant risks to motorcycle riders.
In fact, research indicates that even slightly exceeding the speed limit by 15 MPH or less while splitting a lane increases the risk of a motorcycle crash.
A motorcyclist who makes a reckless lane split may be held liable for a resulting accident under the state’s comparative negligence laws.
If the other party can demonstrate that the motorcyclist was lane splitting at an unreasonable speed or recklessly, the compensation awarded to the motorcyclist could be reduced.
California Helmet Law and Motorcycle Accident Claims
A motorcyclist who sustains a head injury while not wearing a DOT-approved helmet may be considered comparatively at fault, as helmet use could have minimized the severity of the injury.
The rider’s negligence can potentially reduce financial recovery in a motorcycle accident case based on the assigned percentage of fault. However, our Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorneys can consult with both helmet experts and medical specialists to confirm these details.
These experts can assess the specific circumstances of the crash and the nature of the head injury to determine if the injury would have been unavoidable, even with proper helmet use. This analysis is crucial in determining how much the lack of helmet use should impact compensation.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcycle accidents often result in catastrophic injuries, causing victims to endure a long and expensive recovery period. While unable to work, injured motorcyclists may become subject to lost wages while undergoing necessary medical treatment.
Therefore, it is crucial to ensure any settlement offer from the other party’s insurance company adequately reflects the claim’s true value, as these offers often undervalue the full extent of the damages. Our legal team can assist with a range of motorcycle accident injuries, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Amputation
- Broken bones
- Cuts/lacerations
- Disfigurement
- Facial fractures
- Internal injuries
- Paralysis
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Road rash
- Scarring
- Skull fractures
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Wrongful death
Partnering with our Los Angeles motorcycle accident law firm will significantly increase your chances of recovering a maximum settlment for your injuries, allowing you to prioritize your health and recovery without the added burden of legal complexities.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in California
Taking certain precautions following a crash will be pivotal to a motorcycle accident case’s success. Here are five key steps to take:
1. Get to a safe space and call for help.
If it is safe to do so, remain at the accident scene but remove the damaged motorcycle from the road to avoid another collision. If the motorcycle accident injuries are visible or appear serious, call 911 and request medical assistance.
2. Report the accident.
All California traffic accidents must be reported to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) or a local police department within 24 hours of a crash if: an individual is injured, a fatal accident occurred, or there is more than $1,000 in property damage. A police report should also be obtained.
3. Exchange information.
Minimize interaction with the involved parties, but be sure to exchange information. Collect names, contact numbers, and insurance information. If witnesses are present, request their statements and contact information, as well.
4. Document the accident scene.
Take pictures and video recordings of the damaged vehicles, the accident scene, motorcycle accident injuries, and the surrounding area. Also, log details about the accident and events leading up to the crash in a journal or a note-taking application on your phone. This creates consistency of the incident and prevents others from challenging your recollection.
5. Seek an immediate medical evaluation.
After leaving the accident scene, seek immediate medical attention, even for seemingly minor or non-visible injuries. This ensures prompt treatment of any hidden injuries, like traumatic brain injuries, and prevents them from worsening. Prompt medical care also creates a record of injury and treatment. This is important for insurance purposes because delayed treatment could be interpreted as a sign that you did not sustain serious injuries.
Contact an Experienced Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Before speaking with an insurance adjuster, consult with a personal injury attorney experienced in motorcycle accident claims.
Insurance adjusters often attempt to minimize claims, offering motorcycle accident settlements that are less than what injured victims deserve. However, working with a motorcycle accident attorney before the case proceedings begin will protect motorcycle riders’ rights and maximize their settlements.
To protect your case, consult with a Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer for a free case review.
Speak with a Top-Rated Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today
At The JLF Firm, our California personal injury law firm is dedicated to securing maximum compensation for motorcyclists injured in accidents caused by someone else’s negligence.
We possess extensive knowledge of the complexities involved in motorcycle accident cases and understand the sensitive nature of these difficult circumstances.
Given the numerous factors involved in these particularly sensitive personal injury cases, trusted legal representation is essential. Our motorcycle accident attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no fees unless we win your case.
Schedule a free consultation today to learn how we plan to build your winning case.
Other Personal Injury Practice Areas We Specialize In
- Bicycle Accidents
- Car Accidents
- Dog Bites
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Personal Injury Accidents
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Uber and Lyft Accidents
- Wildfire and Fire Damage
- Workers’ Compensation
- Wrongful Death Claims
The JLF Firm Corporate Office
Location Address:
8255 Firestone Ave, Ste 207,
Downey, CA 90241
Our Other Locations in Southern California
The JLF Firm has additional locations in the following Southern California cities:
