There are many motorcycle enthusiasts in San Marcos, California, and throughout San Diego County. People enjoy the feeling of freedom that riding on motorcycles can offer. Unfortunately, motorcyclists and their passengers are much likelier to be seriously injured or to be killed when they are involved in accidents. Unlike other types of vehicles, motorcycles do not have the same protective cabs that surround motor vehicle occupants. Instead, motorcyclists and their passengers have very little to protect them from the surrounding environment. When they are struck by other vehicles, the violent forces that are released are absorbed directly by the motorcyclists’ and passengers’ bodies. When motorcyclists are seriously injured or killed in accidents, the victims or their families may need to get help from an experienced San Marcos motorcycle accident lawyer so that they might recover the maximum possible compensation for their losses.
Why should victims call a San Marcos motorcycle accident attorney?
Victims of motorcycle accidents need to focus on their recovery. When you have been injured in an accident, an experienced San Marcos motorcycle accident lawyer can help you with your claim from start to finish. An attorney understands the different tactics that insurance companies often use to try to reduce the amounts that they will have to pay. With a lawyer’s help, you may recover far more than you might be able to secure on your own. Contact a San Marcos motorcycle accident lawyer today to learn more about your rights.
Motorcycle accident statistics
The motorcycle accident statistics are sobering because they demonstrate the much greater risks that motorcyclists face. According to the Insurance Information Institute, 4,976 motorcyclists were killed and 88,000 were injured in 2015 alone. These numbers represented an 8 percent increase in motorcycle fatalities from the number who were killed in 2014 and a 4.3 percent decrease in motorcycle accident injuries. In 2015, motorcyclists were 29 times likelier to be killed in accidents per vehicle miles traveled and five times likelier to be injured than were occupants of passenger cars.
Most Common Types and Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents can be caused by many different factors. Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents include the following:
- Defective parts or equipment
- Dangerous road conditions
- Left-turn accidents
- Speeding
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Sudden stops
- Inexperience
- Car doors
- Unsafe lane changes
Many motorcyclists are seriously injured or killed when motorists fail to see them and pull out in front of the motorcyclists to make left turns. Other common motorcycle accidents include motorists changing lanes without noticing the motorcyclists in the lanes next to them, motorists cutting off motorcyclists and drivers following too closely behind them. Some motorcyclists are injured when motorists open their car doors while they are parked along the street, causing the motorcyclists to collide with the doors. Motorcycles that have defective parts or that have not been properly maintained may also be involved in accidents. Most motorcycle accidents are preventable if both the motorcyclists and other motorists exercised reasonable caution while operating their cycles or cars.
What to do if you are injured in a motorcycle accident
In the immediate aftermath of a motorcycle accident, it is common for the victims to feel overwhelmed and shocked. If you are in a motorcycle accident and are injured, you should first call law enforcement authorities to report the accident and request help. Try to write down the other vehicle’s identifying information, including its make, model, and license plate number. If you can, get the names and contact information of any witnesses and the insurance information from the involved motorist. Taking photos of your motorcycle, the other car and the location where it happened may help you with your subsequent accident claim.
When the police arrive, give them your statement, but refrain from accepting blame. Simply tell the officer what happened immediately prior to and during the accident. Even if you don’t think that you are injured, tell the officer that you are unsure and want to get examined by a doctor. Some common injuries do not show symptoms for hours or days, and it’s important for you to get a medical examination as soon as possible after your accident.
Personal damages sustained in a motorcycle accident
Personal damages sustained in a motorcycle accident
When accidents are caused by negligent motorists, the motorcyclists may sustain multiple types of losses or damages, including the following:
- Medical expenses and ongoing treatment costs
- Income losses
- Reduction in the future ability to earn a living
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium for the spouse of the victim
In cases involving wrongful death, the families may also recover damages to pay for their funeral and burial costs. In rare cases, punitive damages might be available. Normally, however, punitive damages will not be awarded in motorcycle accident cases unless the drivers’ behavior was particularly egregious.
Potential compensation for motorcycle accident victims
The compensation for motorcycle accident victims will depend on the facts of the case, the extent of the injuries and the losses that they incurred. Your motorcycle accident attorney can assess the facts of your case and provide you with a range of expected values within which you might expect a settlement offer to fall. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in San Marcos and need an experienced attorney to fight for your rights and compensation, contact San Diego Personal Injury Attorneys today! We can help!
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