Award Winning California Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Motorcycle Attorney in California Assisting Riders Since 1981

If you've been injured in a motorcycle collision, speaking with a California motorcycle accident attorney is in your best interest.

Motorists are hardly aware of motorcycle riders and their increasing numbers in California and throughout the United States. Instances in which drivers of four-wheel vehicles strike motorcycle riders without even knowing there was a vehicle close to them have become increasingly common.

Even with top-notch medical insurance, your bills are not 100% covered. This can leave you and your family in a bind, especially if income has been lost because of the accident. Rest assured that the staff at Timothy J. Ryan & Associates is prepared to handle your case with the utmost dedication and diligence it deserves.

Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

As California motorcycle accident lawyers, we understand the many dangers and challenges motorcyclists face on our roadways. We also know that motorcycle accidents can result in catastrophic injuries or fatalities. Since motorcyclists don't have a protective structure around their vehicles, they are more exposed and vulnerable when it comes to suffering severe or fatal injuries in the event of a collision. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSA), in 2017, motorcyclists were 27 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash per vehicle mile traveled.

Here are some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents:

Driver inattention: Drivers who are distracted or not paying attention to the roadway and traffic around them pose a significant danger to motorcyclists. Each year, thousands of motorcyclists are injured or killed because drivers don't pay attention to motorcycles and end up making a dangerous move such as turning in front of motorcyclists.

Unsafe lane changes: When a driver changes lanes without checking his or her blind spots or without looking carefully for vehicles that might be in the other lanes, major injury motorcycle accidents could occur. Such accidents are often fatal for motorcyclists, especially when they occur on the freeway.

Speeding: Vehicles traveling at an excessive and unsafe rate of speed can also prove devastating when they collide with motorcyclists. Speeding affects motorcyclists at two different levels. First, speeding makes it more difficult for the driver to stop when he or she needs to do so. Second, the higher the speed of the vehicle, the greater the impact and the more serious, the injuries sustained by the motorcyclist. 

Driving under the influence: Impaired drivers or those operating vehicles under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs can cause motorcycle accidents that could prove fatal for motorcyclists.

Sudden stops: Rear-end crashes resulting from an abrupt stop can result in serious or even fatal injuries for motorcyclists.

Left-turn accidents: NHTSA estimates that about one-third of motorcycle accidents involve vehicles that make left turns in front of motorcyclists. This often results in a head-on collision that could prove fatal for motorcyclists.

Dangerous roadway conditions: Because motorcycles are smaller than other vehicles, they are more vulnerable to going out of control because of roadway defects such as potholes, debris on the roadway and uneven pavement.

Damages You Can Collect from a Motorcycle Accident

You may be able to collect both economic and non-economic damages if you have been injured in a motorcycle accident. Economic losses are relatively easier to distill down to a dollar amount. These are the quantifiable losses you have sustained such as medical expenses and lost income. Non-economic damages on the other hand, reflect those losses that cannot be simply quantified such as compensation for the physical pain and mental suffering you have endured as a result of the motorcycle accident.

Here are some of the damages you could seek compensation for as part of a motorcycle accident lawsuit:

Medical expenses and ongoing treatment: Your medical expenses are recoverable in a personal injury lawsuit. This includes both the expenses you have incurred so far for your treatment and the expenses you are likely to incur in the future for ongoing treatment. This is especially important to include if you have long-term disabilities or the need for rehabilitative treatment or therapy that could be ongoing. Medical expenses could involve everything from costs involving emergency care, surgeries, hospitalization, medical equipment, medications, rehabilitation, etc.

Lost wages: This is another type of economic damage motorcycle accident victims suffer. Recovering from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident can take a long time and many are forced to take time off work or even quit their job because their physical recovery takes longer than expected.

Loss of earning capacity: Many motorcycle accidents are so severe that the victim suffers injuries that result in lifelong disabilities. This means that the individual may not be able to return to work or earn a living. In such cases, victims can recover compensation for their loss of earning capacity.

Property damage: This could come in the form of damage to your motorcycle or other property in your possession at the time. You can recover monetary compensation for any property that has been damaged or lost as a result of the motorcycle accident.

Pain and suffering: This is compensation for the physical pain and suffering you have had to endure in the aftermath of a motorcycle accident. The more serious your injuries, the higher your compensation is likely to be for pain and suffering. You can also seek compensation for your lost ability to enjoy life and the activities you used to do prior to your accident.

Emotional distress: Motorcycle accidents can also be traumatizing for victims. In addition to the physical pain, many victims may feel the emotional effects of being unable to do the things they used to do including returning to their job. Many victims also tend to suffer from psychological effects such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD.

In the Event of a Motorcycle Accident

If you are involved in a motorcycle accident, it is important that you seek medical attention right away. Sometimes, motorcycle accident injuries don't manifest immediately but may surface after a few days or even months. It is imperative to get checked out by your doctor or a medical professional so it can be determined right away if you have suffered any injuries and whether or not you need treatment. Getting prompt medical attention right after your motorcycle accident also helps establish the types of injuries you have sustained and the treatment you received.

In the aftermath of a motorcycle accident, you are also likely facing a number of challenging decisions. It might be difficult just to get your life back as you deal with your bodily injuries, property damage and lost wages as a result of being unable to work. The emotional and physical suffering after a motorcycle accident is also challenging to endure.

The experienced California motorcycle accident lawyers at Timothy J. Ryan & Associates help our injured clients set a plan in motion toward a quick and complete recovery. We can assist you with getting ongoing medical care and physical therapy, even if you don't have proper health insurance.

Motorcycle accidents can result in major injuries such as head trauma, road rash injuries, lacerations, spinal cord damage, limb amputations or even death. The recovery process can take a significant amount of time and may also require specialized care. Our law firm also works with medical partners in the community on a lien basis. So, regardless of your health insurance plan, we can help you receive the medical care you need. In the event of a motorcycle accident, we are here to help you get the assistance, support and compensation you need. Call (714) 898-4444 to obtain a free consultation from attorney Timothy J. Ryan.