Cruising the roads on a motorbike is an exhilarating experience for most. Unfortunately, this heightened sense of freedom can quickly turn tragic if you are involved in an accident. Such accidents tend to be more severe than other road accidents for a variety of reasons. Motorcycles provide less protection to riders than cars and trucks, so riders are at a greater risk of being seriously injured or, worse still, killed. What’s more, other drivers often fail to notice the motorcycles, which can result in accidents. If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, a motorcycle accident attorney at Salamati Law Firm in Los Angeles, CA will be invaluable in protecting your rights and ensuring you are fairly compensated for your injuries.
Common Accident Causes
While numerous factors may contribute to a motorcycle crash, among the most common include speeding, impairment, and failure to yield. Riders who speed over the limit or travel too fast are more likely to lose control and crash. Impairment can also play a role in motorcycle crashes; riders under drug or alcohol influence are more likely to get involved in an accident. Finally, failure to yield is a common cause of motorcycle accidents. Other drivers may fail to see a motorcycle and turn into its path, causing an accident.
Determining Liability
If you are involved in a motorcycle accident, a lawyer should be able to help you sort through the evidence and build a strong case proving liability. In many cases, liability will depend on who was at fault that led to the accident. However, if you were also partly Negligent in any way, under contributory negligence, your final compensation might be reduced based on your level of fault. To establish liability, you need to prove the other party owed you a duty of care, they breached it, and that by doing so, it resulted in your damages.
Damages & Compensation
Depending on the severity of the accident, you can recover multiple damages for your injuries, such as medical expenses (including hospitalization, surgery, and physical therapy), pain and suffering, lost wages, and property damage. Punitive damages are available in a few cases, though, they are more difficult to recover. The compensation amount you are eligible to receive will mostly depend on how serious your injuries are, and the extent to which they have impacted your life.
The process usually starts with filing a claim with the other party’s insurance firm. The insurer will then investigate the accident before offering you a settlement. It is important to note that insurance companies are interested in their bottom line, not in ensuring you are fully compensated for your injuries. As such, never accept the first settlement offer if you haven’t contacted an attorney.
Conclusion
If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident, it’s always advisable you seek legal counsel as soon as possible. An attorney is vital in protecting your rights and ensuring you are fully compensated. They also have the experience and resources necessary to build you a strong case. Finally, an attorney can help you navigate the insurance claims process and ensure you receive a fair settlement.
