Motorcycle accidents are tragic, awful events which usually cause more harm to the motorcycle rider than other parties involved. Motorcycle riders are extremely vulnerable in accidents, and it’s common for them to be fatally or catastrophically injured. From traumatic tattooing and road rash to brain and head injuries, motorcycle crashes can lead to numerous physical outcomes.
Motorcycle riders can also suffer damages like expensive property damage or emotional scarring. While the damage suffered in a motorcycle accident can’t be reversed, our civil law system does offer injured motorcyclists a financial remedy. Speak to an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer immediately after a motorcycle crash.
The experienced, expert Sacramento motorcycle accident attorneys at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers have been handling these types of wrecks in Sacramento and throughout California since 1990. We have assisted thousands of motorcycle crash victims recover after accidents like yours. Our mission is to protect the legal rights of motorcycle wreck victims and help them negotiate with big insurance companies who care more about their own profits than your best interests.
We offer free consultations and don’t charge a fee unless and until we win your case, so you have nothing to lose by contacting us. Call us today at (916) 443-5486 or text us from this page for a free consultation. You may be entitled to financial compensation.
What Does A Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Do?
Personal injury lawyers play a crucial role in motorcycle accident cases.
Motorcycle accident attorneys interview victims of accidents to find out about a given case’s facts as well as the injured parties’ medical needs.
Attorneys help victims of injuries receive medical attention immediately, and in cases where severe injuries are involved, they assist victims in managing any ongoing medical care.
A lawyer can also assist clients in gathering evidence to help prove that somebody else’s negligence was responsible for their accident. An attorney can even hire experts to assist in evidence interpretation or explain evidence to a judge or jury.
Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers
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A motorcycle accident lawyer can file personal injury claims with the insurers of at-fault parties. Once these claims are filed, the attorney can negotiate the claims with insurance adjusters.
Injury attorneys can also file lawsuits on behalf of clients if negotiations with insurance companies fail.
How Can A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Help Me?
Attorneys in motorcycle accident cases assist in maximizing the financial compensation that injury victims receive.
They know how much these cases are worth and can hold at-fault parties responsible for their fair liability share.
Lawyers can also find hidden sources of value in cases to increase the payouts that victims receive.
In addition, motorcycle attorneys take care of every aspect of complex accident cases so motorcycle accident victims can focus on recovering from their injuries.
Note that most motorcycle accident lawyers, like those at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers, provide free consultations. A free case review means you can get answers to your legal questions without spending a penny.
Also, any communications between clients and attorneys are protected by an attorney-client relationship. Attorneys can’t legally disclose these communications without the agreement of the client.
What Should I Do After A Motorcycle Accident Injury?
There are two options available to you in order to secure financial compensation for your injuries and other damages after a motorcycle crash: a personal injury lawsuit or a personal injury claim. Understanding the difference between a claim and a lawsuit is important.
You file an insurance claim with an insurance provider, whether it be your own or that of the at-fault party, in a personal injury claim. This starts an investigation that an insurance claims adjuster will manage. You enter the negotiations process after this investigation is complete, and this process goes on until you are offered a financial settlement from the insurance company which compensates you for your injuries, property damage and financial losses. You usually need to sign a release giving up your right to sue the at-fault party in exchange for accepting this settlement.
Personal injury claims are usually the first action taken after motorcycle crashes. If the claims settlement and negotiation process fails and it looks like you’re not going to be offered adequate financial compensation by the insurance company for your injuries, you might have to file a personal injury lawsuit. Personal injury lawsuits are civil legal actions where injured people make demands for financial damages which take into account injury severity and other losses that result from serious accidents. Many of these lawsuits settle before going to court, but some of these lawsuits do go to a trial, and a jury or judge will decide how much money the injury victim is entitled to.
How Much Is My Motorcycle Accident Claim Worth?
Every motorcycle accident is different, so it’s difficult to quantify the amount of money you might receive in a court judgment or insurance settlement. However, motorcycle crashes typically involve more serious injuries than other types of accidents and these major injuries can lead to larger settlements. More financial support is often needed to pay for your inability to work and support your family and yourself, as well as extended medical care.
Permanent disabilities suffered in motorcycle accidents will cause your personal injury attorney to demand fair compensation for the hardships you will face over your lifetime. In general, the more a motorcycle crash changes your everyday routine and the longer your injuries persist, the more financial compensation you may receive.
There are other factors which can determine how much money you may receive in an insurance claim:
- Emotional and physical suffering: Physical pain and mental trauma are known as non-economic damages. Consequences like these can’t always have a price tag attached to them, but they are extremely real and can debilitate you. Accident victims may face years of pain after being injured, and might also suffer depression and anxiety as they realize they can’t do things that they love anymore, such as hobbies, traveling, riding a motorcycle, or intimacy. Difficulties such as these can be reasons to ask for more money in a settlement.
- Insurance limits: The limits of the at-fault driver’s insurance policy can affect how much money you receive in an insurance settlement. Cap limits apply to basic insurance coverage which may run out before your hospital bills can be paid in their entirety.
- Lost wages: You may be entitled to compensation for any paychecks you miss while you’re unable to work due to your injuries. Major injuries might mean you can never return to your previous career. Job searching and career training can be a part of your financial compensation. If you’re unable to return to work, settlements must include support to replace any lost earning capacity in the future, whether it be temporary or permanent.
- Your personal injury attorney’s skill: Your attorney’s expertise can be a major factor in determining how much compensation you can expect. Attorneys with negotiating experience, courtroom experience and a successful record will typically be able to obtain much more financial compensation for you. They will accurately determine the costs of your recovery and ensure that you receive the money you need to pay your bills. They can also determine all parties at fault for your accident and seek financial compensation from multiple sources so you have everything you need now and in the future.
Motorcycle Accident Types
Motorcycle accident claims can involve solo bike accidents, but they can also involve collisions with other motorcycles or vehicles. Common motorcycle crash types include:
- Left turns: Left turns are a common cause of motorcycle accidents. Drivers who fail to pay attention might not see an approaching motorcycle and turn left in front of them, resulting in an accident.
- Sideswipe accidents: Sideswipe collisions are common motorcycle accidents. A driver who doesn’t look closely for motorcycles next to them might drift or change lanes into a motorcycle rider on a highway or road.
- Rear-end accidents: When drivers of vehicles misjudge distance or don’t see motorcyclists in front of them, they may rear-end motorcyclists. Motorcycle riders also sometimes rear-end vehicles, but they are not always at fault when this happens. Drivers might change lanes on top of motorcyclists, leaving riders without any room to stop.
- Head-on accidents: These accidents are very hazardous for motorcyclists and can be fatal. Drivers can be crushed or thrown off their bike, landing on hard surfaces. Head-on collisions are extremely dangerous since motorcyclists and drivers often travel at high speeds.
Common Injuries In Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accident injuries can be very severe. Motorcyclists have barely any protection, so impacts with other vehicles or the road can cause many different injuries. Motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to die in accidents than passenger vehicle occupants, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Motorcyclists are also a lot more likely to be seriously injured than passenger vehicle occupants. The Sacramento motorcycle accident lawyers at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers accept clients with all kinds of personal injuries, including but not limited to:
- Skull fractures
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal injuries
- Injuries to lower extremities
- Road rash
- Lacerations
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
Permanent and catastrophic injuries are very common in motorcycle crashes. Survivors of motorcycle accidents often need to deal with the consequences of their accidents for the rest of their lives. Long-term injuries which are common in motorcycle accidents include scars, paralysis and brain damage. Motorcycle riders might also suffer psychologically and physically from a collision’s trauma. Working with a Sacramento motorcycle accident attorney can help you fight for the most financial compensation possible for your motorcycle accident injuries, including damages both intangible and tangible.
Primary Reasons For Motorcycle Accidents
- Speeding
- Inexperienced motorcyclists
- Drugs
- Alcohol
- Weaving in and out of traffic
- Distractions, such as texting or eating
- Lane splitting
- Tailgating
- Poor road conditions
- Poor weather
In many motorcycle accidents, the front of the motorcycle is the point of impact. This can lead to fatal or devastating injuries. High costs are the result of this, such as emotional and physical pain, lost wages, property damage and expensive medical bills. You also might wonder if you’ll ever be able to ride a motorcycle again. If the accident wasn’t your fault because it was due to the negligence of another driver, this compounds your anxiety. California also allows lane splitting, allowing motorcyclists to pass between lanes of stopped or slow vehicles. Unfortunately, drivers might not know that you’re about to pass them and this can cause injuries or death to motorcyclists.
The factors that lead to an accident must be identified to determine whose fault the accident is, what percentage of fault is attributed to each party, and, as a result, who is financially liable for any damages in the accident. Determining these things can be very complex, and all parties will likely not agree. Equipment failures, public vehicles, poor road conditions and other obstacles can make things more complicated, and when factors such as these make a case complex, having an experienced lawyer on your side is extremely important.
What Are California’s Helmet Laws?
There is a universal helmet law in California. This means that anyone riding a motorcycle must always wear a helmet. NHTSA data shows that helmets reduce the risk of serious head injuries and death in motorcycle crashes by 29 percent. Over 400 motorcyclists are killed in California every year, according to the NHTSA. Motorcyclists have protective riding gear and helmets, but without the protection of airbags, seatbelts and a car’s steel frame, they are at a higher risk of being severely injured.
Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers has been representing motorcycle accident victims for over 30 years, having obtained hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of our clients. We have the experience and know-how to obtain the largest possible financial recovery on your behalf.
If you are unable to afford medical treatment, we can get you to doctors who will agree to treat you on a lien, meaning you won’t have to pay them until your case is over.
Best of all, we don’t charge a fee unless and until we obtain a recovery, meaning you will never owe us a penny out of your own pocket.
Call us today at (916) 443-5486 or use the texting feature on this page. You may be entitled to a financial recovery for your injuries.