San Diego Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

Protect Your Rights After a Motorcycle Accident by Following These Steps

What you do after getting hurt in a motorcycle crash could determine whether you’re able to recover the maximum available compensation in an insurance claim or lawsuit. You likely incurred medical bills, prescription costs, imaging expenses, and other losses. Even if you can afford to pay for your treatment, you shouldn’t have to. The at-fault party should be held liable for the suffering they caused.

Even if your injuries seem to be minor, you should seek immediate medical care after leaving the accident scene. Allow a doctor to evaluate your injuries to determine a diagnosis and the type of treatment plan you require. Don’t go home after the crash and hope that your injuries heal without medical intervention. Seeing a doctor is important for your health and, in addition,

it will create medical records that tie the accident to your injuries and also show the extent of medical care you need.

You should also hire a San Diego motorcycle accident lawyer. Motorcycle accidents typically result in serious injuries, preventing the rider from collecting evidence at the crash site. We can handle the legal aspects of your case while you focus on your physical therapy and other forms of necessary treatment. You should contact Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers immediately after your initial doctor’s appointment. As you’re attending your appointments, we can request copies of all associated documentation to use as evidence in your claim.

Be sure not to dispose of anything related to the accident. Insurance companies review evidence collected after an accident to determine if the claimant deserves compensation. Unfortunately, the insurance company likely won’t be on your side. Their focus is on finding a way to deny the claim or getting away with a low settlement offer. They want to save money whenever possible. If there isn’t a timeline of your medical treatment and all the expenses you incurred, that could give them a valid reason to withhold the maximum available settlement.

Compensation You Could Pursue in a Motorcycle Accident Case

Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers takes on many motorcycle accident cases. Each one is unique and involves different circumstances. No two cases are exactly alike, and no two clients are exactly alike. What might be adequate compensation for one client might not necessarily work for another. Your case’s monetary value will depend on various factors associated with the accident, such as the duration of your medical treatment and whether your injury healed completely or left you with a disability.

There are multiple types of losses a motorcycle accident victim can suffer. Some of the losses you may be able to seek compensation for in an injury claim or lawsuit include:

• Medical bills
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity
• Emotional distress
• Physical impairment
• Disfigurement
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering

Our San Diego motorcycle accident attorneys know state laws and the procedures we must follow to provide you with the maximum compensation to cover your past and future losses. You may have medical bills from treating your injury, and you also may have future expenses for medical care needed to manage chronic pain or improve your mobility.

Many clients develop a permanent physical or mental impairment, requiring ongoing treatment long after their case ends. We’ll work hard to see that the at-fault party covers your expenses and pain and suffering, so you can focus on healing.

Most Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Drivers tend not to pay attention to motorcyclists on the road. They might not adequately check their blind spots or look for an oncoming biker before proceeding through an intersection. When someone is in a car or truck, they must take into account the other drivers/bikers around them and adjust their behaviors accordingly, so they don’t cause an accident.

Unfortunately, there are dangers everywhere you go. When you’re a motorcyclist, you can’t fully protect yourself from the actions of other drivers. During a collision, there isn’t a seatbelt to keep you firmly on your bike. Instead, you could fall onto the hard pavement or end up under a heavy vehicle, which can cause debilitating injuries.

The most common causes of motorcycle accidents in San Diego are:

• Tailgating – Tailgating is the result of one driver following another too closely. If someone’s practically touching the back of your bike with their vehicle, there isn’t enough distance for them to avoid crashing into you if you need to stop suddenly.
• Motorcycle Recall – The manufacturer responsible for designing and constructing motorcycle parts must meet industry standards and build a bike that doesn’t put the rider at risk of harm. When there’s a recall due to a defective part, the motorcyclist could end up with severe injuries.
• Drowsy driving – Drowsy or fatigued driving prevents a motorist from operating their vehicle safely. They don’t have the mental capacity to notice hazards in the road or react quickly to an emergency.
• Speeding – Driving above the speed limit or too fast for poor weather or road conditions is reckless. A driver speeding over a pothole could easily lose control of their car and end up on a collision course with a motorcyclist.
• Driving under the influence – Drugs and alcohol impair a person’s driving abilities. Often, they no longer have the normal ability to maneuver their vehicle through traffic without crashing into someone. Driving under the influence can lead to poor decision-making abilities, slower reaction time, and decreased motor skills.
• Distracted driving – When a driver’s attention is on something other than driving, it’s more challenging to recognize what’s happening in front of them. Texting on a cell phone is a common type of distraction that can lead to a devastating crash.
• Ignoring traffic signs and signals – Traffic signs and signals are crucial to facilitate the proper flow of vehicles on roadways. A driver who ignores them could collide with a motorcyclist in an intersection or sideswipe them while merging onto the highway.
• Road rage – It’s easy to recognize someone who’s experiencing road rage. Yelling, gesturing, and honking the horn means a driver isn’t focused on the task of driving, making an accident more likely.

Any of these situations could lead to an accident that causes you injury. When you’re up against an irresponsible or careless driver, the risk of severe injury or death increases. The physical harm you suffered may have changed the course of your life and can affect every aspect of your daily routine.

Whether you’re unable to work, in constant pain, or sustain a permanent injury you’re forced to deal with for the rest of your life, you have a right to hold the at-fault party accountable for the losses you’ve had to face as a result of the accident.