What are Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?

Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable not just because they lack the protection, but because they are much smaller. This downside makes motorcycles more difficult for other motorists to notice while driving. It also means that motorcycles and their passengers are more likely to be thrown farther in the event of a wreck.

Motorcycles are also more susceptible to a collision because other drivers don't always keep a close enough eye out for them. Only 8% of households own a motorcycle, which gives us a general estimate of how common motorcycles are on US roadways. Since motorcycles aren't as prevalent as regular passenger cars, drivers might be less likely to look out for them.

For example, a motorcycle riding in a driver's blind spot or crossing through an intersection at a 2-way stop may be less likely to be seen by a motorist who is only looking for other passenger cars.

Since motorcycles are more difficult to detect than other cars, motorcyclists should always drive defensively. Bikers can never assume that other motorists can see them, especially the motorists of cars in front of them. Motorcycle crashes often happen when drivers:

• Pull out of a side road, parking lot, or driveway in front of a motorcycle;
• Make an abrupt turn in front of a motorcycle;
• Make a lane change in front of or broadside to a motorcycle; or
• Try to pass another vehicle, and fail to spot the motorcyclist in either the passing lane or the target lane.

What are the Most Prevalent Motorcycle Injuries?

A motorcycle provides you little protection in an accident. This means your body ends up taking the full force of the impact with another vehicle.

Frequently, this results in life-threatening and life-altering injuries to motorcycle crash victims. In fact, almost 5,000 motorcyclists were killed in accidents in just one recent year.

While motorcycles only comprise 3 percent of registered vehicles, motorcycle accidents result in 15 percent of all vehicle accident deaths. Not every motorcycle crash will lead to death, yet it shows the seriousness these types of crashes cause.

Some common injuries are:

• Broken bones
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Road rash
• Spinal cord injuries
• Neck and back injuries
• Amputation
• Death

That's not to say that survivors can never return to a normal life, but it may take some time and effort, including physical therapy. A motorcycle crash attorney can help you recover the compensation required to pay for those treatments.

Liability for Thousand Oaks Motorcycle Accidents

As these facts suggest, motorcyclists hurt in accidents are often the victims of negligence. Every negligence case is made up of four major elements: a duty, a breach of that duty, an injury caused by the breach, and damages suffered by the plaintiff. Drivers of motor vehicles owe a duty of care to everyone else who uses public roads. That includes bicyclists, pedestrians, and other motorists-- including motorcyclists.

When a driver breaches that duty by being careless, inebriated, fatigued, or distracted, and ends up causing an accident which results in injury or even wrongful death to another individual, the motorist may be held civilly liable to the victim. He or she can pursue a negligence case with the help of a motorcycle crash attorney in Thousand Oaks.

A motorcyclist wounded in an accident may have a claim if they can prove that another driver was at fault. When a motorcycle driver has followed all of the traffic laws but is still involved in an accident, odds are that it has been caused by the driver of another vehicle. It might be not seeing the motorcyclist, speeding, being inebriated, or a combination of the three.

What Should I Do after a Motorcycle Crash?

If you have been involved in a motorcycle crash, immediately contact the authorities to file a report if they are involved in a crash. This is particularly true if there is an injury or death.

If urgent medical aid is necessary, provide what aid you can, seek assistance, and call emergency medical help. If you are the one that is hurt, you should seek immediate medical aid. Even if your injury appears minor and you do not need immediate aid, it is a good idea to seek medical care, as some injuries are not immediately apparent.

Additionally, at the scene you should collect the contact and insurance details for the other parties. And you also want contact info for independent witnesses, as investigating law enforcement don't always collect that information.

Contact a motorcycle crash lawyer soon after the accident. We strongly recommend that you do this before talking to any insurance company.

Contact Our Thousand Oaks Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

After your accident, in addition to talking to the police and getting any necessary medical attention, you should get in touch with a qualified and knowledgeable personal injury attorney with experience handling motorcycle crashes. Serving victims throughout the Thousand Oaks area, the motorcycle crash attorneys at Drake Law Firm can help you.

Too often, accident victims believe that an insurance provider-- either their own or the other motorist's-- will sufficiently compensate them for any injuries they have suffered. However, many insurance providers are unwilling to pay, even when liability and injuries are obvious. This is particularly accurate when the damages are substantial.

Even when an insurance carrier seems liable, be wary. Lots of adjusters will try to settle insurance claims quickly. They will urge you to sign an agreement that will allow them to close the case-- and thus limit their exposure.

Even if the deal appears sufficient or even generous, it is important to ensure your legal rights are defended. Speak with an attorney and make sure you comprehend the consequences of the agreement.

The reality is, not all injuries are readily apparent. And for some major injuries, even if you expect full recovery, you can not be certain that the complete recovery you hope for will happen.

In those situations, signing a release of claims prematurely can limit your settlement to an amount that is considerably less than what you need or what you legally have a right to recuperate. Serious injuries might consist of:

• Spine damage;
• Multiple broken bones;
• Severe bruising and/or "road rash";
• Traumatic head injuries.

And, of course, some motorcycle crashes are fatal. If somebody you love has been killed in a motorcycle crash, speak to an attorney to determine whether there's a wrongful death action to pursue against a negligent driver.