If you or a loved one has been hurt in a motorcycle crash in Los Angeles, you’ve come to the right place. The Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyers at Wilshire Law Firm are here to walk side by side with you in pursuit of justice. We’re going to break down some tips and tricks for dealing with a motorcycle crash, as well as explain how we can help.
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Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Los Angeles Guide
Get Justice for Getting Hit
The Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyers at Wilshire Law Firm are on your side right from the start. We work with motorcycle crash cases daily, ensuring clients and their families are in good hands.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a motorcycle crash, we will fight for the justice and fair compensation you deserve. We’ve recovered over $1 billion for our clients.
When the going gets tough, motorcyclists get going. It’s part of the rider’s manifesto to live life as a free individual, to be independent and self-reliant, and to lean on oneself rather than others.
But that’s not to say motorcyclists never ask for help. The wisest riders know that it pays to be resourceful, not stubborn, when the situation calls for the experience of others. Recovering damages after a motorcycle accident is one such situation.
At Wilshire Law Firm, our best motorcycle accident lawyers in Los Angeles perform extensive, complex tasks to help victims and their families get the compensation they need to pay off medical bills, make up for lost income, and alleviate other burdens.
How We Can Help
If you were injured due to a motorcycle crash, an experienced Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer at Wilshire Law Firm can help you seek a fair settlement.
We aim to recover compensation for your significant injuries, property damages, medical bills, and other monetary damages.
Common Types of Motorcycle Accident Compensation
Motorcycle accident victims may be entitled to compensation for the following:
- Medical bills directly related to the catastrophic injuries, including hospitalization and surgeries
- The cost of future medical treatment, including physical therapy and other rehabilitation.
- Lost wages as a result of time spent away from work
- Decrease or loss of future earnings as a result of serious injuries
- Property damages
- Any non-economic damages affecting your loved ones, such as loss of companionship or moral support
Call our best motorcycle attorneys in Los Angeles, CA, for a free consultation and learn what specific compensation you may be eligible for after a motorcycle crash.
Legal Terms to Keep in Mind
The legal process after a motorcycle accident can be complicated, especially if you’re encountering legal jargon for the first time.
To make things easier, we’ve put together a simple glossary of key terms you may hear during your case:
Comparative Negligence:
This is a legal principle used to determine fault in an accident when both parties share some responsibility.
If you’re partly at fault for your motorcycle accident, your compensation may be reduced by the percentage of your fault. For example, if you are found 20% at fault, your settlement could be reduced by 20%.
Punitive Damages:
These are damages awarded in a lawsuit to punish the at-fault party for particularly reckless or egregious behavior, such as driving under the influence.
Unlike compensatory damages, which aim to cover your losses, punitive damages are meant to serve as a deterrent against similar actions in the future.
Liens:
A lien is a legal claim on a portion of your settlement awarded to a third party, such as a healthcare provider or insurance company, who paid for your medical bills related to the accident.
Your experienced motorcycle accident lawyer attorney will negotiate and resolve these liens to ensure you retain as much of your compensation as possible.
Demand Letter:
This is a formal document your personal injury attorney sends to the at-fault party’s insurance company. It outlines the details of your accident, describes your injuries, and specifies the compensation amount you seek for damages like medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A demand letter is a critical step in initiating settlement negotiations.
Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit Statute of Limitation in Los Angeles
File Your Claim in Time
The motorcycle accident statute of limitations (the deadline to file your claim) is generally two years from the accident date. Still, many factors can either shorten or lengthen the timeline of a motorcycle accident case.
When a fatal motorcycle accident occurs, family members and eligible parties may need to file a wrongful death lawsuit. California law notes that survivors of the victim have exactly two years following the accident to file a wrongful death suit in court.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Los Angeles
If a motorcycle accident happens, it’s often costly, stressful, and damaging to your health and finances.
Considering how expensive a motorcycle accident can be, you’ll want to do everything possible to document the scene to recover the maximum compensation for your claim.
Taking the proper steps can help your recovery process go a lot smoother. When possible, do the following after a motorcycle crash:
- Get yourself to safety and check for injuries
- Call emergency services when injuries exist
- Remain calm
- Report the accident to the police
- Take photos of vehicle involved, injuries suffered, and the accident scene
- Exchange insurance and contact information
- Get eyewitness information
- Don’t Admit Fault
- Contact a Los Angeles Motorcycle Crash Lawyer at Wilshire Law Firm
Were You at Fault?
In the event of a motorcycle crash, injured victims may look to hold the following party/parties responsible:
- Negligent drivers
- An at-fault driver’s employer
- Manufacturers due to a product defect
- Property owners
- Public entities such as a city or state, due to poorly maintained roadways
- Construction contractors
California’s comparative negligence law means that if someone is injured in an accident, they may be partly to blame for the accident or injuries.
Our team of Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorneys is well-versed in determining negligence in motorcycle accidents. Call us 24/7 to schedule a free review of your important motorcycle injury claim.
Do Not Admit Fault After a Motorcycle Crash
During the aftermath of a motorcycle accident, do not admit fault. Inevitably, you will have to notify your insurance company of the incident. In these first moments, immediately following the crash, you mustn’t admit fault to anyone. “Anyone” means:
- Insurance companies
- Other parties
- Paramedics
- Police
- Anyone
Your words may be twisted to manipulate your policy details even if you’re not at fault. Your insurance company, or the other party’s insurance company, may attempt to withhold money that is rightfully yours.
At Wilshire Law Firm, our motorcycle injury lawyers in Los Angeles are ready to fight for you against powerful insurance companies. Call us to get your important questions answered.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
While lane splitting may be illegal in many areas, Los Angeles allows the practice, meaning that other motorists must share the road and ensure the safety of the motorcycle riders around them.
Despite this, lane-splitting accidents that result in severe injury to a motorcyclist are all too common in Los Angeles.
Other accident types that often require the services of a Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer are:
- Failure-to-yield accident
- Head-on collision
- Hit-and-run accident
- Intersection accident
- Left-turn accident
- Merging collision
- Distracted driving
- Multi-vehicle accident
- Rear-end collision
- Side-impact or T-Bone collision
Contact a Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorney at Wilshire Law Firm if you’re involved in a traffic collision so we can help you with your insurance claim.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Many motorcycle crash survivors face a steep climb on their path to recovery. Multiple surgeries may be needed, and intensive rehabilitation is often required for months and sometimes years.
Some of the most common and complicated injuries after a motorcycle crash include:
- Amputations
- Broken bones/bone fractures
- Burns
- Neck/back or spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis (paraplegia/quadriplegia)
- Mild head injury
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Whiplash
Motorcycle Accident Legal Process
At Wilshire Law Firm, we guide you every step of the way to ensure the best possible outcome for your case. Below is an overview of the typical legal process for a motorcycle accident claim:
1. Initial Consultation:
- Your Role: Schedule a free consultation to discuss your motorcycle accident and injuries with one of our experienced attorneys.
- Our Role: We evaluate your case, answer your questions, and advise you on the next steps.
2. Case Investigation:
- Your Role: Provide any evidence or documentation you have, like medical records, photos of the accident scene, and contact information for witnesses.
- Our Role: We conduct a thorough investigation and if needed, we work with accident reconstruction experts to strengthen your claim.
3. Demand Letter and Investigation:
- Your Role: Continue treatment for your injuries and keep us informed about your recovery.
- Our Role: We calculate the full extent of your losses, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future expenses. Using this information, we prepare and send a detailed demand letter to the at-fault party’s insurance company and begin negotiations for a fair settlement.
4. Filing a Lawsuit:
- Your Role: Be prepared to provide further information and possibly participate in depositions or case evaluations.
- Our Role: If the insurance company refuses a fair settlement, we file a lawsuit on your behalf and prepare to take your case to court.
5. Discovery Phase:
- Your Role: Respond to questions (interrogatories) and attend depositions if required.
- Our Role: Both sides exchange evidence and information during this period. We answer any queries from the opposing party while building a bulletproof case through expert witnesses, medical evaluations, and accident analysis.
6. Mediation and Pretrial Negotiations:
- Your Role: Attend mediation if necessary and stay in close contact with your attorney.
- Our Role: We represent you in mediation, an alternative dispute resolution process aimed at settling without going to trial. If no agreement is made from the other side, we finalize trial preparations.
7. Trial:
- Your Role: Testify if the case goes to court and follow our courtroom guidance.
- Our Role: Our attorneys will present your case before a judge or jury, arguing for maximum compensation based on the evidence.
8. Verdict and Recovery
- Your Role: After a successful verdict, provide any necessary information to finalize the settlement.
- Our Role: Once the judgment is rendered or a settlement is reached, we ensure the compensation is delivered promptly and handle any outstanding legal matters, like lien resolution or appeals.
Wilshire Law Firm is committed to fighting for your rights and making the legal process as stress-free as possible. Our goal is to maximize your compensation while you focus on recovering.
Motorcycle Accident FAQ
Q: What Damages Can I Seek in a Motorcycle Accident Claim?
Depending on the circumstances surrounding your accident, you may seek the following types of damages:
- Medical expenses
- Wages lost during recovery
- Pain and suffering
If an impaired or reckless driver hits you, you may also pursue punitive damages. However, punitive damages are awarded only in certain limited circumstances. A qualified personal injury attorney can give you a more thorough rundown of your potential recovery.
Q: Can I Recover Damages Even If I Wasn’t Wearing a Helmet?
While this circumstance may impact the damages you can win, it does not stop you from pursuing compensation. In cases where both parties are at fault, Los Angeles determines damages based on a comparative negligence standard.
This means the court will look at the details of your case, assign a percentage of fault to each involved party, and then decrease your damages by the equivalent percentage of your fault. You may still recover damages even if the court rules almost entirely against you.
Q: What If an Unidentified Driver Caused Me to Swerve Off the Road?
It’s understandable if this scenario has left you feeling like you have no possibility of recourse or recovery. However, with assistance from an experienced attorney, you may still be able to identify and locate the liable driver and get justice from them.
If finding the driver is impossible, an attorney can help you explore options such as pursuing damages through your insurance policy’s uninsured motorist coverage.
Best Motorcycle Accident Attorney Los Angeles Law Firm
Contact Wilshire Law Firm Today
At Wilshire Law Firm, our California personal injury law firm, we represent riders involved in motorcycle accidents every day. We know all the complicated details of dealing with motorcycle-related crashes, and we genuinely understand the sensitivities involved with the aftermath of these, sometimes tragic, incidents.
Reach out to a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer. We use Contingency Fees with our clients which means you pay no legal fees unless you win. Since 2007, we have recovered over $1 billion for our clients and will fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. Call (213) 335-2402 to get started on your free case evaluation today.
Wilshire Law Firm
Los Angeles
3055 Wilshire Blvd., 12th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Tel: (213) 335-2402
Open Mon – Sun
Available 24 Hours