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 compensation you deserve. We’ve recovered over $1 billion for clients.
Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Guide
Justice with a Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Law Firm
When the going gets tough, motorcyclists get going. It is 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 expertise 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.
Some of the many ways we may assist motorcycle crash victims and their families include the following:
- Provide the client with a comprehensive understanding of the personal injury claims process and their legal options
- Collect documentary evidence, including police reports, medical records and bills, wage loss records
- Analyze the client’s insurance company to determine all available coverages
- Collect statements from witnesses
- Gather other material evidence, such as photographs and videos
- Determine the amount, if any, that the client’s health insurance policy or welfare benefit plan may require in repayment of money spent to pay the bills
- Analyze the validity of any liens on the case
- Handle all communications with the insurance adjuster to ensure that the client’s best interests are preserved
- Negotiate a fair settlement deal with the insurance company
File a lawsuit, if necessary, and represent the client in trial - Analyze the jury’s verdict to determine whether an appeal is viable and necessary
Our Los Angeles Motorcycle Crash Lawyers Pursue the Compensation You Deserve
If you are injured as a result of 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 injuries, property damages, medical bills, and other monetary damages.
You can be entitled to compensation for the following after a motorcycle crash:
- Medical bills directly related to the 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 the injuries
- Property damages
- Any non-economic damages affecting your loved ones, such as loss of companionship or moral support
Call on our best motorcycle accident attorneys in Los Angeles, CA, for a free consultation and learn what specific compensation you may be eligible for after a motorcycle crash. Our Los Angeles personal injury law firm has recovered over one billion dollars for injured clients.
Deadlines Exist: Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit Statute of Limitation in Los Angeles
The statute of limitations – the deadline to file your claim – is generally two years from the date of the accident, but 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 [1].
What To Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Los Angeles
As the saying goes, “All motorcycles go down at least once.” Whether that’s true or not, preparing for the unexpected is smart – especially in Los Angeles, California, where lane splitting – or “sharing” – is legal.
A crash can be costly, stressful, and damaging to not only your health but your finances, too. Considering how expensive a motorcycle accident can be, you’ll want to do everything possible to document the scene so that you can recover the maximum compensation for your claim. Taking the proper steps can help your recovery process go a lot smoother.
When possible, aim to 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 the collision, your injuries, 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
Determining Fault in Motorcycle Accident Cases
In the event of a motorcycle crash, injured victims may look to hold the following entities 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 is a comparative negligence state. This means that if someone is injured due to 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.
Most Times, the Other Car Is at Fault
Although you may ride responsibly, another motorist may not. In these cases, a Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorney at Wilshire Law Firm will work to prove that the driver was at fault in the passenger-vehicle crash.
For instance, as cell phone usage has caused a dramatic rise in distracted driving, many passenger car motorists think they can lie to the judge and say they weren’t on their phones at the time of the incident.
All it takes is a subpoena to obtain phone records to potentially tip the balance toward a fair settlement for a motorcycle accident.
“In two-thirds of motorcycle accidents involving another vehicle, the driver of the other vehicle violated the motorcycle rider’s right of way and caused the accident.”
– The Hurt Report [2]
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, it is imperative that you DO NOT ADMIT FAULT TO ANYONE.
“Anyone” means:
- Insurance companies
- Other parties
- Paramedics
- Police
- Anyone!
Even if you are not at fault, your words may be twisted to manipulate your policy details. 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 24/7 to get your important questions answered.
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Common Motorcycle Accident Causes That Impact Lawsuits
While lane splitting may be illegal in many areas, Los Angeles allows the practice, meaning that other motorists are required to share the road and ensure the safety of the motorcycle rider around them [3]. Despite this, lane-splitting accidents that result in severe injury to a motorcyclist are all too common in Los Angeles.
Other accident types that commonly 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
- 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. We will take on the insurance companies and have a proven track record of helping injured motorcyclists get the compensation they deserve.
Motorcycle Accident Injuries May Require Ongoing Treatment
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)
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Whiplash
Motorcycle Accident FAQs
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, and pain and suffering. If an impaired or reckless driver hit you, you may also pursue punitive damages. However, punitive damages are awarded only in certain limited circumstances. A qualified attorney can give you a more thorough rundown of your potential recovery.
Can I Recover Damages Even If I Wasn’t Wearing a Helmet at the Time of the Accident?
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.
What If an Unidentified Driver Caused Me to Swerve Off The Road and Crash By Cutting Me Off?
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 not possible, an attorney can help you explore options such as pursuing damages through your insurance policy’s uninsured motorist coverage.
Free Case Review with a Reliable Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
At Wilshire Law Firm, our California personal injury law firm represents riders involved in motorcycle accidents every day. Almost 30 percent of our cases involve these types of accidents. We know all the complicated ins and outs 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.
With all the factors that go into these extra-sensitive personal injury cases, it’s vital that your family relies on attorneys they can trust.
We use Contingency Fees with our clients – you pay no 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 us 24/7 at (800) 501-3011 to get started on your free case evaluation.
Wilshire Law Firm
Los Angeles
3055 Wilshire Blvd., 12th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Tel: (213) 335-2402
Open Mon – Sun
Available 24 Hours
