If you or a loved one has been in an accident involving a motorcycle, it’s important to speak with an experienced attorney familiar with personal injury accidents. Often, motorcycle accidents have a higher risk of injury than other types of California vehicle accidents. A Riverside motorcycle accident lawyer can help pursue recovery for your injuries and property damage.
Gonzales Law Offices can help with your physical and emotional recovery. We can help build a strong case to prove the driver of the other vehicle was responsible for causing your accident, as these accidents often occur when a driver is changing lanes or doesn’t yield the right-of-way to you as a motorcyclist. Many factors may have contributed to your injuries, and our firm can investigate and build a strong case for financial recovery specific to your unique case.
What Steps Should I Take After a Motorcycle Accident in Riverside, CA?
There are many steps for recovery after a motorcycle accident. First, it’s important to contact law enforcement to assess the scene and take driver statements, measurements, and photographs as part of their accident report.
Often, the law enforcement officer determines the fault of the accident. If they indicate the other person was at fault for your accident, it can positively impact your case and help with your claim recovery.
Also, you should exchange contact information with anyone at the scene, assuming you are not seriously injured and unable to gather this information. If you can, exchange your driver’s license and insurance documents. With your phone, you can take photos of their license, insurance, or any other documents they have. You can take photos of the area of the accident site, the involved vehicles, and any unusual weather conditions or traffic conditions.
It is important to contact your insurance company to discuss the accident. Regardless of who was responsible for the accident, your insurance company typically needs to know you were in an accident and the details.
At this point, it is important not to speak with the insurance company for the other drivers until you can consult your own legal professional. Sometimes, an insurance company representing the at-fault driver might use your statements against you later in the claim process. An experienced attorney can communicate directly with them on your behalf.
Why Should I Consult an Attorney for My Accident?
An accomplished attorney familiar with Riverside motorcycle accidents can make a positive difference in your claim and in the amount you may ultimately recover for your injuries and property damage. Since they have handled cases for prior clients, they have the knowledge and the resources to make sure you are treated fairly by all involved parties.
A skilled attorney can help investigate your accident and work to prove the other party caused your accident. Sometimes, drivers are negligent when they are speeding, tailgating, running stop signs or red lights, failing to yield, making unsafe lane changes, driving while distracted, or driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
An experienced attorney can explore what may have caused your accident and strongly advocate for your interests. While evidence is fresh, it is important to contact a trusted attorney for your unique case.
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What Are Some Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Riverside, CA?
Since motorcycles do not offer as much protection, you might be at a greater risk from careless, negligent drivers while you ride your motorcycle. There are some common causes of accidents involving motorcycles in Riverside, which include the following:
- Head-on collisions
- Left-turn accidents – When a vehicle makes a left turn in front of a motorcycle
- Lane-splitting – Drivers not paying attention before changing lanes could run into a motorcyclist
- Speeding – Since there is less protection while driving a motorcycle, it is important to be mindful of the speed limit and of vehicle drivers who ignore it
- Intoxicated driving – Alcohol or drugs often play a part in the cause of a motorcycle crash where a driver is impaired while operating a vehicle
- Traffic conditions and road hazards – Potholes, objects in the road, construction irregularities, slick pavements, etc. can lead to a serious accident
Many accidents happen involving motorcycles for a variety of reasons. If you have been hurt in an accident, consult Gonzales Law Offices to discuss your accident and your recovery.
What Are Some Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Riverside?
The injuries someone might experience as a result of a motorcycle accident can vary widely. Some people walk away with minor injuries, but that’s not always true, and some people have catastrophic or even fatal injuries. Some of the more common injuries in Riverside accidents include:
- Cuts/major lacerations
- ‘Road rash’
- Broken bones
- Facial injuries
- Internal injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Loss of a limb
- Severe disfigurement
- Spinal cord injuries or paralysis
This is not a complete list of the injuries someone might experience from a motorcycle accident. If you believe you were hurt in a Riverside motorcycle accident, contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney right away. Gonzales Law Offices can help address any injuries you have sustained and help maximize your recovery.
How Do I Prove Liability in a Riverside Motorcycle Accident Matter?
In order to prove someone was responsible for causing your motorcycle accident, you need to prove the other driver’s negligence directly contributed to your accident. Negligence means someone acted unreasonably or failed to act in order to keep you safe.
Typically, motorcycle accident claims are pursued against negligent vehicle drivers. Sometimes, you can pursue recovery from other third parties, such as a motorcycle manufacturer or a construction company with an unsafe construction site.
If another party is trying to hold you responsible for the crash, it is crucial to reach out to an attorney who can help refute their arguments. With a strong attorney by your side, they can help determine all parties responsible for the accident and make sure you pursue all available recovery from the at-fault parties.
What Types of Compensation Are Available for Victims of Motorcycle Accidents in Riverside?
In Riverside, there are different ways to pursue financial recovery from a motorcycle accident. Usually, compensation is tied to the damages you have incurred in your specific case. If you establish another party is responsible for your damages in your case, you can typically recover for the following:
- Emergency care
- Medical expenses
- Future necessary medical treatment expenses
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Property damages, such as for your motorcycle repair or replacement
- Wage loss
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress damages
- Wrongful death
This list is not exhaustive, and a Riverside attorney can further discuss the potential recovery available in your specific case based on your motorcycle accident. With an attorney advocating for your rights, you can have help making a complete physical and financial recovery.
Do I Have to File a Claim for My Motorcycle Accident?
In order to fully pursue your recovery from your injuries and property damage, it might become necessary to file a formal claim. You should be ready to take your claim all the way to court if necessary. Even with seemingly simple claims, liability can quickly become contested, and you may need to protect your interests with a formal claim for damages.
Unfortunately, sometimes people automatically assume a driver of a motorcycle caused their own accident because of the stigma that riders often act dangerously when operating their motorcycle. Also, because motorcycle crash injuries are often quite serious, it can be difficult to get an insurance company to fully compensate for sustained injuries, and they may try to find reasons not to pay you for your initial claim.
Since this type of accident is usually contested, you should consider retaining a skilled lawyer to help you file a formal case. If you have hired an experienced attorney, they can help explore your injuries and damages. They can advocate throughout your case and explain the entire legal process. Ultimately, while you do not have to file a formal claim to recover from your accident, if you do, you can fully protect your interests.
Why Should I Consult an Attorney for My Riverside Motorcycle Accident Case?
A Riverside motorcycle accident attorney can help listen to your account of your accident. Then, they can help:
- Discuss the complex legal process necessary to protect your interests.
- Gather relevant evidence to support your case.
- Negotiate on your behalf with insurance companies and other attorneys to maximize your financial recovery.
- Make sure you collect all evidence regarding medical bills, lost wages, documented pain and suffering, and other damages to ensure you recover the full value of your physical and emotional damages.
- Protect your rights and legal interests throughout your motorcycle accident case.
An attorney familiar with prior motorcycle accident cases understands the unique challenges associated with these cases. They can use their understanding of specific relevant laws to protect your case value. If your case involves substantial injuries or if accident responsibility is in dispute, contact Gonzales Law Offices right away to discuss your case.
FAQs
You technically do not have to hire a lawyer for a motorcycle accident case in Riverside. However, it is generally recommended since they can help you learn about the process, negotiate on your behalf, and represent you in court if necessary. Also, an attorney can prepare legal paperwork for your claim, fully investigate your accident, and prove who caused the accident.
Our experienced Riverside motorcycle accident attorney from Gonzales Law Offices can help evaluate your claim and maximize your recovery.
The amount you might get for a motorcycle accident settlement depends on the case facts, the injuries you have sustained, and the experience of your attorney handling these claims.
A knowledgeable motorcycle accident lawyer can help estimate the amount you might be able to recover through settling your own, unique claim for injuries and property damage. With an attorney by your side, they can build a strong case and typically help maximize your settlement recovery.
In Riverside, attorneys perform legal work under a variety of arrangements. Some attorneys handling motorcycle accident claims work for a contingency fee, which means you usually only pay them a part of the amount if you win. The payment percentage usually depends on your case, whether you go to court, and the attorney’s individual fee agreement. For a specific attorney, it is critical to speak to them about their written fee agreement and anticipated fees and costs during an initial consultation.
At Gonzales Law Offices, we work on a contingency fee basis, so you do not have to pay unless we win your case and you receive a settlement. We believe you should have access to high-quality legal representation, without upfront fees, when you need it most.
In Riverside, the statute of limitations deadline means you have two years from the accident date to file your claim. Once the deadline passes, you typically lose the ability to file a case. The statute of limitations helps make sure claims are pursued promptly and ensures available evidence and witnesses. Our knowledgeable attorney at Gonzales Law Offices can make sure your claim is filed in a timely manner.
Contact Experienced Riverside Motorcycle Accident Today – Gonzales Law Offices
An accident can happen when you least expect it. If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, Mark Gonzales can help ensure you receive the complete compensation you deserve for your injuries and property damage.
Gonzales Law Offices can stand firm against lowball offers to resolve your case and protect your interests. Contact Gonzales Law Offices to schedule an initial consultation, and we can discuss the unique details of your case.
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