Motorcycle Accident

MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEY IN California

Careless drivers and road hazards pose a constant risk to motorcyclists. If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident that was caused by someone else, you deserve fair compensation and accountability from those responsible. Turn to the California motorcycle accident lawyers at The Law Office of Black & DePaoli, APC for help. Our legal team has more than three decades of combined experience handling motorcycle accident cases. Travis Black, serving
as counsel of the firm is a former police officer and insurance adjuster who knows how law enforcement investigates motorcycle accidents and how insurance companies defend themselves. He’s also a rider himself, so he brings personal appreciation for what riders go through.

Together, our team has a proven track record of success. We have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients throughout California. We understand the difficulties of recovering from a motorcycle accident, and we fight to maximize the payments our clients receive.

As a first step, we offer free consultations wherever and whenever is most convenient for you. And you’ll never owe us a dime unless and until we win compensation for you. Contact us today to speak with a knowledgeable motorcycle accident lawyer in a free case review.

UNDERSTANDING WHY MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT CASES ARE MORE COMPLICATED

Riders injured by motorcycle accidents often find that these claims are much more complicated than average car accident cases. That’s because motorcycle accident cases have unique challenges, such as:

Motorcycle riders suffer more serious injuries. Because they are not protected by a vehicle body or other safety features common in passenger vehicles, motorcycle accident victims often suffer catastrophic, life-altering injuries. The serious injuries that riders often suffer in a crash require extensive and expensive medical treatment. This means that a rider may be entitled to a larger amount of compensation, and they may still be undergoing treatment when they file their insurance claim or lawsuit. When a rider is still in treatment for injuries when pursuing a claim against the at-fault party, their lawyer will need to account for future expected medical and rehabilitation costs.

At-fault drivers may lack sufficient insurance coverage to compensate injured riders. Motorcycle riders often require significant compensation for devastating injuries, and many drivers have insufficient insurance coverage to pay that amount. That’s because many drivers in California carry only the minimum liability insurance coverage. This isn’t enough to pay for tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills and lost income. As a result, some injured riders can file an uninsured/underinsured motorist claim with their own motorcycle insurer, adding more work to an already complicated claims process.

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HOW A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYER CAN HELP YOU

When you’ve been injured in a motorcycle wreck , a lawyer from The Law Office of Black & DePaoli, APC can help you pursue the maximum financial recovery possible by:

Recovering evidence from the accident to determine how the crash happened and who may be legally liable for your injuries and property damage
Explaining your legal rights and options, including whether you may be able to pursue financial compensation through your own insurance coverage
Working with accident reconstruction experts to build a persuasive case on your behalf
Consulting with medical experts, economists, and long-term care planners to demonstrate the full extent of your losses
Preparing and filing your claims for compensation with the at-fault parties and their insurance companies
Handling all communications with insurers and attorneys so that you can focus on your treatment and recovery
Negotiating for a settlement that provides you with fair and full compensation for your injuries and losses
Taking your motorcycle accident lawsuit to court if the other side refuses to agree to a fair settlement

Insurance companies try to blame the injured rider for the accident. Unfortunately, insurance companies (even the rider’s own) often try to reduce their financial liability for a motorcycle accident by shifting some of the blame for the crash onto the rider. At-fault drivers and insurers may rely on stereotypes about motorcycle riders as reckless, speeding motorists. If this happens in a motorcycle accident case, the rider and his or her attorney may need additional evidence to establish conclusively that the rider bears no fault for causing the accident.

POTENTIAL DAMAGES IN A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT CLAIM

In a motorcycle accident claim, you may be entitled to financial compensation for expenses and losses related to the wreck. A settlement can also include money for future expenses caused by your injuries and the accident, such as ongoing rehab treatment.
Your compensation may cover:

Costs of medical treatment related to the crash, including medical bills, prescriptions, physical therapy, medical equipment purchases, and transportation costs to and from appointments and procedures
Repair or replacement costs for your motorcycle
Lost income if you missed work to recover from the injuries you suffered in the accident
Lost earning capacity, if you have a permanently disabling condition caused by the accident
Loss of enjoyment and quality of life due to disabilities, significant scarring, or disfigurement caused by your injuries
Physical pain and suffering
Emotional trauma and distress

Speak with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney in to understand what compensation you might be owed.

HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE TO FILE A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT LAWSUIT?

Under California’s statute of limitations, you typically have only two years from the date of a motorcycle accident to file a personal injury lawsuit for compensation. If you wait until after the deadline on your claim, you risk the court dismissing your lawsuit. Protect your claim by contacting an attorney as soon as possible. A lot of legal legwork goes into preparing a lawsuit. The sooner you start on your case, the better.

COMMON TYPES OF MOTORCYCLE CLAIMS WE HELP WITH

At The Law Office of Black & DePaoli, APC, our motorcycle accident attorneys have extensive experience handling all types of crash claims, such as:

Motorcycle broadside collisions, including T-bone collisions at intersections and side-swipe collisions caused by a driver on the highway making an unsafe lane change

Motorcycle crashes near driveways, including those caused by drivers backing up without checking their mirrors or blind spots

Left-turn motorcycle collisions, where drivers turning left fail to yield the right of way to an oncoming motorcycle

Intersection motorcycle collisions, including T-bone, left-turn, and head-on collisions

Open door motorcycle accidents, in which a driver or passenger of a street-parked vehicle opens their door directly in front of an oncoming motorcycle

U-turn motorcycle accidents, where other motorists collide into a motorcycle rider attempting to make a U-turn at an intersection

Unsafe lane change motorcycle accidents, caused by drivers failing to signal before a lane change or not checking mirrors and blind spots.

Injured motorcycle passengers, including passengers riding on a backseat or in a sidecar

Fatal motorcycle accidents, in which we can help the families of a deceased motorcycle rider pursue a wrongful death claim against an at-fault driver or another party

KELSEY DEPAOLI

Kelsey DePaoli brings experience to a wide variety of personal injury cases, including vehicle collisions, wrongful death, dog bites, premise liability, public entity liability, and general negligence.

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COMMON INJURIES IN MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS

Unfortunately, motorcycle riders are completely exposed to injury in the event of a collision. For this reason, riders tend to suffer serious and catastrophic physical harm in motorcycle crashes. Injuries commonly suffered in motorcycle accidents include:

GET HELP FROM A SEASONED MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYER NOW

If you were injured in a motorcycle crash in caused by someone else’s negligent or reckless conduct, contact The Law Office of Black & DePaoli, APC today for a free consultation. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer from our firm can meet with you anytime and anywhere that is convenient for you.