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Aggressive Drivers Can Cause Serious Motorcycle Accidents

Posted by Inna Gorin | Jun 27, 2017

Motorcycles offer people an enjoyable way to travel through some of the best scenic routes in California.

However, driving a motorcycle carries significant risks. Aggressive drivers are dangerous, and they pose a severe threat to all other drivers on California roadways, especially to moped and motorcycle operators and their passengers.

Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Injury Lawyer

Severe and catastrophic injuries can result when aggressive drivers violently collide with mopeds or motorcycles. This is because hard impacts that occur at high rates of speed typically cause a motorcycle operator and any passengers to fall off the vehicle and strike the ground directly.

In many cases, the individuals on these two-wheeled vehicles sustain severe and life-altering injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, whiplash injuries, broken bones, facial fractures, amputations, crush injuries or serious soft tissue injuries.

Suppose you or someone you love has sustained injuries in a motorcycle accident that resulted from someone else's negligence; our skilled personal injury lawyers are ready and willing to help.

We can help you to maximize the value of your personal injury case and obtain the monetary compensation you need and deserve under the law. We will pursue legal action against every potential defendant in your case.

Most motorcycle accidents occur due to one driver's mistake, but others are not clear-cut. If a hazardous road condition or other factor was the cause of your accident, you deserve maximum compensation from the responsible parties.

You need to consult with an experienced lawyer at our law firm to help you understand all possible legal options in your case privately. Whether negotiating with insurance companies or taking your injury case to trial, our Los Angeles personal injury law firm has a track record of success in obtaining maximum compensation for our clients.

How do Aggressive Drivers Cause Motorcycle Accidents?

Thanks to Los Angeles County's superhighways and thoroughfares with high-speed limits, aggressive driving has unfortunately become all-too-common. Most motorcycle accidents are caused by drivers who simply aren't paying attention while changing lanes or just fail to obey traffic signals.

Unfortunately, injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident are frequently life-threatening since motorcyclists are not protected by seat belts, airbags, or a sturdy metal frame of a vehicle. Some of the most common examples of aggressive driving on California roadways include the following:

  • Changing lanes too quickly or weaving in and out of traffic
  • Failing to adjust for lane splitting
  • Tailgating
  • Failing to use turn signals when making turns or switching lanes
  • Exceeding posted speed limits
  • Engaging in distracted driving (e.g., texting while driving or making cell phone calls without using the hands-free option)
  • Drunk, impaired, or intoxicated driving
  • Fatigued driving

When motor vehicle drivers engage in these types of aggressive, reckless, or careless driving activities, they pose a risk to everyone else around them on the roadway – most especially to motorcyclists and their passengers. As such, these reckless and careless drivers may be held accountable to innocent motorcycle accident victims under California law.

Most Common Injuries Sustained in High-Speed Motorcycle Accidents

Injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident vary widely, all the way from minor cuts and abrasions to ruptured disc or being permanently paralyzed. Regardless of the type of injury, hospital bills and expensive medical treatments typically put a financial burden on victims who cannot work due to their injuries.

Some of the most common types of injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents include the following:

  • Fractures and broken bones
  • Concussions
  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Paralysis
  • Cuts, abrasions, and scarring (especially facial scarring)
  • Amputations

How do I Prove Negligence in a Motorcycle Accident Case?

All motor vehicle drivers have a duty under California law to drive their vehicles reasonably safe and careful manner. They must also obey all traffic laws and regulations while operating their vehicles on California roadways. Depending on the specific circumstances of your motorcycle accident, your personal injury lawsuit may list several causes of action.

These include negligence, manufacturer liability due to defective parts, road design, and wrongful death.

Under California law, more than one person could be held responsible for an accident. Our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys work closely with police officers, experts, and witnesses who could assist us in determining who is at fault in your motorcycle accident case.

In cases where the car and motorcycle driver share fault, our injury attorneys can determine who is mostly at fault. Just because a motorcycle driver may be partially responsible for the crash doesn't deprive them of their right to obtain some damages.

To recover damages for personal injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident that an aggressive driver caused, the injured accident victim must prove that the aggressive driver breached the applicable standard of care by violating a traffic law and by driving in a reckless, careless, or negligent manner for the road conditions then-and-there existing.

The injured victim must also prove that the driver's breach of the applicable duty of care resulted in injuries and damages.

The amount of compensation you may recover in settlement or award from the court will vary depending on several factors. These include the extent of your injuries and whether you sustained a permanent disability that will impact your ability to earn income.

Do I Need a Lawyer to Recover Compensation?

If you have been involved in an accident, you may be wondering whether you need to take the time to retain an attorney to recover compensation. While this is a valid concern, there are several things you should keep in mind:

  • Retaining a lawyer will save you time, as once an attorney is representing you, they will handle every aspect of your case on your behalf, allowing you to focus on your recovery
  • There is no up-front cost associated with retaining an attorney. Any fee you pay your lawyer will be a percentage of the settlement or award you ultimately recover from the insurance company or at-fault party.

In addition, if you are like most motorcycle accident victims, you do not have experience determining the value of a personal injury case in California. As a result, without legal counsel, you run the risk of accepting a settlement offer that is far below the actual value of your case.

Our injury lawyers will evaluate your claim and make sure that you fully recover from all of your economic and non-economic damages, including your medical expenses, lost income, loss of quality of life, physical and emotional pain, and suffering.

If you or a family member has sustained injuries as the operator or passenger on a motorcycle, you may be entitled to monetary compensation under California law. While a personal injury lawsuit can't undo damages suffered in the accident, it could provide you with the financial security you need to begin the healing process.

Compensation for any current and future medical expenses, lost wages, property damages, and other losses could significantly impact your ability to recover.

For a free case evaluation, give us a call to review the details. 

About the Author

Inna Gorin

Inna Gorin, the founding Partner of Injury Justice Law Firm modeled the Firm after her ideals and principles of what skilled, aggressive and tenacious representation of individual clients should embody. Ms. Gorin's mission is to level the playing field, and provide her clients with the same level...

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