Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Were You Injured in a Motorcycle Accident in Westminster, CA?

It’s an unfortunate truth, but motorcycles are dangerous. However, this is not attributed to how the average motorcyclist rides. Instead, motorcycle accidents occur so frequently because of negligent drivers in passenger vehicles. At West Accident Law Group, our Westminster motorcycle accident lawyers are dedicated to helping motorcycle accident victims recover maximum payout from the at-fault parties. If you or a family member were harmed in a motorcycle crash, please schedule a free consultation with our personal injury attorneys in Orange County for guidance.

Why West Accident Law Group

The California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) has reported an astounding 1,117 motorcycle accidents throughout Orange County in recent years, with 57 of those collisions taking place in Westminster.

Why does this matter? Automobile accidents involving motorcyclists continue to increase in Southern California. Therefore, if you’re involved in one, you’re going to need the best Westminster motorcycle accident attorney for representation. Unfortuantely, motorcycle bias is real. It dramatically affects the outcome of a personal injury case, often shortchanging victims out of fair financial compensation.

Motorcycle crash victims should not have to be concerned with financial stresses or their legal rights being obstructed. West Accident Law Group has recovered millions for our clients and currently holds a winning record with 99% of cases won. Additionally, our Westminster motorcycle accident lawyers have litigation and courtroom experience, so if it is in your best interest to go to trial, we will seize the opportunity to do so instead of falter from it.

Our personal injury law firm is dedicated to our clients and puts their best interests first. Additionally, we offer legal representation on contingency. This means clients do not pay anything unless a settlement is recovered. The law firm also offers a free consultation to get started. Schedule your complimentary case assessment here, so we can begin building your winning motorcycle accident claim.

How Much Compensation Can Motorcycle Accident Victims Recover?

Calculating damages in a motorcycle accident
Calculating damages in a motorcycle accident is a complex process. Depending on the circumstances and if any serious injuries were sustained, a motorcycle claim can carry a higher monetary value than other motor vehicle accidents. With the help of a qualified Westminster motorcycle accident attorney, the following damages can be recovered:

Medical Expenses

All medical costs (current and future) are recoverable expenses. This includes doctor visits, surgeries, rehabilitation, pain management treatment, and any other applications utilized to treat motorcycle accident injuries.

Pain and Suffering

It’s not fair for victims to endure new ailments and emotional pain from an incident that someone else caused. Therefore, physical injuries and emotional damage are taken into account when determining a fair settlement. This includes bone breaks/fractures, scarring, traumatic brain injury (TBI), amputation, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more.

Loss of Income

When injured victims must miss work to recover, they are often not paid and ultimately forced to suffer lost wages. Also, there are instances when injuries are so debilitating that motorcycle victims cannot return to work leading to a loss of earning capacity.

Property Damage

If motorcyclists need to replace their motorcycles or repair them, the awarded compensation should be enough to cover those expenses.

Wrongful Death

Motorcycle accidents can tragically end in death. If the motorcycle accident caused a death, surviving family members can legally pursue damages from the negligent party.

The more damaging, the higher the award will be. However, insurance adjusters are unwavering and will attempt to reduce the owed compensation as much as possible. Speak with our law firm to learn more about how a personal injury claim works and how much your case is worth.

How Motorcycle Accidents in Westminster Occur

Common causes of motorcycle crashes
Due to their size and limited protection, motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to life-threatening and fatal injuries. Common causes of motorcycle crashes in Westminster include the following:

  • Speeding
  • Lack of visibility
  • Tailgating
  • Not following traffic laws
  • Running a stop sign
  • Running a red light
  • Drunk driving/intoxication 
  • Distracted driving
  • Bad weather
  • Poor road conditions

Because Westminster conveniently runs through major freeways and highways, the city experiences regular traffic. Busy streets like Bushard St., McFadden Ave., Bolsa Ave., and Brookhurst St. are common locations for auto-related collisions to take place.

It’s a common misconception that motorcycle riders are careless thrillseekers. On the contrary, motorcyclists have to be extremely cautious of their surroundings, due to the dangers other motorists in larger cars can pose in the event of a collision. Still, the risk of a crash is imminent. If the accident occurred due to reckless driving, schedule a free consultation today. Our legal team will explain the legal proceedings and how much your case may be worth.

 

Hit-and-Run Accidents

Unfortuantely, hit-and-runs are very common in motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents. To abandon an injured motorcyclist in such a vulnerable state is an egregious crime, and all guilty parties should be held accountable to the fullest extent.

California’s laws state that all motorists are legally required to stay at the scene until all required information has been exchanged and that any hurt individuals who are incapable of doing so
themselves have been helped by calling 911.

If harmed in a hit-and-run accident and the guilty party who fled the scene was never caught, motorcyclists may still be able to secure compensation. Because a claim cannot be filed against the at-fault party, the injured person’s personal insurance could cover damages. However, this depends on the insurance policy and if the motorcyclist has “uninsured motorist” coverage. Consult with an attorney to clarify these details and address other concerns.

What to Do After an Accident

It’s traumatic to be in a crash, so remembering to take certain steps when one takes place can be difficult. In order to maximize compensation, it is important to take the following measures. If not all steps are followed, the best lawyer in Westminster can still help salvage a case.

Get to a safe space

Get off the road and move away from traffic. Then, call 911. However, do not leave the scene of the accident, because this can be interpreted as a hit-and-run. An exception where it’s okay to leave would be if serious injuries, like head injuries, were sustained. Once it’s okay to leave the scene, see a doctor immediately and check for injuries.

Document the damage

Take photos of the property damage, as well as the other vehicles. Also, document the location, debris, and any other relevant details. It’s also important to take notes about what happened to avoid forgetting any important information. Injuries may prevent an individual from fulfilling this step. If this is the case, then phone someone for help or ask a witness for help.

Exchange information

Collect any involved person’s full name, contact information, license plate number, and insurance information with the policy number. If anyone witnessed the motorcycle accident, collect their contacts, as well. If the incident was a hit-and-run, try to write down as many details that can be recalled, like what the vehicle looked like, the direction it went in, and the driver’s appearance.

File a police report

Once the police arrive, they will assess the event, interview everyone involved, and write up a police report. This document is vital to a motorcycle accident claim and will help prove liability in the case. Applying this step is necessary for a hit-and-run, as the case will require further investigation on the part of the authorities.

Obtain a lawyer in Westminster, CA

It’s a good idea to at least consult (not hire) with a Westminster motorcycle accident lawyer after a collision. A lawyer’s expertise can help guide a motorcycle victim in the right direction and can determine whether or not a claim is worth pursuing. Also, important information like California’s statute of limitations (a law permitting two years to file a personal injury claim) will be discussed.

West Accident Law Group offers no-obligation, no-risk case evaluations for free. If you’re satisfied with your experience during the free consultation, then we can begin the process of working together and getting you on the right path to recovery.

How to Determine Liability

Establishing liability in a motorcycle accident is more complicated than a standard car crash. First, the biased assumption that bikers are reckless daredevils needs to be addressed and disproven with strong enough evidence that says otherwise. In order to overcome that hurdle, driver negligence will need to be cited on the other party.

Negligence is defined as a motorist operating a vehicle in a careless and dangerous manner, ultimately leading to another involved party’s injury. When identifying negligent behavior, consider:

1. Did the driver/other party owe a duty of care?

When operating a motor vehicle, motorists have a responsibility to drive reasonably and not engage in dangerous distractions, like texting while driving.

2. Was that duty of care breached?

If a motorist did engage in a dangerous distraction, like texting and driving, then the duty of care would be considered breached.

3. Did that breach ignite the collision?

Evidence must indicate that the other party’s breach of duty of care directly led to the collision. In the example of distracted driving, anytime someone’s attention is taken off the road, a collision is more likely to occur.

4. What negative consequences arose from the motorcycle crash?

All damages that ensued must be presented and a direct correlation to those damages must be indicated. For instance, medical bills, pain and suffering, or motorcycle repairs would qualify as recoverable losses.

It’s not uncommon for more than one person to be found liable in an auto collision, dividing fault into percentages. For example, if a motorcyclist was speeding when the collision occurred but was hit by a car that ran a red light, both parties would be held partially responsible for negligence. However, the more egregious acts would have greater consequences, per California’s comparative fault laws. In order to secure fair compensation, it’s important to hire an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer who is an aggressive negotiator.

Contact a Westminster Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today

With years of experience handling personal injury cases, West Accident Law Group can get you the compensation you deserve. From gathering evidence to negotiations to litigation, we can assist with all aspects of your case.

If you were injured in a crash caused by a careless or distracted driver, you deserve to be compensated for the at-fault person’s negligence. Discuss your personal injury case with our Westminster law firm today. The consultation is 100% free.

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