Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Have you been injured as the result of a motorcycle accident? Contact a California personal injury lawyer at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation. The Reeves Law Group has successfully represented thousands of accident victims and obtained exceptional results in a wide variety of serious and catastrophic injury cases.
Los Angeles Motorcycle Crash Attorney
California's great weather and wide-open highways make it a state with a high number of motorcycle riders. Many of those riders live and work in the Los Angeles area, which has one of the highest motorcycle accident rates in the country.
Riding a motorcycle in Los Angeles can be dangerous. In a motorcycle accident with a car, the motorcycle riders are eight times more likely to be injured than are the car's occupants. In that same motorcycle accident, the riders are 37 times more likely to die than are the people in the car.
After Your Los Angeles Area Motorcycle Accident
The chance that a motorcycle accident victim will sustain injuries in a motorcycle crash is a massive 98 percent. For those at the scene of a motorcycle accident, the first priority must be medical care for all who need it.
In addition to seeking medical care after a motorcycle accident, steps should be taken to protect the crash victim's legal rights.
- Ensure an accurate accident report. If police do not come to the motorcycle accident scene on their own, call them. The police will investigate the accident and make a report. The report can later be used as evidence. The victim should review the report and confirm that it is accurate. If not, ask the police officer to correct mistakes.
- Collect evidence. If a camera is available, take pictures of the accident scene before it is cleared. A cell phone camera will do. Also, make written or mental notes of any road hazards, such as puddles, potholes or road ruts. This information will help if the victim later brings a lawsuit.
One who is involved in a motorcycle accident should avoid saying anything that could be considered an admission of fault. Once the motorcycle accident victim retains an attorney, the attorney will speak on the victim's behalf to insurance company representatives and accident investigators.
Recovering Damages after a Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident
In a lawsuit involving a motorcycle accident, the central issue is to assign fault. Those at fault for causing the accident are responsible for paying the victim's monetary damages.
In many cases, fault for the accident rests with just one driver who caused the motorcycle crash. In others, multiple factors may have contributed. By determining who was at fault, a Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer will know who to sue.
One advantage to suing multiple parties is to enhance the victim's likelihood of recovering full damages. For example, if one party does not carry enough insurance to cover the victim's losses, another may be required to pick up the slack.
The victim's motorcycle accident lawyer will investigate to identify all responsible parties. These might include:
- Drivers of other vehicles. Nearly 70 percent of motorcycle accidents are the fault of other drivers. They often do not see the motorcyclist or they follow the motorcyclist too closely, leading to a motorcycle crash.
- State and local governments. Most roads are built and maintained by federal, state or local governments. If the government permits dangerous road conditions to develop, it may be liable for the motorcycle crash injuries and property damage.
- Motorcycle manufacturers. Motorcycle defects contribute to some three percent of motorcycle accidents. If the motorcycle's design caused it to malfunction and contributed to the motorcycle accident, the motorcycle's manufacturer may be legally responsible.
- Motorcycle safety gear manufacturers. A helmet and specially made protective clothing should work as advertised to protect the motorcyclist. If safety gear does not function properly, the motorcyclist may have a legal claim against the gear manufacturer.
The damages that can be recovered for a motorcycle accident will depend on the nature and extent of the victim's injuries. In most cases, the victim will be entitled to recover damages for:
- Medical bills.
- Pain and suffering.
- Lost wages.
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
- Assisted living expenses.
Choosing a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles
Finding the right motorcycle accident lawyer to handle a case in Los Angeles is important to recovering what the victim is due. The accident victim should look for a personal injury lawyer with proven experience in motorcycle accident cases. Experience helps ensure that the Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer is prepared to investigate the claim, retain the right expert witnesses and advocate on the victim's behalf.
The attorneys at The Reeves Law Group have a distinguished record in handling all types of vehicle accident cases, including motorcycle crash claims. The Reeves Law Group has the financial backing to carry each case to its optimum conclusion. The firm's attorneys and support staff treat every client with compassion and respect. For a free consultation about your motorcycle accident case, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or e-mail us.
We have multiple convenient locations serving all of Los Angeles County. The Central Los Angeles office covers Downtown, Mid-Wilshire, Chinatown, Koreatown, Vernon, East Los Angeles, Inglewood, Huntington Park, Bell, South Gate, Florence, Watts, Lynwood, Downey, Montebello, Pico Rivera and Whittier. The Westside Los Angeles office covers Century City, Santa Monica, Westwood, Brentwood, Bel Air, Pacific Palisades, Beverly Hills, West Los Angeles, Hancock Park, Baldwin Hills, Culver City and West Hollywood. The South Bay office covers Torrance, Redondo Beach, Carson, Rancho Palos Verdes, Lomita, Rolling Hills Estates, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Lawndale, El Segundo, Gardena and Hawthorne.