Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Seeking Justice for Injured Bikers

If you enjoy riding your motorcycle around town, you’re not alone. This type of vehicle is known for letting bikers feel free and exhilarated as they make their way to their destination, whether they’re going to work, school, or an event with friends. It can also be a great way to save money on gas.

But the downside is that any accident involving a motorcycle is often tragic because bikers do not have the luxury of safety features like seatbelts and airbags like motorists in cars do. As a result, even a minor collision on your motorcycle can leave you with a catastrophic injury or the loss of a loved one. When the crash was not your fault, you should not have to be the one who pays for medical expenses, motorcycle repairs, and other costs.

Before you pay any of these bills, contact The Weinberger Law Firm to get help filing an insurance claim against the driver who caused the crash. When you reach out to our motorcycle accident lawyer at our Sacramento law offices, you can get the legal advice you will need before pursuing compensation from the at-fault party. Call our law firm today to get started on your claim.

Do You Know What Causes Most Motorcycle Accidents?

Prior to filing an insurance claim, it’s important to determine who caused the accident. No insurance company will pay for a claim without proof that the policyholder caused the crash, which is why you need a lawyer to look at the police reports and accident photos to determine liability. This process will uncover which driver caused the collision and how it happened.

There are several causes of motorcycle accidents. While many crashes are caused by negligence on the part of the person driving the motor vehicle, some are caused by the motorcycle rider. These common mistakes on the road can lead to devastating accidents involving motorcycles:

Dooring, in which the driver of a car accidentally opens their door into the path of an oncoming motorcyclist
Reckless driving or speeding by bikers or motorists
Lane switching, in which a motorist changes lanes without looking and hits a motorcyclist who was in their blind spot
Left-hand turns, where a driver turns in front of a motorcyclist going straight, often because they were distracted or did not see the biker
Defective motorcycle parts, such as a malfunctioning kickstand or tire
Road hazards, including uneven asphalt, poor lighting, or debris in the street
Inclement weather, such as rain, snow, or ice on the road
Rear-end collisions, in which a car hits the back of a motorcycle that has stopped for slower traffic or a red light
Drunk or drowsy driving by the motorcyclist or motorist

If you think any of these common issues led to your wreck, let your motorcycle accident attorney know. They will look at the evidence to either confirm your suspicions or reveal a different cause of the crash. At that point, you will have an idea of who is liable for the wreck so you can proceed with the claim against the other party’s insurance company.

What Are Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries?

Motorcycle accident injuries are often severe, leading to disability or death in many cases. If you’re expected to recover from your wounds, you’re doing better than most victims already. However, just because your injuries aren’t deadly does not mean you should simply move on and forget about your legal options. You deserve to get the money you need to afford your medical expenses, whether they include a hospital stay, major surgery, or years of physical therapy.

At The Weinberger Law Firm, we have handled numerous cases for clients suffering from painful injuries. These are some of the most common wounds we see among injured victims:

Road rash
Broken bones
Whiplash
Facial fractures
Scarring and disfigurement
Limb amputation
Traumatic brain injury
Spinal cord injury
Soft tissue damage
Organ damage
Paralysis

If you’re suffering from these or similar wounds, it’s critical that you get immediate medical care. This might involve an ambulance ride to the emergency room or a visit with your regular doctor. Either way, be sure to get the recommended care as soon as possible. If you are worried about how to pay for it, keep your medical bills or receipts and give them to your personal injury lawyer to include in your claim. Once you hire a lawyer for your insurance claim, you will be on your way to receiving a settlement that will allow you to afford your medical expenses and other costs associated with the wreck, so try not to worry about your financial situation as you work on your physical and emotional healing.

What Should You Do After a Motorcycle Accident?

Your actions immediately following an accident can have a major effect on your personal injury claim, so it’s important to take the right steps after a crash. Your first objective should be to get emergency medical care if you need it, which most bikers do. Whether you’re bleeding, have broken bones, or are suffering from road rash, you need to see a doctor right away. In most cases, witnesses will call the police to get an ambulance on the way for injured motorcycle riders, but if there is no one around after the crash, you may have to do this yourself.

Once the police arrive, all the drivers involved in the wreck will need to fill out a police report detailing what happened. As long as you are feeling well enough to complete this step at the scene of the accident, you should because this is your chance to explain what you experienced. If you saw the driver of the car run a red light before hitting you or noticed they were looking down at their phone, you can mention these details on the police report.

After you fill out the report, take pictures of your injuries and the damage to your motorcycle. If you’re unable to do this due to your injuries from the crash, see if a friend or witness can take pictures of the scene for you. Having photos and videos can greatly help your lawsuit because this evidence can show who was at fault and how the crash occurred. Be sure to get the contact information of witnesses at the scene because their statements about the crash can help your case, as well.

The final step is to call a motorcycle accident lawyer in Sacramento so you can get the assistance you will need with your insurance claim. As soon as you’ve gotten the treatment you need for your injuries, call our law offices to set up a free case evaluation. During your appointment, you can let us know how the accident happened and show us any evidence you gathered at the scene, at which point we will start working on determining liability and calculating damages for you.

What Damages Should You Pursue from the At-Fault Party?

The point of pursuing an insurance claim is to recover compensation for your costs related to the crash. For most motorcycle accident victims, the biggest bills to pay will be for medical treatment, which is why your lawyer will ensure your claim asks for enough money to pay your medical bills. After all, you might be facing bills for the following and more:

Ambulance ride
Hospital copay
Doctor visit copays
Prescription medications
Physical therapy sessions
Medical devices
Surgery

Whether you already got the necessary treatment or will need ongoing care for years, your settlement should provide you with enough to pay for all medical expenses. But that’s just the beginning, as your claim will likely request additional damages. For instance, if you need a new motorcycle after the crash, the property damage portion of your claim should get you sufficient money to buy a new bike.

If you had to spend weeks or months out of work due to your injuries, your lawyer will also ensure you get money for your lost wages. Otherwise, you might find it difficult to pay your bills when you’re missing money from your paycheck, and you should not have to worry about financial issues as you recover from your wounds. If your motorcycle accident injuries are so severe that you can no longer work, you can also recover compensation for lost earning capacity.

If you lost a loved one in the crash, you can file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company. This way, you can get compensation to cover their medical bills, funeral expenses, pain and suffering, and any income you were depending on them to earn. Your lawyer can also request non-economic damages for you, which might include money to make up for your emotional pain, mental anguish, pain and suffering, and more. You will find out which damages to pursue after you and your lawyer discuss your case.

Should You Hire a Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?

If the idea of getting help with financial recovery as you heal is appealing to you, it’s time to contact a skilled motorcycle accident lawyer in Sacramento. At our law offices, you can get legal guidance from a compassionate attorney who would be happy to help with your motorcycle accident case.

At The Weinberger Law Firm, we have years of experience guiding accident victims toward the compensation they deserve. As soon as you meet with our legal team, we will collect and review the evidence to determine fault and calculate the damages you are owed. We know you are likely in pain right now and are worried about how you will pay for your medical expenses and more, so we’re committed to taking on your legal needs while you work on recovering at home. Call our law offices at 916-520-0476 to set up a free consultation today.