Folsom Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Our area, well known for its natural beauty and scenic views, allows motorcycle riders to experience the great outdoors differently. Motorcycles are also more fuel-efficient, adding to their appeal. As a result, many residents and visitors to Northern California enjoy traveling by motorcycle.

However, motorcycle riders are more prone to suffering serious injuries if they are involved in a collision due to their basic lack of protection. Many riders suffer brain or other injuries that may take significant time to heal correctly.

Why Should Motorcycle Accident Victims Always Hire an Attorney to Help Them File a Claim?

As a result, motorcyclists injured by negligent drivers are often unable to return to work and are left dealing with lost wages, expensive medical bills, and emotional distress. Unfortunately, many insurers blame motorcyclists for causing accidents to try to reduce payouts so that they do not affect the company’s profitability.

The Weinberger Law Firm is passionately committed to helping motorcycle accident victims seek maximum compensation for their injuries. If you or a family member have been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact our legal team to schedule a free consultation. Our Folsom motorcycle accident attorney will gladly review your case and determine what legal strategies suit your needs.

Why Do Motorcycle Crashes Occur in the Folsom Area?

Motorcycle crashes can occur anywhere and without warning. Sadly, Folsom and Sacramento County see their fair share of motorcycle accidents, resulting in serious injuries. Distracted driving is one of the most significant risks motorcyclists face from other drivers.

Even though California law prohibits drivers from using hand-held devices or texting while driving, many motorists ignore these laws, which can result in rear-end collisions and side-swipe accidents with motorcycles.

Other issues caused by other drivers that are problematic for motorcyclists include:

Hit-and-run drivers
Speeding or reckless driving
Tailgating
Failure to obey traffic laws
Driving while under the influence
Other motorists open car doors in front of unsuspecting motorcyclists

However, one of the greatest risks to motorcyclists is other drivers making left-hand turns at intersections. Motorcycles are often hard to see, and other drivers may not see them approaching or misjudge their speed, leading to a motorcycle crash.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, seek medical attention immediately and contact our Folsom motorcycle accident lawyer to learn how you can file a compensation claim.

What are the Most Frequently Reported Motorcycle Accident Injuries?

Most motorcycle accidents result in riders suffering intense physical pain or life-changing injuries that may impact their ability to return to work or function as they did before the crash. Even with California’s mandatory helmet law, many motorcyclists are left with severe brain injuries

Some commonly reported motorcycle accident injuries include:

Fractured or broken bones
Road rash
Burns
Whiplash
Facial or dental fractures
Injuries to lower extremities
Internal injuries

However, because motorcycles lack the same basic protections that large passenger vehicles provide, such as seatbelts and airbags, many riders suffer catastrophic injuries that can leave them permanently disabled. Catastrophic injuries typically require extensive medical care, which can quickly become a financial burden for victims and their families.

Catastrophic injuries typically include brain and spinal cord injuries as well as amputations, organ loss, and severe burns. Finally, depending on the severity of the crash, many accident victims suffer fatal injuries.

If you have suffered injuries in a motorcycle collision due to someone else’s negligence, you must hire a Folsom motorcycle accident lawyer to help you file a claim to try and recover fair compensation. Please contact The Weinberger Law Firm to discuss your injuries and learn more about our legal services.

How Can I Pursue Compensation After Being Injured in a Motorcycle Accident?

Motorcycle accidents and severe injuries seem to go hand in hand and can leave riders trying to figure out how they will pay for medical expenses and daily living costs.

One of the most important services a motorcycle accident attorney can provide is helping injured clients recover compensation for damages. California law allows accident victims to try to recover economic and non-economic damages due to injury.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are paid to accident victims to reimburse them for out-of-pocket expenses incurred due to injury. Economic damages are those that have a fixed financial value and may include:

Past and future medical bills
Lost wages
Loss of earning potential
Property damage

Additionally, motorcycle accident victims who have suffered severe or catastrophic injuries often require extended or lifelong medical care that can quickly become a financial burden to them and their families. Therefore, if you have suffered severe injuries, it is always best to allow a knowledgeable Folsom motorcycle accident attorney to evaluate a claim and determine a compensation amount that will suit your needs.

Non Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are paid to compensate accident victims for intangible losses that do not have a fixed dollar amount.

As a motorcycle accident victim, you may be able to recover damages that include:

Pain and suffering
Loss of enjoyment of life
Emotional trauma
Permanent disfigurement and scarring

Please contact our Folsom motorcycle accident lawyer today to discuss what damages may be appropriate for your case.

What Do I Need to Do to Protect My Right to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim?

If you are a motorcyclist injured in an accident, you must follow several steps to protect your health and right to file a claim. Failure to follow proper procedures could result in your ability to file a claim and hold the other driver accountable for their actions.

Remain on the accident scene and call 911 to report the accident
Check passengers and others for potential injuries.
Gather evidence at the scene, such as the other driver’s license and insurance information
Take photos and videos of the accident scene that show damage to your motorcycle and other vehicles, lighting, weather, and road conditions, and any other pertinent evidence
Obtain the names and contact numbers of any bystanders who may have witnessed the accident
Seek medical attention immediately to ensure you do not have internal injuries. Seeking medical attention is the best way to have medical documentation that will support an injury claim
Do not post details about the accident on social media, as the insurance company can use your statements against you to deny a claim
Do not agree to speak with the other driver’s insurance company without first consulting with an experienced Folsom motorcycle accident attorney who will advise you of your rights

Our law firm has in-depth experience handling motorcycle accident cases and would be honored to review your claim and help you obtain a fair settlement for your injuries.

Why Should I Not Talk to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company Before Hiring a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?

One of the most critical mistakes that many injury victims make is agreeing to speak to the other driver’s insurance company without hiring an accident lawyer. In such cases, where motorcyclists have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, insurance providers are often more concerned about protecting their financial interests than the well-being of the claimant.

Insurance companies will often contact injury victims quickly after accidents to offer them a quick settlement or ask them to give a recorded statement providing details of the collision. Unfortunately, many accident victims agree to a quick settlement, especially if they are severely injured and unable to work. However, it should be stressed that in most instances, when insurers offer quick financial settlements, they usually do not account for future medical bills and pain and suffering. Although a fast settlement may seem worthwhile, it most likely is in the best interest of the insurance provider and not the injury victim.

Additionally, motorcycle accident victims should never agree to make a recorded statement regarding the accident. Insurance companies have the legal right to use your statement to try and deny or reduce your claim. California follows pure comparative negligence law, meaning if an accident victim is found to be partially to blame for an accident, their settlement can be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to them. As a result, many insurance providers try to look for ways to blame accidents on injured motorcyclists

Instead, it is always best to hire a motorcycle accident attorney who will fight to help you recover the full compensation you deserve.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim for a Fatal Motorcycle Accident?

If you have lost a family member to a fatal motorcycle accident caused by a negligent driver, you may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim to recover compensation. However, there is a specific order in which family members of the deceased may file a claim. California law dictates the following order as to who is eligible to file a wrongful death claim:

A surviving spouse or domestic partner
Children or stepchildren
Parents
A legal representative handling the decedent’s estate

If the deceased has no next of kin, then state intestacy laws allow anyone with a legal claim on the deceased’s estate to file a claim. However, it should be understood that only one person is allowed to file a wrongful death, with any proceeds being split between family members.

Compensation for economic damages in wrongful death in motorcycle accident cases may include:

Funeral and burial expenses
Lost income the deceased could have reasonably earned had they not passed away
Medical bills incurred by the deceased due to their fatal accident

The accident victim’s family may also be able to recover compensation for non-economic damages, which include:

Loss of guidance and companionship
Loss of household services provided by the deceased
Emotional distress

Finally, families generally have two years under California’s statute of limitations to file a wrongful death claim. However, if government agencies are involved, the time may be shortened to 6 months.

What Makes Your Personal Injury Law Firm the Right Choice to Handle My Personal Injury Case?

The Weinberger Law Firm is passionately committed to helping motorcycle accident victims and their families pursue compensation for their injuries along with pain and suffering. When you come to us for help with your motorcycle accident claim, we will work to determine what legal strategies best suit your needs.

Our legal team recognizes that injured victims need time to focus on recovery and not have to worry about dealing with the insurance company. For these reasons, we will act as your liaison with the insurance provider to ensure you are treated fairly and recover maximum compensation for damages.

Unlike other Folsom motorcycle accident lawyers who need more experience, our law firm has been serving Folsom and Sacramento County since 1991. We have a proven record of getting clients the results they need to face the future with confidence.

Contact The Weinberger Law Firm at 916-520-0476 today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to learn more about our legal services and how we can help.