Motorcycles represent freedom and fun. However, bikers have little protection from severe injury or death in a collision. Many crashes are caused by the negligence of other drivers, and those parties should be held financially accountable for the costs of medical treatment, lost income, and pain and suffering. Do not let anything, including difficult insurance companies, keep you from receiving the personal injury compensation you deserve. Speak to an injury lawyer who understands the severity of trauma from motorcycle accidents and knows how to overcome all the defense tactics auto insurance carriers use to avoid paying for damages incurred.

When you have been hurt in a motorcycle accident in Ceres, you can rely on our injury attorneys at AutoAccident.com to investigate your case and obtain fair compensation. To get started and receive free, friendly legal advice, call one of our lawyers at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400.

Our Ceres motorcycle accident attorneys represent bikers and passengers hurt in crashes caused by negligent drivers. We also represent families of motorcyclists and passengers who have lost their lives due to the negligence of other drivers. If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a motorcycle collision in the Ceres area or elsewhere in Stanislaus County, contact our law firm to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced lawyers today.

Motorcycle accidents are often the result of driver negligence. This means motor vehicle drivers failed to exercise due care to others on the road, including motorcycle riders. Each negligence claim is comprised of four elements:

• A duty of care
• A breach of that duty through negligence
• An injury or death resulted from the breach
• Damages suffered by the injured party or family of the decedent

When a driver breaches their duty of care and causes a motorcycle accident resulting in severe injury or wrongful death, the at-fault party may be held financially accountable for their wrongdoing. The injured motorcyclist or family of a deceased motorcycle rider may bring a claim with the assistance of an experienced motorcycle accident injury lawyer in Ceres.

Motorcycles provide little protection in a collision, meaning that a biker’s body often absorbs the impact with another vehicle. Unfortunately, this results in the most catastrophic injuries on the spectrum. Some of the top injuries from motorcycle accidents include:

• Broken Bones
• Burn Injuries
• Back and Neck Injuries
• Facial Scarring and Fractures
• Internal Trauma
• Limb Amputations
• Paralysis
• Road Rash
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Wrongful Death

This is not to say that motorcyclists who survive motorcycle crashes can never return to everyday life. However, it may take some time and extensive medical treatment. An experienced injury attorney can help recover the financial compensation needed to pay for motorcycle accident damages incurred.

Determining the value of a motorcycle accident injury claim can be challenging, so many injured bikers seek legal assistance from a skilled attorney. Receiving total and fair compensation is essential to the recovery process after a motorcycle crash. An injured motorcyclist may be compensated for economic, non-economic, and punitive damages for a crash caused by the negligence of another driver or entity.

Economic damages or special damages can be calculated easily as they are based on past and present expenses. When a motorcyclist suffers permanent disability from a crash and requires lifelong care, an attorney will hire an expert, such as an economist, to project future special damages based on ongoing expenses. Economic damages in a motorcycle accident injury lawsuit may include the following:

• Past and Future Medical Expenses
• Lost Wages
• Loss of Future Earnings
• Property Damage

Non-economic or general damages are challenging to evaluate as a dollar value must be placed on a claimant’s emotional suffering and physical pain. Non-economic damages in a motorcycle injury case may consist of:

• Disfigurement
• Loss of Consortium
• Permanent Disability
• Pain and Suffering

Punitive damages may be awarded at the court’s discretion to punish an at-fault party for their egregious actions. Claimants generally receive awards for punitive damages in compliance with California Civil Code Section 3294. Punitive damages may be sought in a motorcycle accident for egregious conduct like DUI or excessive speeding.

California’s statute of limitations, or the time allowed to file a motorcycle accident injury claim, is two years. This filing deadline starts upon the date of the incident, and if a lawsuit is not brought in time or a settlement is not accepted by the insurance company, the case will most likely be dismissed by the court. It would be devastating for an injured motorcyclist to lose out on collecting monetary damages for losses incurred.

An experienced motorcycle accident attorney in Ceres can ensure all filing criteria and deadlines are met in your case. Do not delay seeking needed legal advice and medical treatment. To bring a successful motorcycle injury claim, the evidence must be collected and preserved, and that means contacting an experienced injury lawyer and immediately visiting a doctor after a crash. Failing to seek immediate medical treatment after a motorcycle accident is one of the many factors that may affect the value of a personal injury claim. To learn more, watch the video below.

Motorcycle riders often suffer severe injuries when involved in a collision with another vehicle. The physical, emotional, and financial hardship related to a catastrophic motorcycle injury may easily exceed the amount of bodily injury liability coverage available. If you have been hurt or a loved one was killed in a crash as a rider or passenger, it is essential to work with a Ceres motorcycle accident lawyer who knows how to identify all potential sources of financial compensation, including uninsured/underinsured motorist protection (UM/UIM).

Our attorneys recommend carrying at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident in uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. With a rate of approximately 15.2 percent uninsured drivers in California, according to a recent report by the Insurance Information Institute (III), there is no doubt that UM and UIM coverage is highly beneficial to carry. Some motorcyclists may not know that uninsured motorist coverage may come into play to cover damages from a hit-and-run accident.

At our motorcycle accident law firm, our focus is recovering total and fair compensation for people who have been injured in accidents. By devoting our legal practice to wrongful death and personal injury cases, we can provide those we represent with experienced representation.

Since 1982, we have understood how to overcome insurance companies’ many defense tactics to reduce or deny financial liability. We can explain what you may not know about motorcycle coverage and insurance carriers. We can help determine the fair value of a motorcycle injury case, including the lasting effects of catastrophic injuries or wrongful death, and use this knowledge to protect the rights of those we represent. Contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation and learn how we can help you move forward in the right direction after a life-changing motorcycle accident.

^{Editor’s Note: updated 11.14.23 Photo Source: “SplitShire” via Pixabay ds [cs 1270] cha}