A motorcycle accident often results in catastrophic injury or even wrongful death to the motorcyclist. To make matters worse, insurance companies may act quickly to dispute liability for the incident, putting the biker at risk of emotional, physical, and financial hardship. Recovering full and fair compensation for a traffic collision caused by a negligent party or entity often requires working with a skilled Ripon motorcycle accident lawyer.

An experienced lawyer might help you recover the compensation you deserve to get your life back on track if you suffered a severe injury in a crash as a motorcyclist. To learn more, call one of our Ripon motorcycle accident attorneys for free, friendly advice at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400.

When considering a personal injury attorney to handle your claim, you should look for what separates a lawyer. You should think about what type of experience the attorney has with your case. Our personal injury law firm has handled motorcycle accident cases since 1982. Our legal team has the resources, skills, and experience to prove your case and ensure you receive the fair settlement you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about how we can help you obtain justice and financial compensation for your injuries and losses incurred.

Some of the most common reasons for motorcycle collisions include the following:

• Distracted driving, such as talking or texting on a cell phone while driving
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI)
• Dooring, which involves opening a door in a motorcyclist’s direct path
• Failure to yield the right of way to motorcycle riders
• Not paying attention to bikers on the road
• Speeding or driving too fast for weather or traffic conditions

During a motor vehicle collision, bikers risk sliding across the pavement, being ejected, and getting run over by oncoming vehicles or motorcycles. Because of this, motorcycle riders may suffer traumatic injuries such as:

• Amputations
• Broken bones
• Disfigurement and scarring
• Internal trauma
• Road rash
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)

The types of damages sought in a motorcycle accident claim come in three types, as outlined below:

• Economic Damages: Economic or special damages are quantified into a specific value based on direct expenses in a bodily injury claim. They may include past and future costs of medical treatment, lost income from time lost at work, loss of future earnings because of permanent injury or disability, and property damage for the repair or replacement of personal property destroyed in the collision.
• Non-Economic Damages: In a personal injury lawsuit, non-economic or general damages cannot be calculated as intangible. They may include lost enjoyment of life, emotional distress, loss of consortium, mental anguish, and pain and suffering.
• Punitive Damages: In a motorcycle accident case, punitive damages may be sought from the at-fault party to punish them for egregious conduct that caused severe injury or wrongful death. Punitive damages also deter the negligent party and others from similar conduct in the future. Refer to the California Civil Code Section 3294 for additional information.

Specific factors may impact a bodily injury claim and its value. To learn more, watch this video.

Auto insurance is required in California for all motorcyclists. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) lists the following minimum liability limits for a standard auto insurance policy:

• $15,000 in bodily injury liability coverage for one party
• $30,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per auto accident
• $5,000 property damage coverage for each traffic collision

If the at-fault party has insufficient liability coverage or none to cover personal injury damages, there may be recourse for the motorcyclist. If the biker has uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM), their losses may be covered up to their motorcycle insurance policy limits. Contact an experienced motorcycle accident injury attorney in Ripon for additional UM or UIM claims process details.

California law allows claimants a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit in civil court. This time window is known as the statute of limitations. For personal injury or wrongful death cases arising from motorcycle accidents, there is a two-year statute of limitations starting from the incident’s date. This is by the California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1.

Failure to file a lawsuit within the statute of limitations may result in the court’s dismissal of the case. To learn more about the filing deadline and how it impacts your case, contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney in Ripon today.

A motorcyclist’s bodily injury claims process can be challenging, and the same can be said for wrongful death cases. Unfortunately, some parties still hold biases against motorcyclists that negatively paint them as reckless drivers on the road. Auto insurance companies and defense counsel often use such prejudices to shift blame for the incident to the motorcycle rider to reduce the compensation they pay.

Our personal injury law firm knows that most bikers are responsible and cautious on the road, and other drivers are often reckless and careless around motorcyclists. The at-fault party might avoid financial liability for the incident for specific injuries if the claimant was not wearing a helmet or protective gear. However, we know the best way to overcome such defense tactics is to ensure insurers and defense attorneys do not take advantage of our clients.

Our legal team is available anytime to take on your case and work diligently to recover the compensation you rightfully deserve. Contact our law firm today at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400 to schedule a free consultation with one of our motorcycle accident injury lawyers in Ripon regarding your potential case.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 9.1.23] Photo By “SplitShire” via Pixabay ds [cs 1006] cha}