The area around Waterford in Stanislaus County offers some great opportunities for motorcyclists, from the Turlock State Recreational Area along State Route 132 to many other popular motorsports areas in the region. Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents caused by negligent drivers or poor roadway maintenance can lead to severe injuries, hospitalization, and other losses, as well as the pain and suffering you experience. When this happens, an injury lawyer can help you get compensation.

To set up a free consultation with a motorcycle accident lawyer serving Waterford, California, call our personal injury law firm at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400.

At AutoAccident.com, we’ve helped many motorcyclists since 1982 in obtaining compensation to cover all of their medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering after being injured by a negligent driver or other entity. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to review your case, answer your questions, and tell you the options to recover damages. I even wrote the California Motorcycle Accident Handbook, which answers questions riders ask after an injury accident. Additional information is available on our website.

Motorcycle riders often take a bad rap because of all those old movies that portray them in a negative light. Nothing could be further from the truth. Most riders are responsible citizens and find motorcycle riding practical, enjoyable, and convenient. The last thing they want to do is be involved in an accident, where they could face serious injuries or become fatality.

Combatting these false assumptions by insurance companies and juries is what we do. Biased perceptions and incorrect information can affect the outcome of a claim, and we know how to combat that.

Because of the lack of protection in an accident, a motorcycle rider can suffer serious injuries such as:

• Bone fractures: A collision with a motor vehicle can cause severe bone fractures to a motorcycle rider. Wrists and ankles are common locations that can prevent the rider from working and require surgical repair.
• Traumatic brain injuries: Although wearing a protective helmet significantly lowers the risk of a TBI, they still occur in some cases. In a severe TBI, the patient may be unable to continue working and suffer extreme cognitive changes, which require around-the-clock care.
• Spinal cord injuries: An injury to the spinal cord can result in temporary or permanent paralysis. This results in disability and the need for a caretaker to perform everyday tasks.
• Road rash: Severe road rash can remove layers of skin, requiring grafts to repair and embed dirt, gravel, and other debris, leading to infection.
• Abdominal trauma: Injury to the abdomen can result in internal bleeding or organ damage, which can be life-threatening. Abdominal trauma often requires emergency surgical repair and can result in a drawn-out time to heal.
• Facial trauma: This may range from broken teeth to a fractured jaw, cheek, or eye socket, lacerations that result in scarring or disfigurement, and other injuries. In cases where plastic surgery is needed, insurance usually doesn’t cover it. Placing a compensation claim can help you recover the money needed to make these repairs.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that, more than 5,000 motorcycle riders were killed in accidents in 2019. The statistics show that a motorcyclist is not only 29 times more likely to become a fatality in a crash but also four times more apt to sustain injuries. Some of the ways that a rider can help avoid a motorcycle accident and resulting injuries are:

• A rider can help prevent traumatic brain injuries and head and facial trauma by always wearing a DOT-approved full-face helmet. If the rider has been in an accident or the helmet is five years old, it’s time to replace it.
• A conspicuous rider is less likely to be involved in an accident. Bright colors and adding reflective elements to clothing and the bike can help. If you think a nearby motorist might not have seen you, honk to let them know you’re there.
• Stay alert to your surroundings, including bad patches on the road, potholes, and other hazards.
• Wear protective gear such as leather pants and a jacket, and don’t forget to wear boots and gloves to add an extra layer of protection.
• Use extra caution at intersections where traffic is converging from all directions. This is an especially hazardous location for a motorcycle accident.
• Use caution lane-splitting. Never lane-split when traffic moves at higher speeds; watch out for drivers attempting to change lanes.
• Take a motorcycle safety course, even if you’re an experienced rider. You might even get a discount on your insurance, which makes it well worth it.
• Never speed or drink and ride. Forty percent or more riders die in a motorcycle accident because they have been drinking, and speeding is involved in one-third of all fatal accidents.

Related articles by Waterford motorcycle attorney Ed Smith:

• Valuing Your Motorcycle Accident Injury
• California Motorcycle Rider Rights
• Overview of Motorcycle Accidents

Watch the following video to understand why it’s a good idea to hire an injury lawyer to handle your motorcycle accident case:

When you’ve been injured in a motorcycle collision with a negligent driver or entity, you might benefit from the advice of a California personal injury attorney. Call our experienced Waterford motorcycle accident lawyers at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice. We can also be reached online. During your free consultation, we will review your case to see if you can place a claim, answer your questions, and let you know what options are available to recover compensation.

^{Editor’s Note: updated 11.21.23 Photo attribution: Image by Albrecht Fietz from Pixabay cd [984]}