According to the National Highway Traffic Safety and Administration, the number of deadly motorcycle accidents in the United States dropped by 3 percent in 2017 to 5,172. However, motorcycle riders are still overrepresented in traffic fatalities.

Unfortunately, many motorcycle injuries and deaths occur in California. This is mainly because California has the country’s largest registered motorcyclists. Statistics show that 28% of California motorcycle riders killed in 2017 were drunk. In addition to thousands of injuries, approximately 500 motorcyclists were killed in wrecks in California.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted an exhaustive assessment of the types and severity of injuries suffered in motorcycle accidents. The study included over one million motorcyclists treated in emergency rooms fofor seven years. The results of the study indicate the following:

• Thirty percent of injuries were to the leg and foot area
• Twenty-two percent of the motorcyclists reported injuries to their head or neck to some degree in these areas

Examples of these injuries may include:

• Back injury
• Bone fractures
• Facial lacerations
• Joint injury
• Loss of a limb
• Neck injury
• Organ damage
• Paralysis
• Spinal cord injury
• Traumatic brain injury or head wound

If you or a loved one suffered one, or a combination, of the injuries described above, you need to contact an experienced Fairfield motorcycle accident attorney to discuss your legal options.

If you decide to file an injury claim against the negligent party’s insurance company, you can pursue financial restitution for the following harms and losses:

• Incurred medical expenses (e.g., ER bill, ambulance bill, etc.).
• Future medical expenses (e.g., rehabilitative care, medications, etc.).
• Lost wages due to time missed from work (including any vacation time you opt to use during your recovery).
• Pain and suffering (i.e., emotional and psychological harms associated with the wreck).

Watch the YouTube below to find out more about motorcycle accidents.

It is recommended you, at the very least, speak to a Fairfield motorcycle accident lawyer to get a complete understanding of your legal options. Contacting a lawyer is a no-risk, high-reward proposition. It is no risk because most personal injury lawyers in and around Fairfield provide prospective clients free, no-obligation initial consultations. This means that you do not need to move forward if you do not like what you hear. If you like what you hear, you can hire an attorney and proceed with the injury claim process.

Selecting the right attorney for your motorcycle accident case can feel overwhelming. Lawyer ads are everywhere – television, public transit buses, billboards, etc. The best strategy is to do your due diligence by evaluating the following traits of any lawyer you meet:

• the lawyer shows compassion and sensitivity to your particular situation
• the lawyer takes the care and time to explain your legal options and how the injury claim process generally works
• the lawyer has a positive reputation in the legal community (you can verify this on third-party lawyers rating websites such as Avvo and Justia)
• the lawyer has experience representing clients injured in motorcycle accidents

According to California Civ. Proc. §335.1, an injured party has two years from the date of the harm to file a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent party. If you attempt to file a lawsuit after two years, your case will likely get thrown out of court. Do not let this happen. Take legal action sooner rather than later.

The circumstances of each case are different, which is why there is no definitive answer to this question. However, most personal injury cases do, in fact, settle outside of court. As the client, you retain the right to approve or deny any settlement offer made by the insurance company. Your lawyer will offer their advice and counsel, but the decision to settle is ultimately up to you.

A motorcycle accident can result in the rider suffering severe, debilitating injuries that may affect them for the rest of their lives. This is why you need a lawyer who is on your side and will work to pursue maximum compensation.

Hurt in a motorcycle crash in Fairfield, CA, or elsewhere in Solano County? Our experienced Fairfield accident attorneys can help you obtain the personal injury settlement you deserve. Contact our legal team today for free, friendly case advice at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400.

We’ve been helping residents in Fairfield and their family members since 1982. We handle cases involving wrongful death or serious personal injuries.

Learn more about us. See our past verdicts and settlements.