Motorcycle riders are at a disadvantage when involved in a traffic collision because they do not have the luxury of the safety features of passenger vehicles. Another problem is that motorcycle riders are sometimes stereotyped as reckless, and all those old biker movies haven’t helped their image much. However, an experienced motorcycle rider who rides defensively and obeys all the traffic laws can still be injured in an accident because of a negligent motorist or entity.

Since 1982, we have successfully handled many injury cases as Madera motorcycle accident attorneys. We understand how to get around jury bias and help injured motorcycle riders deserve compensation. Our firm’s founder, Ed Smith, wrote the California Motorcycle Accident Handbook and tells a rider everything they need to know if they are involved in a collision. It can be read online for free or downloaded on Kindle.

No matter how cautious a motorcyclist is, sometimes accidents happen. This makes riders need to be alert and conspicuous to their surroundings so other motorists can see them. However, it’s difficult for a motorcycle rider to avoid an accident at times, no matter how careful they are. Some of the most common reasons for a collision that involves a motorcyclist include:

• Drunk drivers: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drunk drivers cause more than 10,000 yearly fatalities. Poor reflexes, bad judgment, and other conditions lead to many accidents with a motorcycle.
• Bad road conditions: Although many motorcyclists are cautious when going out in rainy or snowy weather, that doesn’t mean that drivers of passenger vehicles are. Speeding, tailgating, and other negligent acts can cause a collision that is not the rider’s fault.
• Dooring accidents: Motorists and passengers who open a car door without checking to see if someone is coming can cause this type of collision.
• Misjudging distances: In one of the most common motorcycle accidents, a motorist decides to make a turn and ends up in the rider’s path.
• Lane splitting: A motorcyclist may be cautious while lane splitting, but a motorist might change lanes without looking or blocking a rider from passing their vehicle.
• Blind spots: Motorists sometimes forget to check their blind spots before changing lanes. This is especially a problem if the blind spots of their vehicles are wide, leading to a motorcycle accident.

Injuries from a motorcycle accident are often severe, resulting in fatalities. Some of the injuries a motorcycle rider is likely to suffer include:

• Broken bones: Whether crashing the motorcycle against a motor vehicle, the roadway, an object, or being ejected from it, broken bones are a common occurrence that can cause severe fractures.
• Road rash: Sliding along the pavement, gravel, or other surfaces can lead to serious road rash injuries, cuts, bruises, and abrasions.
• Traumatic brain injuries: Head trauma from a motorcycle accident can be severe, especially if the rider isn’t wearing an appropriate helmet. In their more severe forms, those suffering from TBIs can require lifetime care and have permanent brain damage.
• Spinal cord damage: Spinal cord damage can end up causing partial or complete paralysis, which is incurable and means the injured person loses their quality of life. Many spinal cord injuries occur due to a traffic accident, with about 48 occurring daily.
• Amputations: Crush injuries incurred in a motorcycle accident can result in the loss of digits or an upper or lower limb when it cannot be saved. This can affect the quality of life and earn a living in the future. A motorcycle accident lawyer in Madera County, CA, can help injured bikers obtain financial compensation for their damages.
• Fatalities: Many motorcycle accidents result in the rider’s death, leaving a grieving family who has lost their means of support. In these cases, the family members supported by the deceased loved one may place a wrongful death claim to recover damages.

The following video discusses some of the most common motorcycle accidents.

When you have been hurt in a traffic collision caused by someone else’s negligence, seeking legal representation from a top-rated Madera motorcycle accident law firm is essential as soon as possible. This is so the evidence to support your claim can be gathered before it disappears or is covered up. An investigation into a motorcycle accident injury claim includes:

• The investigators go to the site immediately to talk to witnesses and check for errors in the police report.
• They perform accident reconstruction, which shows the placement of the vehicles and can indicate driver errors such as speeding or distracted driving.
• The investigators searched for traffic surveillance and business cameras that may have caught the collision on video.
• They check to see if the vehicle driver was committing a traffic infraction, such as being drugged, drunk, or other offenses.
• Road defects such as missing signs, potholes, crumbled shoulders, and other areas where maintenance has been neglected are checked. If poor road maintenance leads to a motorcycle accident, the government entity in charge might be liable for damages.

Our lawyers build a strong case that favors our client when all the evidence is collected. It can be used in insurance company negotiations or preparing a case in court.

Hurt in a motorcycle crash in Madera, CA? Call our motorcycle accident injury lawyers at AutoAccident.com for free, friendly case advice at (559) 377-7676 or (800) 404-5400. Our legal team will determine if you are entitled to financial compensation and your recovery options.

Since 1982, we’ve successfully handled many cases for Madera residents, including in all kinds of car accidents, truck crashes, wrongful deaths, and to recover damages for traumas such as brain injuries.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 10.16.23] Image by SplitShire from Pixabay cd llo [cs 982]}