Rio Linda, California, is a popular location to have meetups for motorcyclist enthusiasts to take to the open road. Located just northeast of Sacramento, Rio Linda offers a peaceful lifestyle about two hours from the Red Bluff to Fortuna, run on California Route 36. Route 36 is considered the best road in the state for motorcycle riders, with plenty of twists and turns for 146 miles until you reach the coast. However, with the thrill of the open road comes the danger of a potential accident with a negligent motorist. If you were injured by a negligent driver, a motorcycle accident lawyer in Rio Linda can help you recover the maximum compensation you deserve.

Motorcycle accidents can be devastating and are often due to driver error. However, government negligence can also cause motorcycle accidents. Let’s look at the top reasons motorcycle accidents happen:

• Distraction: As with other types of accidents, distracted driving has become the primary reason a motorcycle/vehicle crash occurs. This is due to our belief that multitasking is essential. While it may be in other activities, multitasking when driving is dangerous. By not focusing on the road, a motor vehicle driver can miss a motorcyclist stopped in front of or next to them or an approaching biker in an intersection.
• Tailgating: In stop-and-go traffic, some reckless drivers find it necessary to follow too closely. When the lead is a motorcycle, this type of driving sets the stage for a catastrophic accident. Without protection, motorcyclists can be thrown from their bikes and seriously injured or killed.
• Inattentional blindness: This results from the brain’s way of processing information. Our brain sorts out the information it deems necessary and can discard. This might be what the brain looks for on the road for drivers. For instance, drivers’ brains tell them to look for stop signs and traffic lights. Their brain tells them to ignore many other details in their visual field. One of these details might be a motorcycle alongside them. This and a motorcycle’s small stature is why so many drivers say they did not see the motorcyclist.
• Drunk driving: This is another common reason motorcycle accidents occur. A drunk driver’s loss of cognitive ability leads to all types of car accidents and motorcycle crashes.
• Head-on collisions: Motorcycle crashes are often due to a car or light truck collision. When this happens, the biker’s lack of protection often leads to a fatality.
• Motor vehicles making a left-hand turn account for 42 percent of all motorcycle/car collisions. In most cases, the car hits the motorcycle, going straight through an intersection or passing the turning motor vehicle. For the most part, turning vehicles that strike a motorcycle are found to be at fault for the crash unless the biker is speeding.
• Dooring accidents happen when a motor vehicle parallel parks and the driver opens the door to exit without looking. A bicyclist can be severely injured when they hit the door.
• Motorcycle defects: Defects can be caused by manufacturer or designer negligence, leading to significant motorcycle accidents. When this happens, it is necessary to file a product liability lawsuit to recover damages.
• Road problems: When a motorcyclist hits a pothole, debris in the road, cracks in the pavement, or a shoulder drop-off, the risk of injury is high. Government agencies are charged with maintaining the road; if they are negligent, they can be held liable for the biker’s injury. There are different time limits for filing against a government agency. Talk to your motorcycle accident attorney in Rio Linda to ensure your claim is filed in time.

The most common injuries suffered by a motorcyclist are:

• Traumatic brain injury: Twenty-five percent of all injuries are due to head and neck accidents. Striking the head on the pavement can have devastating consequences for the motorcyclist. Fortunately, helmets are capable of preventing severe head injuries and deaths.
• Lower extremity injuries: Thirty percent of motorcyclist injuries affect the legs. Besides the fact that the legs usually make initial contact with the pavement, if the bike falls over, chances are high it will come to rest on the legs. Fractures are common.
• Spinal cord injury: In a motorcycle accident, spinal cord injuries are common, even if the biker wears a helmet. Helmets are not made to protect the neck. Such injuries can cause paralysis and require long rehabilitation and continuing care.
• Chest injuries: Approximately one-seventh of all motorcycle accidents result in chest injuries. This is a problem since the bony structure of the thorax houses the heart and lungs. Occasionally, a broken rib can puncture either organ, causing life-threatening injury.
• Lacerations and road rash: Both injuries can cause problems for the biker. They usually happen when the biker is thrown off the motorcycle and slides on the pavement. The biggest problem the biker faces is infection.

The video below discusses the statistics regarding motorcycle accidents.

Having an experienced motorcycle accident attorney from Rio Linda, California, by your side is essential to obtain total compensation for your injury. We immediately sent our investigators to the crash site to collect evidence. Some of the areas in which they investigate include:

• Talking to the witnesses or reviewing their statements can provide eyewitness accounts of the collision.
• The investigators check the police report to ensure that it is accurate.
• The investigators and experts examine the medical records of the rider. It can help determine how the accident occurred and provide information on how much the injured person will need to recover in medical costs.
• They look at the driving record of the at-fault motorist for past offenses such as drunk or distracted driving.
• Roadway and traffic surveillance cameras are sought because they may have captured the accident in real time.
• If government negligence caused the crash, that evidence is documented because the entity in charge can be held liable.

When everything has been compiled, checked, and double-checked, it is handed to our legal team at AutoAccident.com. They use the data to prepare a strong case for compensation with the insurance provider or present in court.

When you’re injured in a motorcycle crash, you can face high medical bills and lose time at work in addition to your pain and suffering. We may be able to help if you call us for free and friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. You are invited to check out our Verdicts and Settlements page.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 9.5.23] Photo Attribution: pexels cd cha [cs 1109]}