Turlock is the second biggest city in Stanislaus County, California, and has been popular with motorcyclists for many years. Whether you use a motorcycle to commute to work or just enjoy the sunshine and scenic beauty of the area, it brings a certain amount of risk.

According to statistics by the Insurance Information Institute, more than 5,000 motorcycle riders died in collisions in 2018, and riders had a death rate 27 times higher than those in passenger vehicles. About 89% of all motorcycle deaths happen in good weather conditions.

Motorists and their lawyers frequently blame the number of bikes on the road and motorcyclist negligence for increasing accidents. This type of argument is used in defense of an at-fault motorist. Another argument often used in court is the misperception of bikers as reckless to urge juries to decide in favor of the motorist. Some of these false arguments include:

• Motorcyclists do not have the same rights as motorists: The opposite is true. Riders have the right to be present on the highways and urban streets just as much as motorists do. They abide by the same rules as motorists and have the same rights.
• Motorcyclists cause accidents: Most riders obey the rules of the road, which is a common misperception of bikers hailing back to movies. They suffer injuries because they do not have the protection afforded by steel and safety devices common on motor vehicles.

Having an experienced motorcycle accident attorney in Turlock on your side is essential. The attorney should be able to instruct the jury to refrain from linking recklessness with motorcyclists. Instead, the lawyer should be able to show them that riding a motorcycle is not necessarily dangerous. Instead, it often takes a negligent motorist to cause the motorcycle crash. Jurors must leave their own prejudices outside of the jury box.

Below are the top reasons why motorcycle accidents happen:

• Drivers fail to see motorcycles: This is one of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents. It is partly because the bike is smaller and hard to see. However, this is not the entire case. The brain processes information in a certain way, weeding out what it thinks is unnecessary. Because of this, the human brain may think that seeing other motor vehicles is more important than seeing a motorcycle, so it takes the motorcyclist out of the picture. This is called inattentional blindness and is responsible for many motorcycle accidents.
• Distracted driving: This is the number one cause of accidents today. Motorcyclists are often injured by a motorist texting, talking on a cell phone, or attending to the GPS monitor.
• Drunk drivers: an intoxicated driver cannot rely on cognitive skills when driving.
• Judging how fast a motorcycle moves: Drivers often fail to correctly evaluate how fast a bike travels. This impacts their knowing whether or not they can safely make a turn.
• Tailgating a motorcycle: Many drivers follow a motorcycle too closely, leading to a rear-end accident. This is a problem since motorcyclists can stop much quicker than motor vehicles. Rear-ending a bike can lead to devastating injuries to the rider.
• Obstacles or debris in the road: Motorcyclists are injured by various road problems or debris. Some of the most common are potholes, cracks in the road, and shoulder drop-offs. If this happens, the government agency in maintenance can be held liable for injuries the motorcyclist suffers. Consult your Turlock motorcycle accident lawyer to ensure that your claim is filed before the deadline when a government agency is involved.
• Motorcycle defects: In some instances, design or other defects can result in a motorcycle crash. Manufacturers are held liable in such cases in a product liability lawsuit.

When a fatality or injury occurs, the rider or their family can claim compensation with the help of an experienced Turlock motorcycle accident attorney. Our firm’s founder attorney, Ed Smith, has served motorcyclists in the Turlock area as an experienced personal injury lawyer since 1982 and has seen how devastating a motorcycle accident can be.

Using a holistic approach, our law firm treats clients as family members. An accident, injury, or loss affects the entire family. Getting to know you helps us personalize our approach, and many of our clients stay friends throughout the years. Our legal team offers free consultations when you call us for free, friendly advice regarding your potential motorcycle accident injury claim.

Watch the following video to learn why insurance companies make lowball settlement offers to injured motorcyclists:

Don’t get caught in a situation where the insurance company tries to renege on its responsibility to you after a motorcycle accident. Far too often, the insurer will try to undercut the settlement amount. This usually happens when motorcyclists try to represent themselves in a personal injury claim.

Injured parties are often caught in a web of financial loss and physical harm and, all too often, are eager to settle. That’s understandable. However, the insurance company knows pushing an inadequate offer is easier when an individual needs to resolve it quickly. They also know that by not waiting until all medical care is completed, the injured person may pay out of pocket for someone else’s negligence.

If you need more treatment after accepting an inadequate offer, the insurance company is no longer required to pay. Talk to your California motorcycle accident attorney before receiving a payment to undercut what you really need.

If you are a motorcyclist injured in a recent crash, our Turlock motorcycle accident attorneys can guide you through the personal injury claims process and recover fair compensation on your behalf. For free, friendly advice on your case today, call (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400.

Since 1982, we have helped Turlock residents in car accidents, wrongful deaths, and traumatic brain injuries. See our Settlements and Verdicts.

^{Editor’s Note: updated for accuracy and relevancy [cha 4.5.23] Image Attribution: Pixabay cd cha [cs 1022]}