A driver turns left without seeing your motorcycle, and you’re suddenly facing injuries, bike repairs, and weeks away from work. A motorcycle accident lawyer serving Glendale can investigate the collision and help you pursue compensation from those responsible.
Founded in 2016, Omega Law Group Accident & Injury Attorneys is available 24/7 to take calls from injured riders who need answers about their legal options.
Our Glendale personal injury lawyers can review what happened, examine available insurance coverage, and help you determine your next steps. Contact us for a free consultation.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Crash in Glendale
Your health deserves immediate attention following a motorcycle collision. Seek emergency assistance for serious injuries and have a medical professional evaluate concerning symptoms. Head injuries, neck pain, and internal injuries aren’t always recognizable at the scene.
If you can safely remain at the accident scene, take these steps to document what happened:
- Photograph the damage: Capture your motorcycle, other vehicles, road conditions, and visible injuries.
- Exchange information: Collect the other driver’s name, contact details, and insurance information.
- Identify witnesses: Ask anyone who saw the collision for their contact information.
- Preserve your equipment: Keep your damaged helmet, riding gear, and motorcycle available for inspection.
- Document medical care: Save treatment records, bills, prescriptions, and follow-up instructions.
Follow applicable California collision-reporting requirements and notify your insurer as your policy requires. Avoid guessing about fault or injuries when discussing the crash. We can review insurance requests before you provide recorded statements or sign releases.
Common Causes of Glendale Motorcycle Collisions
Motorcycle accidents frequently involve drivers who fail to notice approaching riders. Left-turn collisions, unsafe lane changes, distracted driving, and following too closely can cause serious injuries. These incidents often raise questions about which driver had the right of way.
Glendale’s busy intersections and freeway connections can create situations where drivers overlook motorcycles. A collision near Brand Boulevard or the Ventura Freeway might involve turning vehicles, merging traffic, or limited visibility.
We investigate driver behavior, traffic conditions, and vehicle movements to identify potentially negligent conduct. The circumstances might also support claims involving defective vehicle components, employers, or hazardous road conditions.
How California Lane-Splitting and Fault Rules Affect Your Claim
California permits motorcycle lane splitting, which involves riding between lanes of traffic moving in the same direction. The maneuver must still be performed safely. Speed, visibility, traffic conditions, and surrounding vehicles can influence whether a rider acted reasonably.
California also follows pure comparative negligence. If you contributed to the collision, your percentage of responsibility generally reduces your recoverable damages. For example, a finding of 20% responsibility would typically reduce a $100,000 award to $80,000.
An insurer might argue that your lane splitting or speed caused the crash. Those allegations require evidence. Our Glendale motorcycle accident attorneys can examine witness statements, road conditions, and vehicle damage to evaluate disputed fault.
Injuries That Can Follow a Serious Motorcycle Crash
Motorcyclists have little physical protection when another vehicle strikes them. Fractures, traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, nerve damage, and severe road rash can require extensive medical treatment. Some riders experience lasting pain, reduced mobility, or permanent physical limitations.
Your recovery might involve surgery, rehabilitation, physical therapy, or additional medical appointments. Follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations and report new symptoms. Treatment records can help establish how the collision affected your health and ability to perform everyday activities.
Future medical needs also deserve consideration before settlement. Some injuries require continued care long after the initial hospitalization. Medical opinions can help establish anticipated treatment costs and the extent of lasting limitations.
Evidence That Can Strengthen Your Claim
A motorcycle accident claim depends on evidence showing how the collision occurred and the losses it caused. Witness accounts, photographs, police reports, and vehicle damage can help explain what happened. Nearby surveillance cameras might also have captured the incident.
Additional evidence can help address disputed responsibility and damages:
- Traffic and surveillance footage: Recordings that might show vehicle movements or unsafe driving.
- Accident reconstruction findings: Professional analysis of impact points, road markings, and collision dynamics.
- Medical documentation: Records connecting your injuries to treatment and ongoing care needs.
- Employment records: Pay statements and other documents establishing lost earnings.
- Repair estimates: Information supporting motorcycle damage and replacement costs.
Some evidence becomes harder to obtain as time passes. Businesses might overwrite camera footage, and vehicles could undergo repairs. We can identify important records and pursue preservation requests when appropriate.
Compensation Available After a Motorcycle Collision
A personal injury claim can include medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost income, and reduced earning capacity. You might also recover motorcycle repair expenses and other documented financial losses associated with the collision.
California law permits certain injured riders to pursue damages for pain, emotional distress, and reduced enjoyment of life. However, restrictions can apply to some uninsured vehicle owners or operators and drivers convicted of qualifying DUI offenses.
The amount recoverable depends on your injuries, available insurance, shared responsibility, and applicable legal restrictions. We evaluate supporting records and potential future expenses before assessing settlement offers.
Deadlines and Insurance Issues You Should Not Overlook
California generally gives injured people two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. Exceptions can apply, and negotiations with an insurance company usually don’t extend the deadline.
Claims involving public entities can require an administrative claim within six months. This might apply when a public vehicle or dangerous roadway condition contributed to your injuries. These claims have additional filing requirements.
Insurance policies can impose separate notification and cooperation duties. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage might also apply when another driver lacks sufficient insurance. We can examine applicable coverage, filing requirements, and settlement terms before you make decisions about your claim.
How Our Glendale Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Can Help
We begin by reviewing your account of the collision and the records you’ve collected. Photographs, insurance information, medical documentation, and witness contact details can help identify what additional investigation might be necessary.
Our investigation might involve obtaining surveillance recordings, evaluating vehicle damage, or consulting accident reconstruction professionals. We also review medical expenses, lost earnings, and anticipated care needs to support your claim.
Once the evidence is available, we can evaluate insurance offers and negotiate with responsible parties. If a settlement doesn’t resolve the dispute, litigation might become necessary. We’ll explain the available options and help you decide how to proceed.
Get Answers About Your Motorcycle Accident in Glendale
You might still be recovering from injuries or wondering how long you’ll be unable to work. A motorcycle accident lawyer serving Glendale can review the circumstances, explain your rights, and help you pursue a claim against negligent parties.
At Omega Law Group, our team includes more than 20 attorneys who emphasize individualized attention and direct communication. We can investigate your collision, evaluate your losses, and help you pursue available compensation.
Contact us for a free consultation. We’ll review your concerns and discuss your options for moving forward with your motorcycle accident claim.