Motorcycle collisions can be life-altering, and their physical, mental, and financial complications can be overwhelming. Thankfully, you don’t have to deal with the aftermath of a motorcycle collision alone. Speak with a motorcycle accident lawyer in Santa Rosa and, depending on the situation, they can help you pursue compensation from any liable parties.
The legal team at Omega Law Group Accident & Injury Attorneys has decades of combined experience. Our Santa Rosa personal injury lawyers know the legal challenges that can come up in a motorcycle collision claim or lawsuit. We want to help you overcome these challenges and make informed legal decisions at every stage of your case.
Let our personal injury attorneys work toward a fair settlement and seek justice on your behalf as part of an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit. For more information, schedule a free case consultation.
Why Partner with a Lawyer for Your Motorcycle Accident Case in Santa Rosa, California?
Partner with a motorcycle accident attorney in Santa Rosa to serve as your legal advocate and representative. As you proceed with an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit, your lawyer can help you in several ways, such as:
- Case investigation. Expect your attorney to review traffic camera footage or surveillance footage of your crash, interview witnesses who saw the incident, and do other things to investigate. This can help your lawyer identify any at-fault parties and lay the foundation for your legal strategy.
- Evidence collection. Your lawyer can collect witness statements, police reports, crash scene photos, medical bills, and other evidence to use in your argument. Their collection of proof can help your attorney prove causation and negligence.
- Settlement negotiations. Before your case reaches trial, your attorney can engage in settlement negotiations with an at-fault party or their insurance company. If an offer is made, you’ll have the opportunity to assess the proposal with your lawyer prior to deciding on it.
- Trial representation. If a trial is needed, your lawyer is ready to argue your case in front of a judge or jury. At this time, your attorney can explain to a judge or jury how the defendant acted negligently and why you deserve compensatory damages.
Omega Law Group offers FAQs and other legal resources to those debating whether to file a motorcycle crash claim or lawsuit. We can discuss your case with you, detail your legal options, and help you decide whether now is the right time to take legal action against anyone responsible for your motorcycle wreck and injuries. Contact us today.
Types of Compensation Available in Motorcycle Accident Cases in Santa Rosa
Your Santa Rosa motorcycle accident lawyer wants you to recover economic and non-economic damages. They can evaluate your losses to help you determine what damages you can get after a motorcycle accident. Such damages can include:
- Pain and suffering: In some cases, you can be compensated for physical discomfort, emotional distress, or other pain and suffering relating to your injuries. Your attorney can give you information about how pain and suffering damages are calculated and how to recover them.
- Medical expenses: Track what you spend to care for your road rash, concussion, broken bones, and other injuries. Your attorney can incorporate your medical expenses into your supporting evidence, strengthening your case for damages for your current and future medical costs.
- Loss of income: If a spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic brain injury (TBI), or another catastrophic injury prevents you from working, your attorney can pursue damages for your lost wages.
- Motorcycle repair or replacement costs: Share your motorcycle repair or replacement estimate or bills with your attorney. This helps your lawyer understand the severity of your vehicle damage and account for your repair or replacement expenses in your argument.
Under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, if you are injured in a motorcycle crash and someone else is liable, you generally have two years to sue for these and other compensatory damages. If you lose a family member in a fatal motorcycle collision and are eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit, you typically have two years from the date of death to sue.
Have you been involved
in a motorcycle wreck?
Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Santa Rosa are here to help.
(310) 526-8383
Who Is Responsible for a Motorcycle Accident?
The party responsible for your accident depends on the facts of the incident. Your Santa Rosa motorcycle accident attorney can perform an investigation as they look to identify any responsible parties. Below are some of the parties that can potentially be held liable for your accident:
- Motorist
- Truck driver
- Trucking company
- Cargo loader
- Construction company
- Vehicle manufacturer
- Vehicle parts manufacturer
- Mechanic
- Government entity
California operates under a pure comparative negligence system. This means that even if you are partially at fault for a motorcycle accident, you still have the opportunity to recover compensation. Your personal injury attorney can explain this system and teach you about the 4 C’s of negligence and how these can apply to your case.
How to Prove Negligence
Your personal injury attorney is familiar with California’s motorcycle laws and how they affect riders statewide. They can use their knowledge of these laws as they develop an argument intended to prove that a party breached their duty of care to you and caused your motorcycle accident, injuries, and damages.
If your lawyer argues your case in court, they want to show a judge or jury that the defendant committed a negligent act. They can provide the court with a timeline of your motorcycle collision and describe how the defendant’s breach of duty led to you getting hurt and incurring losses.
Your attorney can utilize a wide range of evidence in your argument. If your lawyer has relevant proof, it can become exceedingly challenging for a responsible party to contest your case against them.
Injured in a motorcycle crash?
Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Santa Rosa are here to help.
(310) 526-8383
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident, and Why It’s Important to Hire a Lawyer as Soon as Possible
After a motorcycle accident, call 911 and move your vehicle to a safe spot away from traffic if possible. If medical personnel come to the scene, let them evaluate and treat your injuries. You should also talk with the police, but you shouldn’t accept responsibility for the incident.
Beyond these things, you should get the contact, driver’s license, and insurance information of other motorists involved in your accident. If any witnesses saw the accident, you should get their contact information as well. Next, you should report your accident to your insurance company, as this can start the claims process.
If you are involved in a motorcycle accident, remember, you have access to guidance and support. Motorcycle accident lawyers in Santa Rosa can assist you as you deal with the ramifications of the incident. They want you to prioritize your accident recovery while they help you file your claim or lawsuit and build your case for compensatory damages.
Hurt in a
motorcycle accident?
(310) 526-8383
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accident attorneys in Santa Rosa understand the many reasons why riders get into crashes due to others’ negligence. Here’s a look at some of the common causes of accidents involving motorcyclists:
- Driver negligence: Distracted driving, speeding, and failing to yield are leading causes of motorcycle accidents.
- Impaired driving: Drivers who are operating their vehicles under the influence of either alcohol or drugs can pose a major threat to motorcyclists.
- Road hazards: Uneven pavement, potholes, and debris can easily destabilize a motorcycle, resulting in a crash.
- Weather conditions: Fog, rain, sleet, and snow can make the roads more slippery than usual, which can increase your risk of getting into a motorcycle accident.
- Lack of visibility: Motorcycles are smaller than cars, making them less visible on the road. This lack of visibility often leads to collisions, especially at intersections.
To help you achieve a favorable outcome in your case, reach out to a motorcycle accident law firm in Santa Rosa. A lawyer with experience handling personal injury cases of this nature can craft an argument designed to prove negligence and illustrate to a judge or jury why damages are warranted.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries and How They Can Impact Your Case
As a motorcyclist, you follow the rules of the road and take other measures to operate your vehicle safely. Regardless, you have no control over others’ actions that can cause accidents and injuries. Ultimately, the injuries that a motorcyclist sustains in an accident tend to be serious. Among the most common motorcycle accident injuries that riders sustain are:
- Brain injuries: Even if you’re wearing a helmet, head injuries are still common, and they can result in brain damage that causes long-term disabilities.
- Spinal injuries: These injuries can lead to paralysis. Whether you’re partially or completely paralyzed, these injuries can severely impact your quality of life.
- Broken bones: Fractures in the arms, legs, ribs, and collarbones are frequently reported by victims of motorcycle collisions.
- Road rash: Painful abrasions can happen when you slide across the pavement, and recovering from this type of injury may require you to get skin grafts.
- Internal injuries: Damage to your organs can result in internal bleeding, which is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate attention.
- Extremity injuries: Crush injuries, amputations, or severe soft tissue damage from accidents can affect muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
- Facial and dental injuries: Facial nerve damage from an accident can result in permanent numbness or paralysis of facial muscles. Meanwhile, dental injuries like chipped teeth and jaw fractures from an accident can impact your appearance and disrupt speech and ability to eat.
- Chest and rib injuries: The chest is vulnerable in an accident, especially if a rider is struck by another vehicle. Outside of chest trauma, rib injuries can make it difficult to breathe and restrict mobility.
- Pelvic injuries: In a high-impact crash, a pelvic injury can occur, and this can lead to damage to the bladder, reproductive organs, and major blood vessels.
- Psychological trauma: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and other psychological trauma from an accident can cause a rider to become fearful of riding or traveling as a passenger in other types of vehicles.
Santa Rosa motorcycle accident lawyers want you to continue to care for these and other injuries you’ve suffered because of another party’s negligence for the duration of your case. As you do, your attorney can explore many legal avenues as they try to get you the optimal case results.
Get Our Santa Rosa Motorcycle Accident Attorneys on Your Side
What you do after a motorcycle crash caused by someone else can have far-reaching effects on you and your family. Ask for help from motorcycle crash lawyers in Santa Rosa, and they can help you take the first step to request compensation from the liable party through a claim or lawsuit.
At Omega Law Group, we strive to always put our clients first. Our motorcycle collision lawyers can assess your case and guide you through the process of filing a claim or lawsuit. Plus, any time you have legal concerns or questions, we want to address them right away.
Trust us to help you with your motorcycle collision case. Our attorneys are dedicated to providing our clients with a high level of personalized support. To learn more, request a free consultation.
