Motorcycle accidents aren’t uncommon in Bakersfield. In fact, approximately 1 out of every 6 traffic accidents in the city involves a motorcyclist. The consequences of these accidents can be devastating, often resulting in serious physical, emotional, and financial injuries.
Have you been involved in a motorcycle accident? Contact Bakersfield Personal Injury Law to learn about your legal rights and options. You may have the right to obtain compensation if someone else is to blame. Our Bakersfield personal injury attorneys can help you fight for the money you deserve. Your first consultation is free, so call to get started today.
Contents
- 1 Why You Should File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit
- 2 How Our Bakersfield Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Will Help
- 3 Bakersfield Motorcycle Accident Statistics
- 4 Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Bakersfield
- 5 Causes of Bakersfield Motorcycle Accidents
- 6 Compensation Available to Motorcycle Accident Victims in Bakersfield
- 7 Don’t Panic If You’re Partly Responsible For Your Motorcycle Accident
- 8 Time Limit For Filing a Bakersfield Motorcycle Accident Claim
- 9 Need Help?
Why You Should File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit
Riding a motorcycle can be fun and exciting, but it can also be incredibly dangerous. Motorcyclists are 5 times more likely to be seriously injured and 28 times more likely to die in an accident than other motorists.
If you’ve been involved in a crash, you’re likely dealing with very painful physical injuries. It can take time to recover and get back on your feet. Unfortunately, you may not be able to work during this time. A limited income can really affect your ability to not only take care of your day-to-day expenses, but also rising medical bills. Many injured riders will face tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars, in accident-related costs.
If someone else is responsible for your accident, you don’t have to deal with these consequences on your own. You have the right to demand compensation. Filing a lawsuit can allow you to recover the money you need after your motorcycle accident.
How Our Bakersfield Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Will Help
While you can pursue compensation on your own, it’s best to work with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Here’s why you should call Bakersfield Personal Injury Law for help after your motorcycle accident:
- Insurance companies don’t want you to hire a lawyer; they’ll do everything they can to prevent you from getting the money you deserve.
- You might not realize that more than one person is liable for your injuries.
- Others involved in your motorcycle crash will try to place the blame on you.
- You may not know how much your motorcycle accident case is worth.
Since 2005, our attorneys have helped accident victims in California recover millions in compensation for their injuries. Call our law firm today to find out how we can help you, too.
Bakersfield Motorcycle Accident Statistics
Bakersfield has some of the busiest roads in Kern County. Motorcyclists and other drivers log more than 4.3 million miles on Bakersfield roads every day. As traffic has increased, so has the number of motorcycle crashes. Despite a decline in recent years, the number of injury-causing and fatal motorcycle accidents in Bakersfield is still alarmingly high.
- 2012: 58 motorcycle crashes
- 2013: 58 motorcycle crashes
- 2014: 84 motorcycle crashes
- 2015: 77 motorcycle crashes
- 2016: 65 motorcycle crashes
Reports for more recent years indicate that motorcycle accidents are still happening frequently in Bakersfield.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Bakersfield
Motorcyclists are more likely than others to be injured or killed in an accident. In fact, 80 percent of all motorcycle accidents cause some type of injury. Our attorneys have successfully helped crash victims recover compensation for a wide range of injuries, including:
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue damage
- Brain injury
- Spinal cord damage
- Crushing injuries
- Burns
- Amputation
- Paralysis, and more.
If you’ve been injured in a crash, we can help. Call today to request a free case assessment.
Causes of Bakersfield Motorcycle Accidents
Many factors can contribute to a motorcycle accident. These are the leading causes of motorcycle crashes in Bakersfield:
Speeding: Accidents are more likely to happen when motorcyclists or other drivers exceed the speed limit. In 2016, speed was a factor in 17 percent of all traffic accidents.
Lane splitting: Lane splitting, or riding between two lanes of traffic, isn’t illegal in California. However, it can be very dangerous. Drivers of larger vehicles may not see motorcyclists, which can increase the chances of a collision.
Failure to yield: California has strict rules about which motorist has the right of way, and when. Unfortunately, many drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists aren’t fully aware of these traffic laws. Failing to yield the right of way leads to many serious accidents.
Riding at night: It’s often more difficult to see a motorcycle than a larger vehicle. Visibility is even worse at night. Approximately 50 percent of all motorcycle accidents occur after dark.
Hazardous road conditions: Since motorcycles only have two wheels, it’s important that they’re operated on safe road conditions. Potholes, uneven surfaces, and debris can create hazards and cause crashes.
Riding under the influence: Statistics reveal that nearly 30 percent of all fatal motorcycle accidents involve an impaired motorcyclist.
Drunk drivers: Drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol are more likely to cause an accident than others. Many of these crashes involve motorcyclists. Alcohol was a factor in 11.5 percent of traffic accidents in 2016.
Inexperienced riders: There are more than 800,000 motorcycles registered in the state of California. Not all riders have the experience and training necessary to stay safe on the road. A troubling number of accidents often involve inexperienced riders. In fact, about 1 out of every 3 motorcycle accidents involves a rider without a valid motorcycle license.
Unsafe lane changes: Motorcycles are fun to ride, in part, because they’re so easy to navigate. It can be tempting to shift from lane to lane to speed through traffic. However, unsafe lane changes are a leading cause of crashes in Bakersfield.
Defective Equipment: Sometimes riders and drivers aren’t responsible for the accidents in which they’re involved. Instead, defective bikes or safety equipment is to blame.
Compensation Available to Motorcycle Accident Victims in Bakersfield
The costs of a motorcycle accident can be overwhelming. When someone else is to blame, you shouldn’t have to deal with the consequences of your accident on your own. You can demand monetary damaged by filing a personal injury claim and/or lawsuit.
You may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation
- Nursing care
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Property damage, and more.
Our attorneys have spent years cultivating professional relationships with some of the best accident experts in California. We’ll work closely with these individuals as we investigate your personal injury case. Their expert input will not only help us identify all of your damages, but to also know how much they’re worth. This will help us make sure that you are fairly compensated for your injuries after a motorcycle crash.
Don’t Panic If You’re Partly Responsible For Your Motorcycle Accident
Accidents are rarely black and white. Many different factors can contribute to a crash. It’s possible that you may be partly responsible for your accident and injuries. In California, sharing fault will not automatically bar your legal right to pursue compensation. You can file a personal injury claim as long as someone else is also to blame.
However, contributing to your accident will affect your financial award. Your damages will be reduced in relation to how much of the crash is your fault. The greater your role in causing the accident, the less money you’ll be able to get.
Example: You are attributed 30 percent of the blame for your Bakersfield motorcycle accident. Between medical bills and lost wages, you’ve suffered $100,000 in damages. You will only be able to recover a maximum of $70,000. ($100,000 reduced by 30 percent.)
When you share fault, you can also be liable for others’ injuries. In the example above, you’d be on the hook for 30 percent of the damages suffered by another victim in the crash.
It’s important to speak with an attorney if you share fault for your Bakersfield motorcycle accident. Others will try to shift blame away from them and onto you. If these tactics are successful, you may lose out on valuable compensation. Our attorneys know how to protect you from these tactics. Call our office today to learn more.
Time Limit For Filing a Bakersfield Motorcycle Accident Claim
You may have the right to obtain compensation if you have been injured in a Bakersfield motorcycle accident. However, you will need to act quickly. A clock will begin to run the moment you are involved in the crash. If you don’t file your claim before time runs out, you could miss out on the money you deserve.
The amount of time you have to pursue compensation will depend on whether you decide to file an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit.
Insurance Claim: Insurance companies require you to submit your claim for damages within a reasonable amount of time after your crash. They reserve the right to deny your request for compensation if you wait too long to ask for help.
Lawsuit: The statute of limitations for motorcycle claims is generally two years from the date of your accident.
You can protect your right to file a claim for damages. Contact Bakersfield Personal Injury Law as soon as you can after your accident. We are available 24/7 to speak with you about your case. Call our Bakersfield attorneys today to get started.
Need Help?
Are you struggling with an injury after a Bakersfield motorcycle accident? Is someone else at fault? Contact Bakersfield Personal Injury Law for immediate legal assistance. Our attorneys know how important a financial recovery can be as you get back on your feet. We’ll stand by your side and fight to make sure that you are fairly compensated for your injuries. Call today to schedule a free consultation and learn more.