Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
“Made me feel like the future is bright!” – Anna S.
It’s no wonder you love riding a motorcycle. For decades motorcyclists have flocked to California for the miles of coastal roads, the scenery and the sunshine. There are over 800,000 motorcycles registered in California—40% more than the next most popular state: Florida. There is nothing like the freedom of the open road on two wheels. Or, maybe you just like being able to park conveniently or split lanes in heavy LA traffic. Whatever your individual reason is for riding a motorcycle you’re in an exclusive group of people who love to ride.
But the adventure can be dangerous! Every year there are thousands of motorcycle accidents in Los Angeles. Those crashes can result in serious physical, financial and emotional set-backs for people like you and your family. Often leading you to the difficult search for a Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer.
The Risk of Riding a Motorcycle in Los Angeles
Motorcycle riding on the streets of LA is risky. That’s no secret to anyone who rides a bike. Even though there are more car crashes in LA, motorcycle accidents are more likely to result in serious, crippling injuries and even death. The sad fact is that motorcyclists are 26 times more likely to die in an accident than other motorists.
And no matter how safely you ride, your fate is often not in your hands. A serious accident can happen in the blink of an eye—especially if you’re caught off-guard by negligent or distracted driver. And statistics show that a majority of motorcycle accidents in Los Angeles involving cars are caused by the motorists, not bikers.
If you’ve been in a serious motorcycle accident and have suffered:
The Most Common Types and Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Los Angeles
Crash data shows that the vast majority of motorcycle accidents in Los Angeles are caused by a relatively short list of negligent actions. These include:
- Speeding (the number one contributing factor to all fatal and non-fatal motorcycle accidents in Los Angeles)
- Improper turns
- Failure to yield
These types of accidents often result in motorcyclists being sideswiped by automobiles and—sometimes—even run over. And the car-centric mentality that grabs most of Los Angeles often makes motorcyclists “invisible.” Indeed, one of the most common responses motorcycle accident investigators hear is “I just didn’t see them.”
In short, every biker needs to do what they can to stay visible (day or night) and ride with their head on a swivel at all times. Before an accident you are your best ally. After an accident, we are.
Here Are the TOP Things You Should Know When Hiring a Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Hiring a Los Angeles motorcycle lawyer after an accident is the best (and sometimes only) way to get the just compensation you deserve from individuals who have caused you pain, suffering, financial damages, and physical trauma. Regardless of whether the at-fault individual is charged with any crimes as a result of the accident, you have a legal right to hold them responsible for their actions and the consequences which result.
But hiring a Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorney can be confusing (and perhaps even a bit scary). Do you really need a lawyer? What can an LA motorcycle lawyer do? If I hire a lawyer, will my case go to court? All of these questions and more keep seriously injured people from seeking the legal help they need every day. But, as an experienced motorcycle injury law firm in Los Angeles with over 20 years in the business of helping innocent victims like you, we can assure you that your recovery process will go a whole lot smoother with a lawyer on your side.
Is Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers the Right Los Angeles Motorcycle Lawyer for You?
- Have you suffered a major injury in a motorcycle accident in Los Angeles involving broken bones, hospitalization, surgery or traumatic brain injury? Or, has someone you loved been killed in a LA motorcycle accident?
- Are you worried about the impact that accident will have on your family and your ability to work?
- Are you looking for a solid and fair settlement, instead of revenge against the at fault party?
- Do you need an expert motorcycle accident lawyer in Los Angeles who can handle the whole complicated motorcycle accident claim process for you?
If you answered “yes” to these questions, Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers – with over 2 decades of experience and a 5-star rating as a
Los Angeles personal injury law firm – is a great fit for you.
Not ready to make a decision about your Los Angeles motorcycle accident representation yet?
We’ve created a list of 10 of the top things to know when hiring a Los Angeles motorcycle attorney to help you make the decision process a little easier.
#1 You’re Not Alone (and Don’t Need to Be)
While motorcycle accidents in Los Angeles aren’t as commonplace as they are in other parts of California, there are still a significant number of these devastating collisions recorded every year. With thousands of deadly and injurious motorcycle accidents in Los Angeles, there are thousands of people and families going through situations very similar to yours.
But “similar” doesn’t mean every case is the same. Every one of those statistics is a human being with real concerns, fears, and needs. The first thing to look for when hiring a Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorney is a lawyer who will treat you like an individual, not a number. Personalized service and a dedication to keeping clients informed is not “Old Fashioned.” It is (and should be) a priority for every motorcycle lawyer in Los Angeles. You need an attorney who will be by your side through this difficult recovery.
Most people who come to us at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers never thought they’d need to hire a Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer, but once they hired us, they knew they were not alone!
#2. Car Insurance Will Not Cover Damages and injuries in a Motorcycle Accident
The first thing a Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorney will tell you is that you have to have standalone motorcycle insurance. It’s the law and standard auto insurance will not cover your medical expenses (or any of the damages you may cause or suffer) in a motorcycle accident in Los Angeles. Even if you only ride on the weekends, once in a blue moon, or even just one time… you need motorcycle insurance.
That doesn’t mean that you’ll be relying on your insurance if you’ve been involved in an accident caused by another individual. In such cases you can seek compensation for property damages, reimbursement for lost wages, and coverage for any medical expenses from this at fault party and/or their insurance company.
(And if you’ve been in a collision while on a motorcycle, chances are the other driver was at fault. Statistics in California show that in two-vehicle collisions involving motorcycles, the driver of the car is deemed at fault more than half the time.)
#3. California is a Comparative Negligence State
California is a comparative negligence state. That means when the legal system is determining liability for a collision between two automobiles (or a car and a motorcycle), each party involved is assigned a percentage of the liability—or fault—for the accident. That percentage of liability is important when determining what sort of financial award the accident victim may be entitled to.
While a victim’s award may be diminished in California if they did something that may have contributed to the crash (like not signaling a turn soon enough), that award won’t likely be eliminated altogether. Our experienced Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorney team has successfully reversed negative liability findings in dozens of cases! Motorcyclists often get a raw deal from police officers, witnesses and motorists. An experienced motorcycle crash lawyer can help tip the scales in your favor.
#4. What You Do Before Hiring a Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Lawyer May Reduce Your Award
It’s important to never admit liability—even partially—to any other party involved in your crash. Simply apologizing and saying something as innocuous as “I didn’t see you there” or “I should have braked sooner” is ammunition that savvy insurance adjusters and defense attorneys will use against you.
At Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers, we know all the little tricks that people use in order to shift fault onto motorcyclists. That’s why we recommend that you give out only essential information like your name, contact info, and insurance details to anyone other than your attorney.
If police investigators ask you for more, it’s okay to cooperate but if an agent from the driver’s insurance company calls, don’t give any potentially damning statements. Simply refer them to your motorcycle attorney.
#5. Your Case May Not Have to Go to Court
In the vast majority of cases involving motorcycle accidents in Los Angeles, all the parties involved come to an agreement outside the court system. Either the at-fault party or their insurance provider agrees to pay a fair settlement to the victim without fighting before a judge.
Often that’s welcome news to victims who need the financial support that a fair settlement will give them now rather than later. But getting the best settlement after your accident isn’t always about getting the quickest settlement.
You should always consult with a top-rated Los Angeles motorcycle attorney prior to accepting any settlement or insurance payout. Why? Because the amount you’re offered without a lawyer may not be as much as you’re entitled to.
At Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers…
We get solid, quick results without litigation in about 94% of our cases. But, when getting what’s fair for our client requires litigation, we take on the challenge. With 20 years of experience litigating motorcycle crash cases in California, we don’t shy away from it when it’s in the best interest of our client.
#6. You May Be Entitled to More
Insurance companies in California use what they call actuary tables in order to determine what they are willing to pay victims. Often times this is just a computer telling the insurance carrier what you and your case are worth. The amounts depend on specific injuries and damages involved in individual motorcycle accident cases but these tables are created by accountants, not doctors or medical specialist. These baseline payouts often don’t take into account long-term effects victims suffer after a motorcycle accident such as:
- Extended physical or emotional therapy
- Lost wages from extended periods away from work
- Increased prescription and medical costs
- Pain and suffering inflicted on spouses and dependents
It’s your right to request a larger settlement that more accurately compensates you for the devastation your motorcycle accident has caused. However, getting a larger settlement isn’t an easy task. That’s when having a good Los Angeles motorcycle crash lawyer on your team can help.
Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers Gets Results!
Check out this recent settlement Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers achieved for a client in a
Los Angeles motorcycle accident (lane-splitting) case on the 405 Freeway.
#7. Not All Motorcycle Lawyers are Litigators
All lawyers are not created equal. While one lawyer may be perfectly capable of pursuing an insurance claim against an at fault party, that same lawyer may not be comfortable with or able to take your case to court. Many firms will simply drop your case or pass you along to another motorcycle accident firm that will litigate. That’s why when you’re looking for a motorcycle attorney in Los Angeles it’s important to find one who has experience with courtroom litigation.
Sally Morin has been in the business of protecting California motorcyclists for over 20 years, and has successfully litigated many cases in court. While she knows it’s in the best interest of most victims to opt for a settlement out of court, if having your case elevated to the next level is the best option for you then she and her team are ready, willing, and able to assist.
The California motorcycle accident team at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers recently filed a lawsuit and litigated to get a young motorcyclist SIX times the insurance carrier’s original pre-litigation offer.
#8. You Can Negotiate with Insurance Companies (but You Don’t Have to)
Hiring a top Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorney to negotiate a fair settlement with an at-fault party’s insurance company can save you a ton of time and hassle when you don’t have a lot of one and don’t need any more of the other.
When you’re in recovery after a motorcycle accident, you need to focus on putting your life back together and healing your injuries. You don’t need the added stress of:
- Collecting evidence
- Proving liability
- Negotiating with adjusters
- Corresponding with attorneys
- Filing complicated and confusing paperwork
Your injury lawyer can do all of that for you leaving you and your family free to heal in peace.
#9. You Have a Limited time to File Claims in California
Under statute of limitation restrictions in California victims of motorcycle accidents only have two years to file personal injury claims and three years for any claims for damaged property – much less if you were injured as the result of a governmental entity or one of its employees. That’s not a lot of time even though it may seem like it is at first.
Recovery from even simple injuries like fractures can take several weeks. If you need reconstructive surgery or multiple procedures to rectify internal injuries it could be months before you even meet with a surgeon. Dealing with the emotional trauma can take much longer.
And while these days, weeks and months are passing you still have to face strained finances, travelling to and from doctors, and the daily routines that call upon your time.
Before you know it your deadline has passed and it’s too late to seek compensation.
#10. You Deserve Compensation for Future Losses as Well
Most of the time when you think about the accident recovery process it’s the immediate damages that you’re most concerned with (medical expenses, lost wages while out of work, and replacement costs for your vehicle). However, under California law you may be entitled to seek compensation for future losses as well.
In such cases, your attorney will help you calculate how your injuries or the lasting trauma from your Los Angeles motorcycle crash could reduce your future income.
For example, if you work with your hands (doctor, musician, carpenter or coder) but suffer injuries in your crash that are likely to contribute to arthritis, those injuries will have a definite negative impact on your lifetime earnings. Determining the specific dollar amount for such potential loss is extremely complicated, relying on dozens of variables. However, an accurate accounting can ensure that you and your family are taken care of now and in the future.
Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers Could Be Your LA Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers is the help you need to put the pain and worry behind you, so you can get back to life as usual as soon as possible. As an experienced California motorcycle accident attorney and an avid motorcycle enthusiast, Sally Morin and her team of legal experts help you navigate the complex legal system and maximize any financial award you’re entitled to.
If You Live Life on Two Wheels, We’re the Lawyers for You
The Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyers at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers are different than those shady old-school accident attorneys you see advertising on local television, public buses, and billboards. We actually work for you!
The experts at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers have been helping injured individuals in California get the monetary compensation they deserve for 20 years. They’ve settled large insurance claims out of court and Sally has successfully litigated motorcycle accident cases in California for over two decades.
While the money we help you recover can’t take away the fear, the pain and the heartache caused by a motorcycle crash, it can help you heal without worry about your LA motorcycle accident claim. And that ability to concentrate on your recovery – not the case – is crucial.
Our number one priority is client service!
That’s why we’re selective about the motorcycle accident cases we take on at our Los Angeles office. We help hard-working, honest individuals who want to get back to their busy lives as soon as possible after a serious motorcycle crash. We know the pain these people are in, the stress they’re under, and what they need to take care of their families and getting life back to normal. When we accept your case, we work tirelessly to get you as much as you deserve as quickly as possible.
Check out Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers’ Los Angeles Client Reviews and Testimonials
The team at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers prides itself on providing unparalleled customer-service. You can see in our reviews that:
- We won’t make over-inflated promises just to get your business.
- We stay in touch—answering our phones and returning your emails ASAP.
- We discuss every major decision with you and give you all the information you need to make a good choice.
- We push back against aggressive insurance adjusters to get the maximum amount you’re entitled to.
- We negotiate with medical service providers to decrease your liability, letting you keep more of your settlement.
- We ensure you get your FULL financial recovery as fast as possible
Still not sure?
Learn more here about whether we are the right attorneys to handle your Los Angeles motorcycle accident case.
You can learn more here about how the process works if you choose us to guide you through the Los Angeles motorcycle accident process.
