A couple was enjoying a nice ride on the streets of San Francisco when the unthinkable happened — a distracted driver’s negligence caused the passenger to be ejected from her boyfriend’s motorcycle. The motorist had attempted to make a left-hand turn, but because they didn’t have enough room to complete the turn, they stopped in the middle of the intersection. The motorcyclist didn’t have enough time to react and avoid the stopped vehicle, resulting in a rear-end collision that threw the passenger off the motorcycle.
Fortunately, she survived, but she sustained a serious right elbow fracture that required open reduction internal fixation surgery. She then required follow-up treatment to have medical professionals remove the stabilizing hardware after her elbow healed. On top of this expensive injury, she tore her right tricep in the accident.
After the traumatic collision and ongoing treatment, the passenger and her boyfriend struggled to have the at-fault driver’s insurance company pay for their expenses. Luckily, they turned to Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers, and our attorneys successfully secured her a $260,000 settlement.
Why Our Client Turned to Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers
Although our client and her boyfriend were clearly victims of a distracted driver’s negligence, the at-fault motorist’s insurance company attempted to deny liability. The distracted driver even fled the scene of the accident, yet the police’s report placed the blame on our client’s boyfriend.
With the overwhelming paperwork and liability dispute, our client knew that she needed help to recover money for her medical treatments and other damages. Like many who have suffered from motorcycle accident injuries, she turned to Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers to help her navigate the legal process and recuperate the money she deserved for damages.
How Our Legal Team Secured Our Client a $260,000 Settlement
Sally Morin and her expert team were able to beat the insurance company’s liability dispute despite the fact that the police’s accident report blamed our client’s boyfriend.
Our team spoke with an independent witness to the crash who corroborated the claim that the collision was the distracted driver’s fault. We used his statement to successfully fight the liability dispute, and we were even able to secure more money for our client than expected. We were able to get her a settlement of $260,000, $145,000 of which she was able to keep after medical and legal expenses.
On top of securing a hefty settlement for our client, we represented her boyfriend and successfully proved that he was not liable for the collision despite the police’s inaccurate accident report.
Accidents Caused by Distracted Driving
Our client’s motorcycle accident is one of the many examples of how distracted driving can cause serious collisions and injuries. Distracted driving causes numerous accidents every year, and according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,522 were killed in distracted driving accidents in 2021 alone.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that there are three main types of distracted driving:
- Visual Distractions: Occurs when a driver takes their eyes off the road to engage in another activity, such as reading a text, looking at a GPS, watching a video, and applying makeup.
- Manual Distractions: Drivers engage in manual distractions when they take their hands off the wheel. Some examples include responding to a text, reaching for an object, eating or drinking, and adjusting the radio.
- Cognitive Distractions: A driver is cognitively distracted when their mind is not focused on the road. A few cognitive distractions include daydreaming, talking on the phone, and talking to a passenger.
Engaging in any form of distracted driving is dangerous, but the CDC noted that texting at the wheel is especially hazardous. If you’re traveling at 55 miles per hour and you look away to read or respond to a text, it’s like driving the full length of a football field (100 yards) with your eyes closed. Taking your eyes away from the road for even a second can cause devastating or even fatal injuries to yourself and others.
Why Motorcyclists Are Especially Vulnerable in Distracted Driving Accidents
A distracted driver has the potential to cause serious or fatal injuries to anyone on the road, but motorcyclists are especially vulnerable to these dangers. Bikers are already at a higher risk of suffering from an accident than other drivers due to motorcycles’ small sizes. Drivers have a harder time spotting these vehicles than standard passenger cars, and a distracted driver may fail to see these vehicles while engaging in visual, manual, or cognitive distractions.
Motorcyclists are also more likely to suffer from significant injuries due to their lack of physical protection. Even a seemingly minor accident can cause a motorcyclist or passenger to suffer from life-changing injuries.
Contact a Distracted Driving Accident Attorney
If you were injured in a distracted driving accident, you may struggle to recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries and other expenses. Our injured client struggled to regain the money for her medical bills despite the fact that the distracted driver committed a hit-and-run and was clearly at fault.
Don’t let an inaccurate police report or liability dispute stop you from recovering compensation — contact a motorcycle accident injury attorney today!
For expert legal support in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles, contact Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers. You can schedule your free case evaluation today here or by calling 877-380-8852.
