What Happens if I’m Riding My Motorcycle and a Commercial Truck Hits Me?
California leads the nation in new motorcycle registrations, which means more motorcycles are joining our roads every day. And at the same time, California is second only to Texas in the number of large truck traffic accidents.
Sure sounds like a recipe for disaster, doesn’t it? We have thousands of motorcycles plus thousands of trucks, all zipping along together at high speeds on California roads.
Let’s look at what you can do if you’re enjoying a motorcycle ride on California’s beautiful roads and find yourself the unfortunate victim of a commercial trucking accident.
Stay Safe and Determine Who Hit You
When you ride your bike in California traffic, you’re surrounded by commercial trucks and semi-trailers. You probably don’t think about who owns and operates these vehicles until you’re in an accident with one of them.
If a commercial vehicle hits you while you’re riding your motorcycle, your top priority should be to get to a safe place away from the flow of traffic. Assess yourself for injuries and call 911. You may be severely injured, which is common in motorcycle accidents.
When you’re safe and have received medical treatment, gather as much information as you can about the accident. Take photos and videos, if possible.
Get the name and contact information for the truck driver and their employer, as well as any identifying information located on the truck itself. Sometimes, truck drivers try to avoid reporting accidents to their employers for fear of losing their jobs or getting in trouble with the police.
If something makes you think the truck driver was drunk, drugged, or distracted at the time of the accident, note this but don’t accuse anyone of a crime or speak at length about the accident until you speak to your attorney.
Get Ready for a Complex Situation
Truck accidents usually involve more individuals and companies than other types of accidents. You could quickly find yourself in a very complicated blame game.
A truck vs. motorcycle accident may involve:
- Your motorcycle insurance company
- The truck driver
- The trucker’s employer
- The employer’s insurance company
- A delivery company like UberEats, FedEx, or the post office
- Other drivers and witnesses
- The police who arrive at the scene
- On-scene medical personnel, plus emergency room staff
- Doctors for ongoing care and therapy
- A motorcycle repair mechanic
Whew! That’s a lot to manage. Many people choose to hire an accident attorney to help sort through the details and decide what to do next.
Take Action to Get Your Bills Paid
Your motorcycle is crushed. Your body is in pain. Your medical bills are piling up. It’s time to empower yourself to use the law to recover from your accident.
A truck driver can be ordered to pay for medical costs and other damages after hitting a motorcyclist. Their employer’s insurance coverage may cover the cost, or you can win a judgment against them personally.
Trucking companies carry huge insurance policies because they know road accidents happen. By making a claim, you’re protecting your health and financial stability. You’re also putting the responsibility for a trucking accident where it belongs: on a negligent trucker, their trucking company, and the insurance carrier that covers them.
Of course, insurance adjusters are experts at avoiding payouts. They may try to intimidate you and minimize your injuries, hoping you’ll either accept a lowball settlement or go away.
At Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers, we’re sick of seeing trucking companies and their insurance carriers give people a hard time. Every client we take on becomes our priority as we assertively demand compensation.
A commercial truck accident attorney provides valuable services like:
- Determining who’s involved in your motorcycle accident
- Making a strong case for your side
- Helping you get your motorcycle repaired
- Getting your medical bills paid
- Negotiating a solid settlement or going to court if necessary
- Reducing your stress so you can rest and heal
When it comes to a motorcycle vs. truck accident, our skill at negotiating settlements means you can likely avoid the hassle of a court appearance and still end up with a high level of compensation. Let’s start the road to recovery from your accident as soon as possible.
“Honestly better than I could’ve ever hoped for. After being hit on my motorcycle Carmen and Rebecca took care of everything. They talked with the insurance and medical companies and got me an amazing settlement. Literally had to do zero work.One of my favorite things about working with the team at Sally Morin was the speed of communication. If I had a question I’d get a response that day or the next. Super speedy fast.If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, would hands down recommend talking with these guys and letting them see what they can do.” – Ian
Experience a serious motorcycle accident?
Check out our Motorcycle Accident Page to learn more about how the process works.
We Handle Your Motorcycle Accident Claim So You Can Focus on Your Life
After an injury, contact the attorneys at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers. We handle many areas of the law, including motorcycle and truck accidents. We believe you should be able to focus on recovering while we handle the legal details.
We truly care about the people of California. Contact us today for a free online case evaluation.
