Roads are designed for cars and trucks, not motorcycles. While other vehicles can easily tolerate bumps in the road, any debris is a nightmare for a motorcyclist.
Think about the hazards a motorcyclist encounters during a California ride. Potholes dot the roadways. Lawnmowers blow slippery grass across the road. Branches poke out from all sides. Construction zones have cones, barriers, and traffic congestion. Gravel or loose pavement could be around any corner.
Just one of these hazards can cause injury or even death for a motorcyclist. After the accident, it’s time to determine who’s at fault and what caused it to happen.
Motorcycle Crashes Have Many Common Causes
Sometimes it’s easy to see what caused a motorcycle accident because it’s a glaring problem sitting right in the roadway: a fallen tree, a patch of ice, or an oil spill. Other times, it’s a bit more difficult to pin down exactly what happened.
After a motorcycle accident, your personal injury lawyer can help you piece together what caused your crash. Maybe it was the result of long-neglected pavement or a missing road sign. Did a road crew leave something behind in the roadway? Was a street light out, reducing visibility?
Some of the common causes of motorcycle accidents include:
- Debris in the road
- Poor lighting
- Construction zone hazards
- Rough and missing pavement
- Poorly-designed roads and intersections
- Malfunctioning traffic lights
- Missing and incorrect road signs
- Blocked and absent shoulders
- Damaged guardrails or a lack of guardrails
- Animals and carcasses in the road
- Curves, inclines, and blind corners that create danger
- Vegetation, especially low-hanging tree branches
- Ice, rain, and snow that builds up from poor drainage
Is the City, County, or Another Party at Fault?
If you re-read the list above, you’ll notice that most of these issues are preventable. Although nobody can control when a rainstorm will happen, it’s a state or local government’s responsibility to maintain grates and drains that prevent dangerous flooding.
It’s important to identify who exactly might be responsible. Is it another driver or is it someone who’s in charge of maintaining the road?
A construction company or road management agency might be responsible for blown-over traffic cones that create road hazards. A property management company could be held liable for a dangerous parking lot. There are many possibilities.
From there, you can start a motorcycle accident lawsuit with the help of your attorney. You could win compensation for your injuries, medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, damaged gear, and the costly repairs to your bike. We’ve won settlements of $110,000 and $750,000 for clients in cases like these.
A motorcycle accident shouldn’t ruin your life just because someone allowed unsafe road conditions to persist. Get an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer and get to the bottom of your accident now.
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 a motorcycle accident, contact the attorneys at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers. We handle many areas of traffic law, including injuries that arise from motorcycle accidents. We believe you should be able to focus on recovering from your accident while we handle the legal details. We truly care about our fellow motorcyclists in California. Contact us today for a free online case evaluation.
