The sunshine and warm year-round temperatures make Irvine a great setting for motorcycle rides. Despite there being much to enjoy on a lovely ride, it is not uncommon for motorcycles to be involved in motor vehicle accidents. For all involved, but especially motorcycle riders and passengers, these accidents can cause serious injuries and tragic fatalities.
An experienced Irvine personal injury lawyer is here to help if you have been hurt in a motorcycle accident. Without help from an Irvine motorcycle accident lawyer at Simmrin Law Group, it is easy for you to lose out on the compensation you rightfully deserve. Protect yourself with strong legal representation from our team.
California’s Motorcycle Accident Statistics
Over a recent three-year period of data collection, the California Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) shows an average of 11,774 motorcyclist fatalities and injuries. Over that time span, the numbers increased each year.
Orange County, home to the city of Irvine, ranked the fifth highest of California’s 58 counties for motorcycle-related injuries and deaths.
For a free legal consultation with a motorcycle accident lawyer serving Irvine, call (310) 896-2723
Motorcyclists Are Vulnerable
Motorcycle riders and passengers lack the protection of a car’s body when hit by another vehicle. Other than helmets, which are legally required in California, and protective riding gear, motorcyclists lack almost any protection at all and rarely escape accidents without serious injury.
Lack of visibility is another specific danger faced by motorcyclists. Motorcycles are shorter and narrower than most other vehicles on the road and often go unseen in other drivers’ blind spots, sometimes seeming to appear “out of nowhere.”
Their overall structure makes motorcycles more difficult to control. Riders have to balance on two wheels at high speeds, a feature which also makes the bikes more susceptible to skidding on loose gravel or other road imperfections or on slick surfaces.
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Reasons for Motorcycle Accidents in Irvine
Many scenarios create the opportunity for motorcycle accidents. The Safe Transportation Research and Education Center (SafeTREC) at the University of California at Berkeley reports the most common causes:
- Speeding: 30.9%
- Improper turning: 22.2%
- Right of way violations by other cars: 16.1%
Driving or cycling under the influence and disobeying traffic signs and signals were other additional causes.
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Types and Locations of Motorcycle Crashes
According to SafeTREC, broadside hits accounted for the most, 25.1%, of serious injuries or fatalities. Other types of dangerous crashes include:
- Overturned vehicles: 21%
- Hitting an object: 18.8%
- Rear-end hits: 12.5%
- Sideswipes: 11.5%
Accidents took place on all types of roads, though two-thirds occurred in urban areas compared to rural areas. More than one-third of accidents happened on “non-interstate arterials,” followed by 26.7% on “non-interstate minor arterials” and 16.9% on “non-interstate collectors.”
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Irvine Motorcycle Accident Victims
Motorcycle riders and passengers, and drivers and occupants in other involved vehicles can be badly hurt in motorcycle accidents.
If you are a third-party driver in an accident caused by a speeding, intoxicated, reckless, or otherwise negligent motorcycle operator, a motorcycle accident lawyer in Irvine will help you pursue compensation through a personal injury claim. California requires minimum insurance for motor-vehicle operators, including motorcyclists. If a rider is involved in an accident causing injury or $750 or more in property damage, they must report the incident to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Biases Against Motorcyclists
If you are a motorcyclist involved in an accident, you may face biases from insurance companies. Public perception often holds motorcyclists as ignoring traffic laws, speeding, cutting through lanes, and otherwise acting rebelliously. Insurance adjusters are not immune to this perception.
This means you may have to fight harder to receive compensation or avoid unfair blame for an accident. A motorcycle accident attorney in Irvine can help. It is better if you do not speak to insurance adjusters about the accident at all. Instead, leave those conversations to your attorney.
Securing Damages After a Motorcycle Accident in Irvine
California is a pure comparative fault state. When parties are involved in a motor vehicle accident, the one at fault for the accident is responsible for paying damages to victims hurt because of the at-fault party’s negligence.
Victims can file claims even if they hold 99% of the fault for the accident themselves. However, the compensation they receive will be reduced according to their percentage of fault.
Since no insurance company ever wants to make large payouts, it is typical for each side to blame the other for the accident to lower their respective payouts. Regrettably, insurance companies often resort to unethical practices to inflate victims’ fault or intimidate them into accepting inadequate compensation. A skilled Irvine motorcycle accident attorney from Simmrin Law Group will handle these negotiations and protect your settlement.
Damages You Can Collect
Your attorney will consider the seriousness of your injuries and the additional consequences of your accident when calculating a fair settlement demand. The demand will factor in your:
- Costs for medical care, including future care if you are permanently disabled
- Property repair or replacement, if your vehicle or other property is damaged
- Lost income, for wages missed during recovery and future earnings and benefits if you cannot work again
- Emotional and psychological distress caused by the trauma of the accident itself and the effects of your injuries on your relationships, enjoyment, and quality of life
- Physical pain
- Any other expenses incurred by the accident
For victims, compiling their costs and putting a dollar amount on pain and suffering is a challenge. Sadly, when victims handle their cases on their own, they often underestimate their losses or, in the chaotic aftermath of the accident, do not have the presence of mind to evaluate their future needs and accept an inadequate settlement.
Do not compromise your future financial security and medical care or shortchange yourself out of financial justice for your suffering. Put your case in the hands of an experienced motorcycle accident attorney in Irvine to ensure you are justly compensated for all losses.
We Will Fight for the High Settlement You Deserve
A motorcycle accident can leave you with injuries to your body, finances, and overall well-being. To recover, you need compensation. A settlement can give you financial security, continued access to the best medical care, and acknowledge the suffering you have endured, bringing a measure of justice. Contact Simmrin Law Group to speak with a compassionate, highly skilled Irvine motorcycle accident lawyer. Your attorney will fight for the high settlement you deserve.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form