Motorcycle accidents pose a significant threat to bikers, who are vulnerable due to their lack of protection. Even with the best safety gear, motorcyclists have a high risk of sustaining severe injuries in collisions, regardless of whether they occur at legal speed limits.
Motorcycle riders involved in crashes are not only left to deal with their injuries, property damage, and traumatic experiences but may also find it challenging to secure fair compensation for their damages with an insurance company.
This is where an experienced motorcycle accident attorney can help. A Burbank motorcycle accident attorney can help injured riders seek fair compensation for their injuries and other losses and hold the responsible parties liable for their negligence or egregious actions.
An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer is aware of the prejudice commonly associated with motorcyclists that is used to undermine their accident claims. However, they will focus all their attention on proving that not all motorcyclists are reckless and highlighting the negligence of other drivers and how it contributed to the accident.
At Crown & Stone Law, P.C., our dedicated Burbank motorcycle accident attorneys are ready to help motorcycle accident victims seek justice for their motorcycle crashes regardless of how complex their case might be.
Whether you wish to sue another driver, a government agency that failed to keep the roads safe, or a manufacturer of defective motorcycle parts, we’ve got you covered. Our Burbank motorcycle accident lawyers have helped many motorcyclists seek compensation for their serious injuries, losses, and expenses. Contact our law firm for legal help and learn more via a free consultation. Here is what you should know about motorcycle accidents in Burbank and how a motorcycle accident lawyer can help!
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Burbank
In 2020, California ranked as the state with the second-highest number of motorcycle accident fatalities. About 539 people lost their lives in motorcycle accidents, and the number increased to 561 in 2021. The most common causes of motorcycle accidents that occur in California, including Burbank, are the following:
Distracted Driving
Motorcyclists are sometimes difficult to spot on the road, but when drivers are distracted, whether by texting and driving, eating, or engaging in other distractions, riders are even more susceptible to motorcycle crashes.
Lane Splitting Accidents
Since lane splitting is legal in California, drivers who aren’t focused on the road can cause motorcycle accidents.
Failure to Yield
Some motorcycle accident cases involve drivers who fail to yield the right of way at intersections or while making turns. In 2024, a California Highway Patrol officer suffered extensive injuries when a driver running a red light collided with the officer’s motorcycle. If even police officers who ride motorcycles end up in such accidents, other motorists should take heed.
Speeding
Traffic laws are meant to ensure the safety of everyone on the road. Yet, many drivers engage in speeding, which limits their reaction time. A motorcycle crash caused by a speeding driver often results in fatalities or severe injuries.
Drunk or Impaired Driving
Impaired drivers are dangerous on the roads, but even more so to motorcyclists. Fortunately, establishing fault in such cases is easy once you have a motorcycle accident lawyer helping you.
Door Opening Collisions
Motorcyclists can be injured by drivers or passengers opening their car doors without checking for oncoming vehicles. Contact a personal injury attorney to kickstart the legal process while pursuing your personal injury claim.
How a Burbank Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help
If you were involved in a motorcycle accident in Burbank or lost a loved one in a motorcycle crash, you might have a viable claim to sue the other party. A Burbank motorcycle accident lawyer can help you gather evidence for your motorcycle accident case or wrongful death claim and hold the at-fault party liable for their actions.
The personal injury lawyers at Crown & Stone Law, P.C. can help you collect evidence, determine liability, and represent your rights and interests in negotiations with insurance companies to ensure you are fairly compensated for your injuries and other losses.
A personal injury lawyer with our firm will thoroughly analyze the circumstances of your motorcycle collision and provide legal assistance throughout the process. Under California’s personal injury law, you can seek compensation even if you are partially at fault. California’s pure comparative negligence system lets injured parties seek compensation in accidents even if they are 99% at fault.
Damages Awarded in Motorcycle Accidents
If you are a motorcycle accident victim, you can pursue compensation for your crash. This includes compensation for economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages. A Burbank motorcycle accident attorney from our firm can help you understand what damages you are entitled to so you can seek compensation for them.
This includes compensation for medical expenses and ongoing medical care, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, emotional distress, and more. Under California’s statute of limitations on personal injuries, you have only two years from the accident date to pursue a claim, but if you lost a loved one, the statute begins from the date of death.
Contact our legal team at Crown & Stone Law, P.C., to learn more. Speak with a motorcycle accident lawyer in Burbank if you have any questions or challenges with the insurance company or the claims process.
Injuries in Motorcycle Accident Claims
Personal injury cases resulting from motorcycle crashes often involve severe injuries such as spinal cord injuries or brain injuries. The medical bills associated with these injuries are expensive due to the prolonged recovery time and associated medical interventions and therapies. To ensure a proper physical and financial recovery, everything you do from the moment the accident occurs is important.
Steps to Take after a Motorcycle Crash
In a motorcycle accident, you should prioritize your health and contact emergency services to receive medical treatment. Motorcycle accident victims should accept medical attention as it will play a vital role in their insurance claims and establish a causal link between their injuries and the accident. The insurance adjusters could use your lack of medical assistance against you in your claim. Even if you do not have visible injuries, some symptoms might not be immediate.
Some common injuries, such as fractures, TBIs, or internal bleeding do not have immediate symptoms. Prioritize your health and contact the authorities. Under California law, you must report your accident if someone sustained injuries, the accident resulted in a fatality, or property damage exceeding $1,000.
When the police arrive at the accident scene, they will assist you in gathering valuable information. For example, you may learn if the other driver is uninsured or underinsured, which will dictate how your claim will proceed. The police report will also help with your claim later, especially if the other driver is deemed impaired.
Before leaving the accident scene, take photos of your injuries and damage to your motorcycle and other vehicles if you can. Exchange insurance information and contact information with the at-fault party. If witnesses are present, write down their contact information. Their testimonies can play a crucial role in your motorcycle accident claim. Let your insurance providers know about the accident, and tell a lawyer about your Burbank motorcycle accident case.
Working With Crown & Stone Law, P.C. Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
When you pursue a motorcycle accident claim, the insurance company of the at-fault party might offer you an early settlement. Do not accept it. Instead, consult with a Burbank motorcycle negligence attorney. A motorcycle accident lawyer has a better understanding of motorcycle dynamics than a car accident lawyer and will be able to highlight the inherent vulnerability of motorcycle riders.
Any offer presented to you might not reflect the full extent of your damages. Furthermore, you cannot know the severity or worth of your injuries at that moment. At Crown & Stone Law, P.C., our Burbank motorcycle accident attorneys can help you understand what you may be owed.
We will help you gather evidence, establish liability, and negotiate with the insurance companies until a fair settlement is reached. Our trial lawyers can help prepare your case for litigation if negotiations fail. If the accident was caused by a truck driver, then a truck accident lawyer with our firm can help you find out if you can sue the truck company as well.
To further strengthen your claim, we will collaborate with third-party experts, such as accident reconstruction professionals, to prove fault. Let a dedicated Burbank motorcycle injury lawyer from our firm help you pursue justice and fair compensation for the harm you suffered. Since we work on a contingency fee basis, you won’t have to pay anything unless we win your case. Help prevent Burbank motorcycle accidents by holding the responsible parties liable and proving their negligence.