Motorcycle Accidents and Personal Injury Laws

Riding a motorcycle gives certain individuals an adrenaline rush. There’s nothing quite like cruising down the open highway riding a motorcycle. Sadly, motorcyclists pay a heavy price for their freedom: the number of motorcycle accidents and fatalities has been increasing steadily.

Reports show that 75 percent of road accidents involved a motorcycle and a passenger vehicle such as a car or truck. This is because car and truck drivers are often distracted and do not pay enough attention to passing motorcycles. Drivers of large vehicles often violate the motorcyclist’s right-of-way which can cause collisions. Though motorcyclists can protect themselves by sticking to traffic rules, wearing helmets and jackets, and avoiding lane cutting, they become victims when other drivers on the road become negligent.

Another road issue that often leads to motorcycle accidents is poor road design. Badly placed roadside lamp posts, signs, barriers, and fences are often placed in such inconspicuous ways on the road that motorcyclists cannot spot them until it is too late.

In an event of a road collision, many motorcyclists face terrible odds. The chances of suffering physical injury and paralysis are much higher for motorcyclists than other vehicle drivers. There are medical bills and insurance claims to worry about. If the other vehicle driver was negligent and is responsible for the accident then the plaintiff should hire an Oakland personal injury attorney to seek restitution or payment.

It is best to hire an Oakland motorcycle accident lawyer that specializes in the field of such vehicular accidents as they will have the expertise to handle the claim efficiently. This is because insurance companies want to settle for as little amount as possible. Without the expertise of a motorcycle accident attorney, these companies will use loopholes in the insurance policy to get plaintiffs to agree to a paltry sum of money. Furthermore, by gathering enough evidence to prove that the other vehicle driver was negligent, plaintiffs can bypass jury and judge prejudice that tends to label motorcyclists as reckless drivers.

Lastly, a good Oakland motorcycle accident lawyer will use a team to gather enough evidence to make the claim appear legitimate in court. They can interview eyewitnesses, take road samples in the accident site, and seek the advice of collision experts to create a cohesive picture in the courtroom.