You’ve been injured in a motorcycle crash. Now what? No doubt you have a lot of questions about the claims process: how to file, when to contact the insurance company, and what evidence to provide. It’s natural to feel confused and even overwhelmed, especially if your financial security is at stake. But with the right approach, you may be able to recover the compensation you need to move on with life.Below are a few tips to keep in mind after being injured in a motorcycle accident caused by a car. If you still have questions or if you’d like advice regarding your particular case, contact the Law Office of Michael D. Waks. Call (562) 206-1939 to set up a free consultation.1. Call the … [Read more...]
5 Reasons to Hire an Attorney After a Fatal Motorcycle Accident
There’s no easy way to cope with the sudden loss of a loved one. Feelings of depression and guilt can consume your life and make every day feel like a struggle. You may also be facing medical bills, funeral costs, and lost financial support if the deceased was a primary source of family income.If someone you love has been killed in a motorcycle accident and you intend to file a wrongful death claim, you can expect the insurance company or opposing party to do everything in their power to reduce their liability. They might try to convince you to accept a low settlement or to provide a recorded statement. They may even blame the deceased for the crash and argue that your claim has no … [Read more...]
Umbrella Coverage: A Potential Source of Recovery in Tort Claims
Recovering a fair settlement after a serious injury or wrongful death is a tricky process that may involve several insurance policies. Ideally, the person or entity that caused your injury or loss will have liability insurance that covers such scenarios, whether it was a car accident, slip and fall, product defect, etc.In addition to auto, home, and renter’s insurance, some defendants have umbrella coverage. This is extra liability insurance that will kick in if the policyholder is held responsible for serious injuries, property damage, and/or other losses that are not fully covered by their other policies.For example, if you were hurt in a car accident but the at-fault driver’s auto … [Read more...]
Motorcycle Riders Can Be Awarded Damages When They Don’t Wear Helmets
Motorcycle riders must be more vigilant about safety than vehicle drivers. Despite motorcycles having the same rights and responsibilities as passenger vehicles, a motorcyclist seems to have a heightened responsibility to prevent a motorcycle accident. This is an unfair burden, especially since vehicles cause most collisions between cars and motorcycles.Why Do Cars Hit Motorcycles?The main reason cars cause motorcycle accidents is that drivers don’t see the motorcycles. Most passenger vehicle drivers don’t also ride motorcycles. Therefore, they don’t know what it’s like to ride one alongside cars, and they aren’t watching for motorcycles. California has over 26 million licensed … [Read more...]
Can Lane Splitting Prevent Motorcycle Accident Injuries?
Lane splitting is a common, even expected, practice of motorcycle riders around the world. In the United States lane splitting is illegal in every state but California. Lane splitting explicitly became legal in California on January 1, 2017.Other states considering whether to legalize lane splitting are looking to California for guidance. One of the big questions is whether lane splitting reduces motorcycle accident injuries.What is lane splitting?Lane splitting, also called lane sharing, stripe-riding, white-lining, or filtering, occurs when a motorcycle rides between lanes of stopped or slower-moving traffic. Lane splitting also happens at a red light, when a cyclist rides between … [Read more...]
What Will You Most Likely Injure in a Motorcycle Accident?
More than 80% of all motorcycle accidents result in injury or death to the motorcyclist. The bike itself provides no protection to riders or passengers. The other vehicles involved in a motorcycle crash usually have more weight, bulk and safety features than the motorcycle. This means motorcycle riders need to take special precautions, and drive defensively. As a motorcycle accident lawyer I have found that riders who place emphasis on helmets, eye protection and safety clothing reduce the severity of their injuries in a collision.Knowing the most common injuries suffered in motorcycle accidents can help riders increase their awareness and safety. It may be surprising to learn what … [Read more...]
These Questions Determine if You Can Sue for Wrongful Death After a Motorcycle Crash
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcycle riders are 30 times more likely to die in a collision than drivers and occupants of cars. The loss of someone you love can change your life forever. In addition to the emotional impact, when a family member is killed in a motorcycle accident, it can also have a significant financial impact.You may be able to sue for wrongful death after a motorcycle crash to receive compensation for both economic and non-financial losses. Several key factors will determine whether you can make a wrongful death claim. A Long Beach lawyer can offer you a one-on-one case evaluation to determine whether or not you can sue. You … [Read more...]
What Is Comparative Negligence And How Does It Apply To Motorcycle Accidents?
Motorcycle accidents often result in serious injuries or wrongful death, and significant damages. For that reason, the insurance company representing the at-fault driver in a motorcycle accident case will almost always claim there was comparative negligence, and that the motorcyclist was at least partially to blame for his or her own injuries or death.What is Comparative Negligence?Comparative negligence is a legal theory used in personal injury cases. The theory is that sometimes all parties involved in an accident contributed in some way to the accident. Comparative negligence attempts to assign the appropriate percentage of the blame to each party. In California, the jury assigns a … [Read more...]
What Can I Do To Avoid Motorcycle Accidents?
There is nothing any of us can do to guarantee we won't be in an accident one day. The best we can do is to be aware of the situations that most commonly cause accidents so we can reduce the risk of being in one. That is more important for motorcycles than other motor vehicles, since motorcycles are smaller and have less protection for riders than other vehicles.In most cases, simply knowing how to protect yourself from other drivers can help you avoid a motorcycle accident.Tips on How to Avoid Motorcycle AccidentsA large majority of motorcycle accidents in Long Beach are caused by a car or truck that fails to yield the right of way to a motorcycle. One of the best ways to avoid a … [Read more...]
Can I Recover My Damages If I Wasn’t Wearing A Helmet During A Motorcycle Accident?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motorcycle ownership is at an all-time high. As more motorcyclists have taken to the road, rider fatalities have grown even more rapidly, especially compared to cars. This has spurred nearly all states to implement some form of helmet law.California is one of 19 states that has instituted a universal helmet law requiring all riders to wear helmets. The purpose of helmet laws is to try to limit the severity of injuries resulting from a crash. Non-helmeted riders have a substantially greater risk of traumatic brain injury or wrongful death than helmeted riders. Since California is a comparative negligence state, a rider's … [Read more...]
