Personal Injury
Defective ProductsWestminster Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Motorcyclists who are injured by negligent drivers have the right to pursue compensation for injuries and damages from the at-fault parties. Unfortunately, it is all too common for drivers to leave the scene of a motorcycle accident out of fear, cowardice or panic. It is not only inhumane and irresponsible to leave the scene of an injury crash, but it is also illegal in California. In fact, leaving the scene of an injury accident is a felony crime. Victims of Westminster motorcycle accidents may wonder where to turn or how to seek compensation if the driver who hit them left the scene and has not yet been found. A skilled Westminster motorcycle accident lawyer can help the injured victims obtain more information about pursuing their legal rights and examining the options they have before them.
Westminster Motorcycle Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol's 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), one fatality and 21 injuries were reported in the city of Westminster as a result of motorcycle accidents. In Orange County as a whole, 17 people were killed and 735 were injured in motorcycle crashes that year.
Hit-and-Run Law
California Vehicle Code 20001 (a) states: "The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident." All motorists are legally required to remain at the scene of an injury accident, to exchange pertinent information with other parties and most importantly to help the injured victims. This can be something as simple as calling 911. When an injured motorcycle accident is left lying on the roadway, he or she is exposed to further injury.
Tracking Down Hit-and-Run Drivers
Victims of hit-and-run accidents often do not have the time or ability to memorize the driver's license plate or even write down what the vehicle looked like. In such cases, officials will have to rely on first-hand accounts from eyewitnesses, images captured on surveillance video from nearby buildings and evidence left at the scene of the crash. Tire tracks will be examined, as will broken parts left behind such as rear-view mirrors, headlights and paint scrapes. Officials will often request help from members of the community to apprehend hit-and-run drivers. The sad fact remains that not all hit-and-run drivers are found.
Victims of hit-and-run accidents often wonder how they will receive fair compensation for their losses when the driver is not available. They will not be able to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault motorist or the driver's insurance company. Compensation may still be available, however, through the uninsured motorist clause of the victim's own auto insurance policy. This type of protection can also help victims of accidents involving drivers who are underinsured or in other words, have inadequate coverage.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim
It is important to remember that when a hit-and-run driver is criminally prosecuted, the criminal proceeding will not result in compensation for victims or their families. In order to pursue financial compensation from a negligent driver, the injured victim will have to file a civil lawsuit. A personal injury claim is a lawsuit that allows an injured victim of a Westminster motorcycle accident to seek compensation for all of the damages and losses he or she suffered in the accident.
In cases involving negligence or wrongdoing, injured victims can seek compensation from the at-fault party for damages including medical bills, lost wages, cost of rehabilitation, medical devices, pain and suffering, prescription drug fees and other related damages. The skilled Westminster motorcycle accident lawyers at Bisnar | Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP have a long and successful track record of holding hit-and-run drivers accountable for the injuries and damages they have caused. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Westminster motorcycle accident, please contact us for a free, comprehensive and confidential consultation.
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