If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact our Orange County Motorcycle Accident Lawyers for a no-obligation case review. We’ve been representing motorcycle accident plaintiffs for over 45 years. We’ve collected and settled over $800 million for our clients. To see if you’re entitled to fair compensation, give our team of highly skilled and experienced accident lawyers a call at 949-203-3814.
At Bisnar Chase we deal with motor vehicle accidents nearly every day and over the years many of them have been motorcycle accidents throughout Orange County. With a massive population, plenty of money to spend on the newest and fastest bikes, and increasing traffic stretching from the 22 freeway, east on the 91 freeway, and all the way down the 5 freeway, motorcycle accidents are bound to happen.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact our highly skilled and experienced Orange County Personal Injury Attorneys for a free consultation.
Benefits of Hiring the Right Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Not only do we have the legal know how to navigate the complexities of your motorcycle injury claim, but we can also help you recover the maximum compensation possible and not charge you until the motorcycle accident case is complete.
Plus, we will provide invaluable advice throughout the process and act as your advocate in court while protecting your best interest. We will not settle your case unless you are satisfied with the offer.
Orange County Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle Accident Damages
Injured victims of motorcycle accidents can seek fair compensation from the at fault parties for motorcycle accident damages such as current and future medical expenses, lost future wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, pain and suffering, permanent injury, lost income and emotional distress.
Wrongful death damages
When an individual is killed in a motorcycle accident, his or her family members can file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for damages as well.
Hit and run damages
In the case of hit-and-run motorcycle accidents or collisions involving uninsured drivers, injured victims can recover fair compensation through the uninsured motorist clause of their auto insurance policies.
The knowledgeable Orange County Motorcycle Accident Lawyers at Bisnar Chase have over 45 years of experience representing injured accident victims and their families. We know what it takes to fight insurance companies, corporations and other entities that make it challenging for our injured clients to seek the compensation they rightfully deserve.
How long does it take to settle a motorcycle accident claim?
The time it will take to settle your motorcycle accident case will depend on how hard the attorney works the case and the amount of commitment they put in.
The client’s cooperation is also essential in terms of getting evidence and documents to the lawyer in a timely manner. Given those variables, it typically takes from 6 months to 2 years to settle a motorcycle accident case.
What are the attorneys fees?
On average, the attorney fees are between 32%-41% of the amount recovered. Since the client doesn’t pay anything until the case is settled, the attorney fees will come out of your settlement. There is no up-front risk or costs to the client in a motorcycle accident case.
What is comparative negligence?
In California, comparative negligence is a legal doctrine that applies to personal injury cases. Under this rule, an injured plaintiff can recover damages from the defendant even if they are partially at fault for their own injuries.
The amount of damages they can recover will be reduced by an amount equal to their own degree of fault. For example, if the plaintiff was found to be 40% at fault for their injuries and the defendant was found to be 60% at fault, then the plaintiff would only receive 60% of their total damages award.
Staying Safe on Motorcycles in O.C.
Motorcycles are known to be extremely dangerous. It isn’t the motorcycle itself that is dangerous, but the factors surrounding the motorcycle. A motorcycle rider can practice all of the following safety suggestions and still encounter hazards:
Proper safety gear
Helmet, protective clothing (padded jackets and pants), gloves, boots, eye safety, etc.
Motorcycle condition
Ensuring all parts are functioning properly, lubricated, nothing hindering their movements or potentially creating a hazardous situation. Check with manufacturers for any recalls that might cause an accident.
Road ready & defensive driving
Turn signals, headlights, brake lights, no bulbs out, license plate, etc. Making sure you’re taking every precaution towards safe motorcycle transportation is a must, for those around you, yourself, and your family.
Although being a safe motorcycle rider is always encouraged, it doesn’t always promise your safety on the road. The majority of motorcycle accidents are caused by other vehicles causing the accident.
Cars pulling out in front of a motorcycle in motion, stopping abruptly, smashing into them, or mistakenly not seeing them due to their small profile and less significant sources of light can cause serious injury and death.
Riding risks
Riding a motorcycle can be exhilarating and cost-effective. It offers commuters an easier way to make their way through Orange County’s congested freeways. However, riding a motorcycle also comes with significant risks.
Motorcycles are smaller vehicles that are easier to overlook than cars, trucks or SUVs. They also provide very little protection to riders in the event of a crash. Even the most skilled Orange County riders can get seriously injured in a traffic collision.
If you have or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact our law firm for a Free personal injury Case Evaluation.
Orange County Motorcycle Accidents Statistics
Hundreds of motorcyclists are injured while riding in Orange County each year. According to California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 18 motorcyclists were killed and 796 were injured in Orange County accidents in one year alone.
- Anaheim led all Orange County cities with 98 motorcycle injuries
- Santa Ana with 67
- Huntington Beach with 59
- 7 fatalities and 38 injuries were reported as a result of motorcycle accidents in the unincorporated areas of Orange County
Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Like many other types of traffic accidents, motorcycle accidents can happen in a split second. It only takes a moment of distraction or inattention. Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents include:
- Failure to look for motorcyclists before changing lanes, turning left, or entering traffic
- Running a red light or stop sign at an intersection
- Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol
- Exceeding the speed limit or driving at a speed that is unsafe for traffic, roadway, or weather conditions
- Driving while distracted
- Reckless or aggressive driving
- Dangerous or defective roadways and poorly designed street intersections
- Parking lots are hazardous to bikers
- Driver negligence
- Lane splitting
Sudden acceleration injuries in a motorcycle crash
Sudden acceleration can happen either from an inexperienced rider or a mechanical failure. When the motorcycle suddenly accelerates or de-ecelerates, the rider can be thrown, causing severe injuries, including traumatic whiplash from the jerking of the motorcycle. If you think a mechanical failure might have caused your motorcycle accident, contact our defective products team for an evaluation.
What To Do If You've Been in a Motorcycle Accident
Following the accident, seek immediate medical attention as soon as possible. This is important for your health and safety and allows a doctor or medical personal to legally document your motorcycle injuries with details and date of occurrence. Later on, if you do not have any medical documentation of injuries inflicted from the accident, they “never happened” and can dramatically affect your motorcycle accident injury case.
Gather evidence, including witness statements, CCTV, pictures, and images of the accident and your injuries.
Do not talk to the insurance adjusters before consulting with an attorney, as doing so could affect the outcome of your personal injury claim. Remember, the insurance companies want to pay as little as possible and are not on your side.
Contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney in Orange County immediately for a free consultation at 949-203-3814. We may be able to preserve your rights and fight for fair compensation.
Looking for a motorcycle accident lawyer near you?
Bisnar Chase has 4 Southern California locations and one San Francisco meeting location to make it as convenient as possible for our clients. We are here to provide dedicated legal representation and pursue justice on your behalf. Our top-rated attorneys have decades of experience helping victims recover from their losses, and we are familiar with all California courts.
Types of Motorcycle Accident Injuries
In a motorcycle crash, almost always, it is the rider and his or her passenger who suffer the more serious or catastrophic injuries. Some of the most common injuries suffered in motorcycle accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injuries or head injuries
- Spinal cord trauma – neck and back injuries
- Internal injuries – organ damage
- Broken bones or fractures
- Lacerations or amputations
- Road rash
- Soft tissue injuries
- Burn injuries
- PTSD long term
The most severe injury is a head injury. During a motorcycle accident, the brain is subjected to rapid deceleration forces that can cause a traumatic brain injury (TBI). These forces can cause the brain to hit the inside of the skull, leading to bruising, bleeding, or other serious damage.
If there is a direct impact on the head or neck area during an accident, it can cause further damage by fracturing bones in those areas and damaging delicate nerve tissue. This type of trauma is often associated with long-term cognitive impairments and physical disabilities. If you have suffered injuries, contact our motorcycle accident attorneys for a free accident claim evaluation.
Contact our Orange County Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
The Orange County Motorcycle Accident Lawyers of Bisnar Chase have represented California clients since 1978 including many California motorcycle accident victims who had been told by other law firms that they didn’t have a case. Let us see what we can do for you. Call for a no obligation free consultation with our award winning personal injury attorneys at 949-203-3814.
Motorcycle accident injury claims can be complex, but we have the resources and experience to get the best possible results in your case. With over 400 motorcycle fatalities annually in California, our law firm has handled many of these cases with winning results.
Our attorneys are top-rated trial lawyers familiar with all Orange County courts and defense teams, and we will not settle your injury claim until you are satisfied.