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Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Covina, California
If you were injured in a motorcycle collision in Covina that was caused by another person or entity, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses. The injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Steven M. Sweat can help you to learn about your potential claim and how filing a claim for damages might benefit you. Accidents can leave you facing overwhelming bills, lost wages, and psychological and emotional trauma. The compensation that you might recover from a lawsuit may allow you to cover all of the associated losses that you have suffered as a result of the collision.
Our lawyers in West Covina understand the devastation that victims may face after motorbike accidents. When we represent you, we will focus on ensuring that you receive fair compensation to pay for your losses and injuries. We will work to maximize the compensation that you might receive through a settlement or trial. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation with our legal team to learn more about your rights.
Motorbike Collision Statistics near Covina, CAAccording to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 5,172 motorcyclists were killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2017, the most recent year for which data is available. Motorcyclists were 28 times more likely to die in collisions than other types of motor vehicle occupants.
The Governors Highway Safety Association reports that motorcyclist fatalities made up 18.1% of all motor vehicle collision fatalities in California in 2016. In 2017, the GHSA reports that preliminary data showed that 406 motorcyclists were killed in California during that year. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, the total number of motorcyclists in Los Angeles County who were either injured or killed in collisions in 2016 was 5,096, which placed the county at the fourth-most dangerous out of all of the counties in California.
Motorbike collisions can occur because of many different reasons. There are some causes that are more common, however.
Motorcyclists themselves are sometimes to blame for their own accidents. They might cause collisions when they engage in the following types of activities:
- Lane-splitting
- Rapid lane changes
- Failing to use turn signals
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Failing to wear proper reflective clothing during low-light conditions
- Speeding
- Operating bikes while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Like other motorists, motorcyclists also have a duty of care to follow the traffic laws and to operate their bikes safely. When they negligently fail in their obligations, accidents and injuries can result.
Driver negligence is a very common cause of motorbike accidents. Drivers have a duty of care to operate their vehicles in a reasonably safe manner and to follow the traffic laws. Negligent driving behaviors can endanger other motorists, including motorcyclists. Types of driver negligence that may result in motorbike accidents include the following types of behaviors and actions:
- Failing to yield the motorcyclists' right of way
- Failing to notice motorcyclists because of distraction
- Changing lanes without signaling
- Speeding
- Turning onto roads in front of oncoming motorcyclists
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Aggressive driving
In addition to rider or driver negligence, motorcyclists may be endangered by the conditions of the roads. Motorcyclists may lose control of their bikes when they encounter dangerous road conditions such as the following:
- Traffic signs that are missing or obstructed
- Potholes and broken pavement
- Uneven roadways
- Poorly graded curves
- Litter or debris in the roads
- Lack of safety rails or barriers
Finally, motorcyclists may be injured or killed in collisions when their motorcycles are defective or other vehicles involved in the accidents have defects. When defective components on bikes or vehicles cause accidents, the manufacturers of the parts and the bikes or vehicles may be liable for harms that result from the defective parts.
Motorcyclists are much likelier to suffer fatal or catastrophic injuries in accidents than are other types of motor vehicle occupants. Even when the motorcyclists wear helmets, padded protective gear, and drive with caution, they still face a substantial risk of harm.
The Law Offices of Steven M. Sweat has represented the victims of motorbike collisions who have suffer from a broad range of injuries, including the following common types:
- Road rash
- Fractures
- Concussions or traumatic brain injuries
- Serious lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputations
- Severe burns
- Thoracic injuries
- Facial and neck injuries
- Head injuries
- Paralysis
- Wrongful deaths
If you have been injured in a motorbike accident in Covina that was caused by someone else, you may be entitled to receive compensation. Contact the Law Offices of Steven M. Sweat to learn how an experienced lawyer might be able to help you to recover the compensation that you deserve. Possible damages that might be recovered
The amount of compensation that you might recover will depend on several factors. Every collision is different, which means that there is not a single total amount that you might expect to receive. Some of the factors that may affect the amount of compensation that might be recoverable in your motorbike collision include the following:
- Extent and severity of your injuries
- Your likelihood of recovering
- Your medical expenses
- Whether you will be able to return to work
- The pain and suffering that you have experienced
Our attorneys can review the facts and circumstances of your case and provide you with a general estimate of what you might expect to recover.
Damages are divided into two main categories in California, including your economic damages and your non-economic damages. The economic damages are your actual financial losses that have resulted from your motorbike collision and might include the following types:
- Past medical expenses
- Future expected medical expenses
- Lodging and travel costs for medical treatment
- Nursing care and rehabilitiation
- Prosthetics
- Repair or replacement of your property
- Lost wages
- Your future reduction in your ability to earn an income
Your economic damages may not exceed your actual financial losses. However, they include your past, present, and future expected expenses caused by your collision and resulting injuries.
Your non-economic damages are more nebulous and can be more difficult to value. These are damages that do not result in direct financial losses. These types of damages are awarded to compensate you for the following types of injuries:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of your ability to enjoy life
- Disfigurement
- Humiliation
- Loss of consortium
There is no cap on the amount of non-economic damages that you might receive.
Why it is Important for You to Get Legal Help Quickly for Your Covina Motorcycle Accident ClaimAfter a motorbike collision that has resulted in injuries, it is important for you to seek legal help quickly. California has a two-year statute of limitations for tort lawsuits from the date of your collision. If you fail to file your claim within that statutory time period, you may lose your rights to recover compensation for your losses. The time period for filing a claim is even shorter if the government is responsible.
In addition to the limitation period, it is also important to get help quickly after your collision to help to preserve important evidence. Key evidence and witnesses can be lost as time passes, making it more difficult to prevail in your claim as time passes. Talking to our attorneys as soon as possible after your collision may give us more time to thoroughly investigate your case so that we can build a stronger claim on your behalf.
Motorcycle accidents can permanently change your life. If you have been injured, contact the Law Offices of Steven M. Sweat to speak with an attorney. An experienced West Covina injury lawyer at our firm may be able to help you to recover maximum compensation. Call us today to schedule a free consultation at 626-296-3555 or toll free at 866.966.5240.
