Long Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Long Beach Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Experiencing a motorcycle accident in Long Beach, California, can be extremely unsettling. Victims are often left with significant injuries and financial burdens, so the idea of taking on legal responsibilities feels crippling. However, starting a legal claim is necessary to secure compensation to recover your damages and ensure that justice is done. To help you achieve this, consider hiring a Long Beach motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as you can.

At McLachlan Law, APC, we have become well-known in the Long Beach community for helping victims of motorcycle accidents recover their losses. Our deep ties to the community and this legal discipline motivate us to secure as much compensation as possible to help victims move on with their lives. Our philosophy is to treat each case as if it were our own family, taking all the time and energy necessary to keep our clients feeling supported and thriving in the future.

What Is the Most Useful Evidence in a Motorcycle Accident Case?

To successfully earn compensation for the damages sustained in a motorcycle accident, you and your lawyer must compile and present evidence as persuasively as possible. This evidence must not only bring light to the extent of your injuries, but it must also help prove who was at fault for causing them.

Some useful evidence to introduce in your motorcycle accident case includes:

Medical Records

If you are suffering from injuries related to the motorcycle accident, you have likely sought medical care to help recover. While you are receiving treatment, all the details about your condition and recovery process are being documented. These records are imperative to your case, as they can be used to help quantify how injured you are and how much compensation should be awarded to help cover your medical care.

Police Accident Report

Whenever law enforcement is called to the scene, they will create an accident report afterward. This report will not only detail the date and location of where the accident occurred, but it should also include useful information on what the officers observed.

An example would be their suspicion of someone who was driving under the influence. It may also contain more concrete information, such as which direction each vehicle was facing when the police arrived. This can help point to who was at fault for causing the accident.

Surveillance Footage and Photographs

To provide a judge and jury with a true idea of what happened at the accident scene, surveillance footage and photographs can be vital. For example, surveillance footage from a local business could show what happened, step-by-step, to help the court determine who is at fault for causing the accident. Photographs of your vehicle’s damage or the injuries you sustained can validate your request for compensation in these areas.

Witness Statements

If anyone was nearby when the accident occurred, their account of what happened can be incredibly useful. This is especially true when it is a normal bystander who has no stake in the outcome of the case. These individuals might be able to describe what events triggered the accident to happen, like describing how the at-fault vehicle ran a red light or explaining how one of the drivers was operating their vehicle recklessly.

Expert Testimonies

Unlike a witness testimony, who shares personal observations of what they saw, an expert testimony shares their professional opinion of why something might have happened. Experts who are commonly brought in to provide these testimonials include healthcare professionals and accident reconstructionists. These individuals will review evidence, such as medical records or surveillance footage, to complement the explanations they give in court.

What Causes Motorcycle Accidents in Long Beach, CA?

The intensity of traffic in California is a well-known fact, and Long Beach is no exception to this experience. With so much traffic, the prevalence of hazards and other drivers on the road significantly increases the chances of being involved in an accident.

Some common reasons why these accidents happen include:

Distracted Drivers

One of the most significant causes of motorcycle accidents in Long Beach is distracted drivers. With the advent of technology, there are so many more reasons why someone might be distracted when driving now as compared to years ago. For example, a driver could open their mobile phone to accept a call, send a text, or change a song. When they are looking at their phone, it takes their attention away from the road and increases their chances of crashing.

Speeding

Speed limits are posted all across Long Beach to help people drive at an appropriate speed for the road conditions. When these speed limits are ignored, it can prevent the driver from being able to slow down quickly enough to avoid hazards on the road. It can also cause someone to crash into them after checking their blind spots and merging into a new lane, as they approach the merging car faster than average by speeding.

Failure to Yield

Understanding and adhering to the “right of way” rules in Long Beach can significantly reduce the number of accidents that happen on a daily basis. This is especially important for motorcycle riders, as they are much more vulnerable on their bikes as compared to people who are inside their vehicles. When they collide with someone who fails to yield, their unique vulnerabilities can cause significantly more damage and injuries.

Road Conditions

Potholes, debris, or uneven roads are all unexpected road conditions that can cause car accidents. This is why it’s important to stay vigilant while driving and not assume that the road conditions will always be perfect. With the limited shocks and extra support of a motorcycle, those who ride these bikes are more vulnerable to these types of road conditions. Hitting something like a pothole can cause a motorcyclist to lose control and cause an accident.

Driving Under the Influence

When someone gets behind the wheel under the influence of drugs or alcohol, it completely impairs their ability to respond to road hazards and operate their vehicles safely. The potential impact of making this poor decision is severe, which is why California has strict policies regarding driving under the influence. It’s typically the individual under the influence who will be charged with causing an accident.

Inexperienced Riders

Newer motorcycle riders are more prone to making mistakes while driving, which can increase the chance of an accident. This is due to not yet having the skills required to avoid unexpected road hazards. This is why it’s recommended for new riders to practice driving in more rural areas before taking on the large California highways.

Road Rage

When someone becomes angry behind the wheel, it can cause them to engage in unsafe driving behavior. Common examples of this include starting to tailgate someone who might be driving slowly or honking the horn excessively. This can raise the tension even more and encourage unsafe driving behavior, which can result in a car accident.

FAQs

Q: How Much Money Can I Make From a Motorcycle Accident Settlement?

A: Two of the most influential factors in your motorcycle accident settlement will be how severe the injuries sustained were and how much property was damaged. Regarding your injuries, the longer you are under medical care, the more expenses will total up to treat your condition. Coupling this with repairing damage from your motorcycle or any other equipment that was on board can all be quantified and reimbursed through a formal settlement.

Q: What Should I Do After a Motorcycle Accident?

A: As soon as you have moved to a safe location, call for emergency services. You need to receive medical care as soon as you can, even if your injuries seem minor. Be sure to also report all major details to the police officers who arrive on the scene. Afterward, contact your insurance company to explain what happened and better understand your coverage. To ensure that all this runs smoothly, hire a Long Beach Motorcycle Accident attorney to supervise the entire process.

Q: How Long Do Motorcycle Accident Claims Take to Settle?

A: There are many different factors that will influence how fast or slow a motorcycle accident claim will settle. Straightforward cases, where liability is clear, and no one is challenging any major details of the case, will be the quickest to close. Contested issues and a lack of a guilty plea will require the case to advance to court, where these outstanding items will be debated. This will lengthen the timeframe significantly, but it could be useful to secure the outcome you are looking for.

Q: Are There Any Surprise Fees in a Motorcycle Accident Claim?

A: While most of the costs will be clearly defined upfront by your personal injury attorney, there are a few extra expenses that might arise during the legal process. For example, it costs extra money to hire an accident reconstructionist to come in and provide their professional opinion on how the accident occurred. It might also cost extra money to interview witnesses and secure their account of what happened.

Contact McLachlan Law, APC Today

If you have recently been involved in a motorcycle accident and are unsure of what to do, contact McLachlan Law, APC, today. We have been helping clients who were involved in these atrocious accidents seek justice and compensation for the damages they have caused in their lives. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you move forward with ease and peace.