There are many different forms of transportation that are legal on this country’s roads. Some people choose to drive their own personal passenger vehicle while others take the bus or ride a motorcycle. Unfortunately, California motorcycle accidents have the potential of leaving a rider with serious injuries. Most accidents are not the fault of the motorcyclists.
Because there is basically no barriers between the rider, an oncoming car and the roadway, many motorcycle accidents leave a driver with serious, often fatal, injuries. In fact, some statistics indicate that, compared to a person in a traditional passenger vehicle, a motorcyclist is significantly more likely to be killed in an accident. Additionally, a person on a motorcycle is five times more likely to be injured.
Many accidents involving motorcycles may be caused because they are smaller than traditional motor vehicles. In fact, some reports show that almost 70 percent of accidents involving an accident and motor vehicle were caused because the driver of the motor vehicle violated the motorcyclist’s right of way. Unfortunately, the number of motorcyclists killed in an accident has doubled in the last 15 years.
Beyond the injuries, motorcycle accidents can have significant financial ramifications. For instance, a person suffering a serious injury in an accident may have a long period of hospitalization followed by rehabilitation. He or she may not be able to return to work in the same capacity, if at all. A person in California who has been the victim of such an event has options to help cope with such a situation if the accident was caused by another person’s negligence. However, laws governing motorcycles and insurance vary from state to state, making it helpful to seek assistance from an experienced attorney who is knowledgeable about state laws and local court procedures.
Source: Findlaw, “Motorcycle Accidents: Overview“, Oct. 18, 2014