Trusted Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Sacramento

motorcycle on fireIf you were injured in a Sacramento motorcycle accident caused by the carelessness of another motorist, you may be entitled to financial compensation for medical expenses and other damages from your injuries.

The Sacramento motorcycle accident lawyers at the Arnold Law Firm are prepared to manage every aspect of your injury claim. We are devoted to holding negligent drivers accountable for injuries and aggressively pursuing compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and other damages. Our firm has more than 40 years of experience pursuing and recovering fair compensation for victims of all types of motor vehicle accidents. This includes a $10.2 million verdict in a case involving a fatal motorcycle collision.

We offer 100 percent free case reviews and do not get paid unless you receive compensation.

Click here to contact us and schedule your free consultation.

Common Motorcycle Accidents in Sacramento

motorcycle riderWhen you search for a motorcycle accident lawyer in Sacramento, look for a law firm that has either managed a case similar to yours or has handled cases involving a wide variety of motorcycle collisions, such as:

  • Rear-end crashes at intersections – These accidents happen when a driver is approaching an intersection and crashes into the rear of a motorcycle. The impact can knock the rider off of their bike, potentially leading to severe or life-threatening injuries.
  • Right-of-way collisions – These occur when a motorist crashes into you when you have the right of way. One type of right-of-way collision occurs when a car changes lanes and crashes into you. Another type is when a car pulls out of a parking lot or side street and hits a motorcyclist who is passing by.
  • Parked-car accidents – These often occur in downtown areas where there are parallel parking spots next to active lanes of traffic. A driver opens his or her car door without checking to see if any traffic is coming and the motorcyclist crashes into the door.
  • Left-turn accidents – These accidents are often fatal. They occur when a motorcyclist is passing through an intersection and a driver heading the opposite way attempts to make a left turn in front of the motorcyclist.

Injuries from Motorcycle Collisions

two ridersMotorcycle crashes like the ones mentioned above often lead to severe injuries because motorcycles do not have seat belts, airbags or other safety protections like regular passenger vehicles. Motorcycle jackets, helmets and gloves are designed to protect the rider, but have limited effectiveness with collisions involving higher speeds and impact.

Motorcycle injuries can include:

  • Broken bones, particularly in the arms and legs
  • Spine and back injuries, like quadriplegia or paraplegia
  • Road rash
  • Concussion
  • Orthopedic problems, including torn ligaments
  • Disfigurement
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Head injuries
  • Lost limbs
  • Internal injuries

These and many other motorcycle accident injuries could require extensive, ongoing treatment before you have a chance of returning to your level of health before the crash.

If you have reason to believe your accident and injuries were caused by another driver’s negligence, contact our motorcycle accident attorneys in Sacramento for a free, no obligation legal consultation.

Fill out a Free Case Evaluation form today to start the legal process.

Causes of Sacramento Motorcycle Accidents

open road Riding a motorcycle is inherently dangerous, because motorcycles do not have seat belts, airbags or other safety protections found in cars. Minor hazards like potholes, uneven lanes, loose gravel and wet roadways can also more easily cause a motorcycle to crash, resulting in serious injury or death.

In addition, many motorcycle collisions are caused by negligence on the part of another driver. Common examples of driver negligence are:

  • Impaired driving – Drinking and driving impairs visibility and reaction time, which puts motorcyclists in greater danger because their vehicles are smaller and more difficult to spot.
  • Distracted driving – Unfortunately, more and more drivers are focused on their smartphones, radios, in-car conversations, or eating and drinking while they are behind the wheel. This puts everyone on the road, including motorcyclists, in danger.
  • Failing to yield – Drivers are so used to looking for oncoming cars that they often do not see motorcycles. They could hit motorcycles while making a left turn through an intersection or pulling out onto a road when they are supposed to yield to oncoming traffic.
  • Not checking blind spots – Not checking blind spots is a common bad habit among drivers. If they do not check their blind spots, they can veer right into a motorcyclist, potentially killing them or causing serious injury.
  • Speeding – This can be a factor in many types of motorcycle accidents, including rear-end crashes and left-turn accidents. Speeding lessens the amount of time drivers have to slow down or make a maneuver to avoid a collision.

If your accident was caused by a violation of traffic laws or any other form of negligence, evidence will need to be collected to prove that someone else is at fault. The Sacramento motorcycle accident lawyers at the Arnold Law Firm conduct a comprehensive investigation to collect evidence to prove what happened. If we take your case, we will:

  • Take pictures of both vehicles and any other important evidence from the scene
  • Review the police report, as it may contain the officer’s opinion on who was at fault
  • Take pictures of your injuries throughout the course of treatment
  • Talk to eyewitnesses for more details about the crash
  • Talk to medical experts to learn about the severity of your injuries

This will help us build a case and pursue the compensation you deserve.

Contact the Arnold Law Firm today for a free consultation. Call (916) 777-7777.

Compensation for Motorcycle Crash Injuries

There are two ways to obtain compensation after a motorcycle crash:

  • File an insurance claim – Most motorcycle accident cases are resolved through a motorcycle insurance claim. California is a fault state, which means the at-fault driver’s insurance company is financially responsible for your damages. You can also file a claim with your own insurance company.
  • File a personal injury lawsuit – If your attorney is unable to obtain fair compensation through an insurance claim, a personal injury lawsuit may be appropriate for your situation.

Past, Current and Future Medical Bills

Treating a motorcycle injury, even a minor one, can be very expensive when considering appointments with doctors, the cost of prescriptions and medical procedures. Be sure to save all receipts and bills from any treatment you receive after an injury. If you have proof of a medical expense related to your injury, we may be able to obtain compensation for it. Medical expenses related to your treatment may include:

  • All surgeries after the crash
  • Transportation to the hospital in an ambulance
  • Physical therapy appointments
  • Trips to the doctor
  • X-rays and MRIs
  • Prescription medications for pain

Lost Wages

Motorcycle injuries may result in severe physical limitations as victims are recovering, hindering their ability to work. You may also have to leave work for medical appointments for further treatment.

While you may have vacation or sick time you can use, an extensive recovery time period can cause you to miss a significant number of work days for which you are not compensated.  Our attorneys may be able to recover compensation for the time you missed work because of your injury. This can help prevent your injury from turning into a financial catastrophe because of your lost income.

Lost Earning Capacity

Even after your treatment is over, you may not be in the same level of health you were before the accident. This might mean that you may need to change careers, work fewer hours or take on fewer responsibilities. These changes could permanently reduce your current and future earning capacity, making it harder to support yourself and your family.

An experienced lawyer can pursue compensation for lost earning capacity because of your injuries. We work to ensure all the relevant factors are given proper consideration when the value of lost earning capacity is being determined; this includes your education, experience, salary history and skills.

Damage to Your Motorcycle

Motorcycles often sustain serious damage in an accident. If the accident was caused by another driver, you may be able to recover compensation to repair your motorcycle or replace the fair market value of the bike.

Pain and Suffering

Our legal team may be able to pursue compensation for your physical pain. You may also be entitled to compensation for the emotional and psychological effects of your injury. For instance, some accident victims become depressed, angry, or anxious about their resulting physical limitations or pain. They may also experience debilitating stress from lack of sleep or dealing with mobility limitations or physical weakness.

The experienced lawyers at our firm have many years of experience with properly documenting our clients’ pain and suffering. We know how to collect evidence that may improve your chances of receiving the compensation you deserve for pain and suffering.

Punitive Damages

In certain severe situations, punitive damages may also be awarded to the injury victim. These damages are generally administered if a motorist has gone beyond what most would consider a safe and reasonable level of conduct in a public environment. For example, if the at-fault driver was driving recklessly or had any kind of impairment, you may be able to collect punitive damages as part of the settlement or jury award.

Our motorcycle accident attorneys are prepared to manage every aspect of your personal injury lawsuit or insurance claim. This allows you to focus on what is most important: your recovery and trying to restore your life to the way it was before the accident.

Laws Affecting Your Claim

Why Hire a Motorcycle Accident Attorney?There are many laws in California that may affect your accident claim.

For example, California’s pure comparative negligence law governs situations where the victim is partially responsible for his or her injuries. Under this law, your compensation award will be reduced by your percentage of fault for the accident. For example, if you are found to be 80 percent responsible, your compensation award will be reduced by 80 percent.

Another law to be aware of is the statute of limitations for personal injury claims. This law sets deadlines for filing a personal injury lawsuit for your motorcycle accident. This means that you have a limited amount of time from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. If you miss the deadline, you will be unable to file a lawsuit.

An experienced lawyer knows these laws, how to determine when the statute of limitations ends on your claim and how to deal with the comparative fault law in the courtroom and insurance claims process. Our attorneys will make sure your claim is filed on time and you are not assigned a higher percentage of fault than you deserve.

Contact Our Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today

Sacramento Motorcycle Accident LawyersHave you or someone that you love suffered a serious motorcycle accident injury due to the negligence of another motorist? Deciding to ride a motorcycle does not mean you have agreed to pay for someone else’s mistakes.

The team of highly trained attorneys at the Arnold Law firm can help you pursue fair compensation for medical costs and other expenses. We have decades of experience helping personal injury victims throughout Sacramento and have won millions in successful verdicts and settlements for our clients.

To find out how we can help, please contact us today. There is no obligation for the initial case review and we work on a contingency basis, which means if we agree to fight for your legal rights, you will pay a fee only if we recover compensation.

Fill out a Free Case Evaluation form today or call us at (916) 777-7777.