San Bernardino Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Due to the frequently catastrophic nature of accidents involving motorcycles, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have dubbed motorcycle injury prevention a public health issue. At the MKP Law Group, LLP, our San Bernardino motorcycle accident lawyers frequently work with injury victims on a contingency fee basis. If you sustain injuries because of someone else's negligence, you have rights.

We know the physical, emotional, and financial hardships that can result from injuries caused by serious accidents and work hard to ensure our clients understand their rights as we help them negotiate their settlement. Having an experienced local injury accident lawyer by your side is important to navigate the legal process and recover damages.

Here at MKP Law Group, LLP we always work on what is known as a contingency fee basis, meaning WE DON’T GET PAID UNLESS WE WIN. There are no upfront, out-of-pocket costs to our clients. Call us today at 310-285-5353 to schedule your 100% free consultation.

Who Hires a San Bernardino Motorcycle Accident Attorney?

Anyone who drives a motorcycle has undoubtedly encountered the various dangers that are associated with them. After all, this is why so many states have made it mandatory for motorcyclists to wear helmets.

Additionally, the reason this information is so well known has to do with how truly frightening the statistics on motorcycle accidents are. Did you know that over 80% of motorcycle accidents end with at least one of the parties involved suffering from serious injuries? (According to the NHTSA.)

If you have been a victim of a motorcycle accident, you need to contact a local Los Angeles personal injury attorney as soon as possible so that they can begin to build your case. Insurance companies are notorious for attempting to blame the motorcyclist first thing. We know that that’s often unjust. So, we are ready to fight for you and get you the compensation and the justice that you deserve.

Popular Local Pastime: Great Southern California Motorbike Rides

If you love riding in San Bernardino and surrounding areas, you are not alone. Check out the very popular Meetup app and you'll quickly discover Southern California is teeming with motorcycle clubs that routinely hit the road for scenic excursions.

The Idyllwild route up Highway 10 East is a favorite. From San Bernardino, it takes about an hour to get there.

What are the Odds of Sustaining a Motorcycle Accident Injury?

The CDC warns that motorcycle riders made up 14% of traffic fatalities in 2016. When you compare this to the fact that only 3% of registered vehicles are motorcycles, and only 0.6% of vehicle miles traveled are on those two wheels, the risks hit home.

You are 28 times more likely to die when riding rather than driving a car. Similarly, you are at a higher risk of sustaining severe injuries while on the road than other motorists. Even if you wear your helmet, protective upper body clothing, long pants, gloves, and padding, there is nevertheless a chance that you become injured.

Why Many Motorcycle Accidents in and around San Bernardino Happen

• Defective parts: Speak to a San Bernardino motorcycle accident lawyer if you suspect that your motorcycle was defective. Faulty parts and inexpert tune-ups can create factors that put you at risk.
• Dangerous roads: Has the city or county failed to maintain the road where your accident happened? There is a chance that the government agency that acted negligently may owe you compensation.
• Vehicle accidents: You do not have to be involved in a car collision to get caught up in it. If two cars crash and one veers off course, which causes you to lose balance, you may find yourself hitting another driver. This chain reaction is virtually impossible to escape.
• Hit-and-run crashes: Hit-and-run drivers jeopardize not only pedestrians and other motorists, but also motorcycle riders. You may be left in the wake of a car changing lanes unsafely and accidentally bumping you leaving you with a serious injury.
• Road hazards: Some riders may not even make it down their own streets. Someone mowing the lawn and blowing leaves and clippings into the road can easily derail your ride and cause injuries and damage.

What Should You Do After a Motorbike Accident?

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The shock of the impact can make it difficult to think. Here's what you need to make sure you DO:

1. Call 911

Calling emergency aid means the police and required emergency responders will arrive at the scene of the incident to provide the required support to those in need.

Plus, police will issue an official police report that will detail the accident and conclude who was at-fault for the motorcycle vehicle accident. The police will also obtain the contact and insurance information of all parties should you be unable to do so yourself.

2. Document and Collect Information

If possible, take photos of the accident scene, the vehicles involved, and your injuries. You should also get the contact and insurance information from all the drivers who were involved in the accident. Collect as much contact information as possible from any eyewitnesses.

3. Seek Immediate Medical Attention

If you or a loved one has suffered severe injuries as a result of a motorcycle or car accident, do not hesitate to seek medical treatment. It is crucial that you receive proper care as soon as possible. Even if you do not believe you were seriously hurt, you may have internal injuries or a brain injury that is not immediately apparent. Making sure you get proper medical treatment is very important for your claim.

4. Determine The Severity of Your Case

While calling your insurance carrier is important following an accident, the thing is, if you are involved in a complicated situation you should consider contacting an experienced personal injury motorcycle attorney first. Our team at MKP Law Group, LLP is happy to provide a 100% free initial consultation to evaluate your motorcycle accident injury case.

Often, insurance adjusters will attempt to get you to make damaging statements or make you lowball settlement offers for far less than your motorcycle accident claim is actually worth. Understanding how to respond to the difficult questions insurance companies will ask you without hurting your case is crucial.

This is especially problematic in cases involving dangerous head injuries, spinal cord injuries, or even wrongful death.

California Limits Your Time to Seek Compensation After a Motorcycle Accident

The state limits your time to file a claim. Even if you were severely injured or lost the motorcycle's use due to the accident, you only have two years from the date of occurrence to file a civil personal injury lawsuit. If there is a government agency involved, your time reduces to only six months.

We occasionally talk to accident victims who wait a long time to file their claims. Some feel that they will be accused of doing wrong for the ways they ride. However, considering that lane splitting is legal in California, this is not a valid concern. Adding insult to injury, it typically is not the motorcycle rider who causes the accident but the motorist who does not check their rearview mirror.

In other cases, the loved ones of an accident victim do not realize that they can sue on behalf of the individual's family and children. They may feel that because they were not there, they are not equipped to give testimony. However, considering that California is a comparative fault state, you may be entitled to compensation if your loved one had an accident in San Bernardino.

Common Injuries Sustained In Motorcycle Accidents

Rescue men are the first aid to the victims of an accident falling from a bicycle

Motorcycle accidents can cause catastrophic injury for victims and fatal motorcycle accidents can be traumatic for surviving family members.

A vehicle provides bodily protection with airbags and the car structure, which cushions the driver from the crash. Motorcyclists, however, are directly exposed to the impact.

So, often injured riders involved in accidents find themselves with life-threatening injuries.

Some of the most common injuries are:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Skull fractures
• Eye injuries
• Broken jaws, cheekbones, and noses
• Broken bones and fractures
• Dislocations
• Neck and head
• Lacerations & Road Rash
• Ligament Tears
• Back injuries and spinal cord injuries
• Internal hemorrhaging
• Internal organ injuries

The majority of these injuries require that the injured person seek emergency medical attention, including an ambulance ride. This type of medical assistance does not come cheap, and therefore, the victims of these accidents often find themselves in enormous debt from medical expenses.

Recoverable Damages from Motorcycle Accidents

Additionally, as they recover, the injured victim most likely will not be able to work, making their financial situation even more worrisome.

An injury victim's medical bills, both for past treatment and necessary future treatment, are fully recoverable. Still, there are frequently other damages we can recover on behalf of an injury victim.

Other types of damages that are recoverable in motorcycle accident claims include:

• Medical Bills & Expenses: Motorcycle injury victims are entitled to full reimbursement for all medical bills and expenses stemming from the motorcycle accident, including ER bills, prescription drug costs, physical therapy, medical equipment/devices, and continued nursing care.
• Pain and Suffering: These damages are not quantifiable with an exact dollar amount. Instead, they stem from the loss of enjoyment of life, physical pain, and suffering, difficulty performing daily activities or household tasks, loss of dignity, and inability to engage in hobbies or recreational activities.
• Loss of Earnings/Wages: These are damages that are incurred when a victim was hurt and missed work leading to the loss of wages or other income. These damages include the loss of future wages, or diminished earning capacity, as well as for past lost wages.
• Loss of Consortium: If the victim was legally married at the time of the motorcycle accident, they and their spouse are entitled to damages for loss of companionship or loss of love for deprivations to the spousal relationship (including loss of sexual relations).
• Punitive Damages: In cases where the at-fault party acted with extreme recklessness, malice, or intent to harm, victims can sue for punitive damages.
• Funeral & Burial Expenses: In a situation where the victim dies as a result of the motorcycle accident, a wrongful death claim will be brought, and we can recover any burial, funeral, or cremation expenses that were incurred as a result of the motorcycle accident.

The legal team at MKP Law Group, LLP, works with medical experts of all kinds, accident reconstructionists, economists, and all types of motorcycle experts to successfully handle motorcycle crash claims on behalf of injury victims.

We understand that every motorcycle accident claim is different. So we work closely with our clients to fully understand their damages, both physical and emotional. Working together is the only way we can help victims recover their full damages.

Remember, our team will fight the insurance companies on your behalf on a no out-of-pocket contingency basis to make sure that all injury victims receive first-class legal representation regardless of their financial situation.

Contact MKP Law Group, LLP Today for a Local San Bernardino Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

If you or someone you know was involved in a motorcycle accident, whether as a driver, passenger, or third-party, call us today at 310-285-5353 for a free consultation so that we can answer your questions in person and explain the legal process.

You need an expert injury accident lawyer who has worked on motorcycle accident case claims to take care of the complicated paperwork, legal process, and negotiate with the insurance companies.

It would be best if you did not accept any settlement offer made by the insurance company without first consulting with MKP Law Group, LLP's attorneys. As always, if we don't win your case, you don't owe us a dime.