Salinas Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

California Motorcycle Accident Statistics

Motorcycle accidents have unfortunately become all too common. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) annual report, in 2017, motorcycle accidents resulted in 14,148 injured motorcyclists and 566 motorcyclist fatalities. Of those injured, 1,811 (12.8%) did not indicate that safety equipment was used.

Even more troubling is that the mileage death rate, or the number of persons killed per 100 million miles of travel, increased each year from 2014 to 2017. In 2017, the mileage death rate was 1.13.

The fact remains that a motorcycle accident can happen to anyone. Thus, while you can never prevent an accident from occurring with any certainty, it’s always important to remain cautious and vigilant while traveling on California roads.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

A motorcycle accident can happen at just about any time due to a variety of factors. However, some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents in California include:

• Riding at unsafe speeds,
• Improper passing,
• Unsafe lane changes,
• Improper turning,
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol,
• Riding on the wrong side of the road,
• Faulty or failure to use safety equipment,
• Lane splitting, and
• Following too closely behind other vehicles.

Each case is different, and there are a number of other causes that may lead to a motorcycle accident. Regardless of the precise cause, if another party’s unsafe actions or inaction contributed to your motorcycle accident and resulting injuries, you may have a legal claim for recovery.

Common Injuries After a California Motorcycle Accident

In 2017, motorcycle accidents in California resulted in 931 suspected minor injuries and 489 suspected serious injuries.

According to the SWITRS report, examples of minor injuries include:

• Lumps on the head,
• Abrasions,
• Bruises, and
• Minor lacerations.

Minor lacerations include cuts on the skin surface with minimal bleeding and no deeper tissue or muscle exposure.

Conversely, serious injuries included those that were not fatal but that resulted in at least one of the following:

• Severe lacerations resulting in significant blood loss or exposure of underlying tissue, muscle, or organs;
• Broken or distorted extremities;
• Crush injuries;
• Skull, chest, or abdominal injuries other than bruises or minor lacerations;
• 2nd or 3rd degree burns covering 10% or more of the body;
• Unconsciousness when taken from the crash scene; and
• Paralysis or spinal injury.

No matter what particular type of injuries you sustain, the pathway to recovery can be painful, difficult, and costly. Thus, it is imperative that you have someone on your side who can fight for your rights and help you maximize what your case is worth.

Is There an Average Settlement for Motorcycle Accidents?

No, unfortunately, there is no “average” settlement for motorcycle accidents in California. This is because the value of your potential settlement will depend on the particular facts and circumstances surrounding your case. For example, your potential settlement could vary widely depending on factors such as:

• The extent and severity of your injuries,
• Whether the opposing party had adequate insurance coverage,
• The availability of eyewitness statements,
• The amount of time you have to spend away from work while you recover from your injuries, and
• Whether and to what extent you were partially at fault in causing the accident.

Thus, it’s nearly impossible to ascertain an average settlement amount.

Nevertheless, an experienced motorcycle accident personal injury lawyer will know what factors to look at in your particular case to help you determine what your case might reasonably be worth.

Silva Injury Law: Your Salinas Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

Many injury victims wonder whether they really need an attorney to assist with their case. And while it’s true that there’s no law requiring you to hire legal counsel, doing so is often one of the best ways to maximize your recovery.

Of course, we can never guarantee any particular results in a given case. However, our Salinas motorcycle accident lawyers can help you:

• Assess your claims and the number of damages you may be entitled to seek,
• Gather crucial evidence to help support your claims,
• Locate potential witnesses to testify on your behalf,
•  Negotiate with opposing parties, and
• Take your case to trial when settlement is not feasible.

At Silva Injury Law, we can help you with these items and much more. And although settlements are significant in some circumstances, we recognize that settling is not always the best outcome. That’s why our trial lawyers will never take on a case that we are not prepared to present to a jury at trial.

No matter what it takes, we will be there to fight for your rights to the fullest extent of the law at every step along the way. When you’re ready to discuss your case with an experienced personal injury attorney, contact our team for your free consultation.