Catastrophic Motorcycle Accident Lawyers for Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura
Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Advocating for Your Rights After a Motorcycle Crash
Riding a motorcycle can be an exhilarating experience, but it also comes with certain risks. Motorcycle accidents often result in severe injuries and fatalities due to the lack of protection for riders. If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident, it is essential to seek legal representation from an experienced accident lawyer who can help you navigate the complexities of your case and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Understanding Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents can occur for various reasons, including:
Negligent Drivers: Many motorcycle accidents are caused by the negligence of other drivers on the road. Common examples include drivers who fail to yield the right of way to motorcyclists, make unsafe lane changes, or are distracted behind the wheel.
Road Hazards: Uneven road surfaces, potholes, debris, and other road hazards pose significant risks to motorcyclists. These hazards can cause riders to lose control of their motorcycles and crash.
Defective Motorcycle Parts: Sometimes, motorcycle accidents occur due to defects in the motorcycle itself or its parts. Defective brakes, tires, steering systems, or other components can lead to accidents and injuries.
Weather Conditions: Adverse weather conditions such as rain, snow, ice, or high winds can make riding a motorcycle more hazardous, increasing the risk of accidents.
Driving Under the Influence: Motorcycle accidents involving alcohol or drug-impaired drivers are sadly common. Intoxicated drivers have impaired judgment and reduced reaction times, making them more likely to cause accidents.
Why You Need a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
After a motorcycle accident, you may be facing significant challenges, including:
Medical Bills: Motorcycle accidents often result in serious injuries that require extensive medical treatment. The cost of hospitalization, surgeries, rehabilitation, and ongoing care can quickly accumulate.
Lost Wages: If you’re unable to work due to your injuries, you may lose income and financial stability. Additionally, if your injuries prevent you from returning to work in the future, you may suffer a loss of earning capacity.
Pain and Suffering: Motorcycle accident injuries can cause physical pain, emotional distress, and a diminished quality of life. Compensation for pain and suffering aims to provide financial relief for the intangible losses you’ve experienced.
Legal Complexity: Motorcycle accident cases can be complex, involving issues such as liability determination, insurance disputes, and navigating the legal system. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can handle these complexities on your behalf, allowing you to focus on your recovery.
How a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, or Ventura Can Help
A skilled accident lawyer can provide invaluable assistance in various ways:
Investigation: Your lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances of your accident, gathering evidence such as police reports, witness statements, photographs, and accident reconstruction reports.
Legal Guidance: Your lawyer will explain your rights and legal options, guiding you through the process of filing a claim or lawsuit against the at-fault party.
Negotiation: Your lawyer will negotiate with the insurance company to seek fair compensation for your injuries and losses. Insurance companies often try to settle claims for less than they’re worth, but your lawyer will fight to ensure you receive full and fair compensation.
Litigation: If a fair settlement cannot be reached, your lawyer will be prepared to take your case to trial. They will advocate for you in court, presenting evidence and arguments to support your claim and maximize your chances of success.
Case Management: Your lawyer will handle all aspects of your case, including paperwork, deadlines, and communication with insurance adjusters and other parties involved. This allows you to focus on your recovery without the stress of managing your legal case.
Contact Us Today for a Free Consultation
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, don’t wait to seek legal help. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced accident lawyers. We’ll review your case, explain your legal options, and help you take the necessary steps to protect your rights and seek the compensation you deserve. Call the Akopyan Law Firm, A.P.C. today at (818) 509-9975 or contact us online to schedule a complimentary case evaluation with a motorcycle accident attorney in Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, or Ventura.
Featured Motorcycle Accident Case:
Amezcua v. Los Angeles Harley-Davidson, Inc., 200 Cal. App. 4th 217 (2011)
The 2006 Toy Ride took place on November 26, 2006. Participants could preregister or they could register immediately before the ride at the Harley–Davidson dealership on Paramount Blvd. in South Gate, where the 2006 Toy Ride began. Registration included signing a release form that Harley–Davidson used for all annual Toy Rides. That form stated in part: “… I expressly agree to assume the entire risk of any accident or personal injury, including death, which I might suffer as a result of my participation in the event whether such risk result from negligence (except willful neglect) on the part of any or all of the Released Parties.” The morning of the ride, Los Angeles County Police Sergeant Bradley Sheffield made some opening remarks to the crowd gathered at the dealership. Afterwards, Sheffield and an officer dressed as Santa Claus got into a marked Los Angeles County Police vehicle and led the procession of motorcycles to Harbor UCLA Medical Center on Carson Street in Torrance, along a route that included the 105 and 110 Freeways. While en route, Sheffield received word that a motorcycle had gone down.
Robert was an experienced motorcyclist and had participated in dozens of organized motorcycle rides, including several prior Toy Rides organized by Harley–Davidson. In the past, Robert had registered to participate in Harley–Davidson organized Toy Rides, including signing the release form. But Robert chose to ride in the 2006 Toy Ride without registering or signing the release. Robert estimated that there were about 200 motorcycles in the 2006 Toy Ride. Robert was driving and Nancy was seated behind him when they left the dealership towards the rear of the procession; they remained in that position throughout the ride. All of the motorcycles in the procession stayed in one lane on the freeways, which Robert referred to as the “motorcycle lane.” Robert did not see any vehicles in the motorcycle lane that were not part of the 2006 Toy Ride, although there were a number of vehicles in the other lanes. While on the 110 Freeway, Robert and the other motorcycles were in the lane to the left of the lane in which vehicles transitioning onto the 110 Freeway from the 91 Freeway were traveling. Another motorcycle was riding in the same lane as the Amezcuas, to the Amezcuas’ immediate right. Robert first saw a van “way ahead” and in the lane to his right. As traffic got heavier, the lane in which the van was traveling slowed faster than the lane in which Robert was riding; as a result, the distance between Robert’s motorcycle and the van shortened. Robert noticed that, although the van was staying within its own lane, it more than once moved closer to the motorcycle lane and then moved away again. Although the van did not have its turning signal on, Robert surmised that the driver of the van was either distracted by the motorcycle procession or he wanted to cross through the line of motorcycles. Robert signaled the motorcycle to his right to slow down so as to create a gap between them and the motorcycles ahead of them for the van to pass through. Robert saw the van hit the car in front of it, but the van did not stop. As Robert slowed down to leave room for the van to pass through the motorcycle lane, the motorcycle to Robert’s right sped up to pass the van and catch up with the procession. At the same moment that motorcycle was pulling ahead of the Amezcuas, the van started to move into the gap Robert had created for the van to pass through. As a result, the other motorcycle and the van were in the gap at the same time. The van almost hit the motorcycle, but swerved back into its lane. The other motorcycle sped up and passed the van, but the van swerved back into the motorcycle lane and, this time, hit the Amezcuas. The record does not reveal the nature or extent of their injuries. Jose Medina, driver of the van that collided with the Amezcuas, recalled that he was traveling on the southbound 110 Freeway when he was startled by the roar of 15 or 20 motorcycles behind him. Medina could not brake in time to avoid hitting a vehicle in front of him. At the moment Medina hit that vehicle, a motorcycle “also came in, and I don’t know how they fell also at the same time. That’s all.” The Amezcuas filed this action against Harley–Davidson in July 2007. Harley–Davidson sought summary judgment on various theories. One theory was that the Amezcuas claims were barred by the assumption of risk doctrine. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of Harley–Davidson on this theory, holding that Harley–Davidson owed no duty to the Amezcuas. On appeal, the Court of Appeal held that the doctrine of primary assumption of risk applied to motorcycle procession, and that the organizer did not increase the risks inherent in motorcycle procession.
Areas Served:
The litigation and trial attorneys of the Akopyan Law Firm, A.P.C. provide services throughout Southern California including but not limited to Adelanto, Agoura Hills, Alhambra, Aliso Viejo, Altadena, Anaheim, Apple Valley, Arcadia, Arleta, Atwater Village, Azuza, Bakersfield, Baldwin Park, Banning, Beaumont, Bell, Bell Gardens, Bellflower, Beverly Hills, Blythe, Boyle Heights, Brea, Brentwood, Buena Park, Burbank, Calabasas, Calimesa, Camarillo, Canoga Park, Canyon Lake, Carson, Cathedral City, Cerritos, Chatsworth, Chino Hills, Chino, Claremont, Coachella, Colton, Compton, Costa Mesa, Corona, Covina, Culver City, Cypress, Dana Point, Desert Hot Springs, Diamond Bar, Downey, Duarte, Eagle Rock, East Hollywood, East Los Angeles, Eastvale, Echo Park, El Monte, El Segundo, El Sereno, Encino, Fontana, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Gardena, Garden Grove, Glassell Park, Glendale, Glendora, Granada Hills, Hacienda Heights, Hawthorne, Hemet, Hesperia, Highland Park, Highland, Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, Huntington Beach, Huntington Park, Indian Wells, Indio, Inglewood, Irvine, Jurupa Valley, La Canada Flintridge, La-Crescenta Montrose, La Habra, La Mirada, La Palma, La Puente, La Quinta, La Verne, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lakewood, Lake Balboa, Lake Elsinore, Lake Forest, Lancaster, Lawndale, Lincoln Heights, Loma Linda, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Los Angeles, Los Feliz, Lynwood, Manhattan Beach, Mar Vista, Maywood, Menifee, Mission Hills, Mission Viejo, Monrovia, Montclair, Montebello, Monterey Park, Moorpark, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Newbury Park, Newhall, Newport Beach, Norco, North Hills, North Hollywood, Northridge, Norwalk, Ontario, Orange, Oxnard, Pacific Palisades, Pacoima, Palos Verdes, Palmdale, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Panorama City, Paramount, Pasadena, Perris, Pico Rivera, Placentia, Pomona, Porter Ranch, Rancho Cucamonga, Rancho Mirage, Rancho Santa Margarita, Redondo Beach, Reseda, Rialto, Riverside, Rosemead, Rowland Heights, San Bernardino, San Clemente, San Dimas, San Gabriel, San Fernando, San Jacinto, San Juan Capistrano, San Pedro, Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Santa Monica, Sawtelle, Seal Beach, Shadow Hills, Sherman Oaks, Silver Lake, Simi Valley, South El Monte, South Gate, South Pasadena, South Whittier, Stanton, Studio City, Sun Valley, Sunland, Sylmar, Tarzana, Temecula, Temple City, Thousand Oaks, Toluca Lake, Torrance, Tujunga, Tustin, Twentynine Palms, Upland, Valencia, Valley Glen, Valley Village, Van Nuys, Ventura, Victorville, Walnut, West Covina, West Hills, West Hollywood, West Puente alley, Westchester, Westminster, Westwood, Whittier, Wildomar, Winnetka, Woodland Hills, Yorba Linda
Call (818) 509-9975 to schedule your complimentary case evaluation with our motorcycle accident attorneys in Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, or Ventura