Orange County Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Many Orange County residents use motorcycles for their daily commute. When there are many motorcycle riders on the road, motorcycle crashes and motorcycle fatalities are inevitable. As per the OC OTS 2018 crash rankings, about 1,135 of 20,145 fatal and injury crashes involved motorcycle riders. If you’ve been in a motorcycle crash, you join the list of motorcycle accident victims seeking compensation for their catastrophic injuries.

Motorcycle accidents
Source – https://www.gaytravel.com/gay-blog/motorcycle-accidents-statistics

If you want to speed up the process and get compensation for your damages, you need to hire a skilled motorcycle attorney. Motorcycle accident attorneys know the law inside out and can strike a favorable deal with the insurance company. If you need to hire experienced motorcycle accident attorneys in Orange County, schedule a free consultation with Timothy J. Ryan & Associates. 

Contact our Orange County motorcycle accident lawyer to get started on your motorcycle accident case. 

Common Injuries From Orange County Motorcycle Accidents 

Injuries from motorcycle accidents can be gruesome, given that motorcyclists don’t have much protection besides their helmets. Unfortunately, helmets can only do so much for an unlucky motorcycle accident victim. Here are some of the most common injuries that injured motorcycle riders experience: 

Spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury are widespread in catastrophic motorcycle accidents. An injured motorcyclist could have to go through a series of treatments, including physical therapy and surgeries. All of this can prove to be extremely expensive because of high medical bills and other financial losses such as lost wages and property damage.

If your accident occurred due to distracted driving or another kind of negligence, you could recover fair compensation from the negligent driver’s insurer by filing a motorcycle accident claim. Before you take any legal action, you need strong legal representation to prove your case. Personal injury attorneys can make the case a lot easier. Timothy J. Ryan & Associates is the law firm to contact if you’re looking for an Orange County motorcycle accident lawyer. If you’ve been in a car accident or an auto accident, seek medical attention and schedule a consultation with us afterward. 

Common Causes Of Motorcycle Accidents 

More often than not, motorcycle accidents occur due to the negligence of motor vehicle drivers. Motorcyclists are extremely vulnerable, which is why even the slightest mistakes on the part of motorcyclists or drivers could lead to accidents. Here are some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents:

  • Reckless driving 
  • Speeding 
  • Distracted driving
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Aggressive driving 
  • Defective motor vehicle parts 
  • Hazardous road conditions 
  • Bad weather conditions 

If you suffered serious injuries because of any of these reasons, you could hold the at-fault driver responsible for their negligence. They owe you a duty of care, and by engaging in distracted, reckless, drunk, or aggressive driving, you can sue them for violating their duty. A good lawyer will brief you on the next steps you can take because you may have several legal options available. A motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to summarize the advantages and disadvantages of each course of action, allowing you to make an informed decision on how you want to proceed. 

Schedule a free consultation with Timothy J. Ryan & Associates. We are a personal injury law firm in Orange County that has helped several motorcycle accident victims get the compensation they deserve. We can help you get justice for your pain and suffering. Contact us to get started. 

What To Do After Motorcycle Accidents

After a motorcycle accident, it’s important to take all the right steps to ensure that you get timely medical attention for your severe injuries and help bolster your case. If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, here is what you should do. 

Call 911

If you’ve suffered motorcycle injuries, you need to get immediate medical attention from a medical professional. You should call 911 so the dispatcher can send an ambulance and the police. The police report from their investigation will be able to help your motorcycle accident lawyer build your case. 

Gather Evidence

For your motorcycle accident injury claim, you have to prove negligence on the part of the at-fault driver. So, you have to gather evidence, such as photos and videos of the accident scene, witness statements, and more, to prove that it was another’s negligence that led to your injuries. While you’re at the scene, make sure that you get the contact and insurance information of the at-fault driver and the contact information of eyewitnesses. 

Document your injuries

If you want to recover compensation for your medical expenses, you have to document your serious injuries to prove them to the insurance company or the judge. While you’re at the hospital, make sure that you get a copy of your medical record and invoices. Take photos and videos of your wounds as well. 

Contact an Orange County motorcycle accident lawyer

Once you’re able, you should hire an Orange County motorcycle accident attorney and have them take charge. An accident lawyer will take care of all the legal aspects of your personal injury case. They can help you in several ways. Here is a rundown of everything motorcycle accident lawyers can do for injured motorcyclists. 

File a personal injury claim

Orange County motorcycle accident lawyers can file the paperwork on your behalf. They can also interpret all the legal documents and laws so you can make an informed decision on how you want to proceed with your case. They can also do all the legwork while you get the time to recover fully from your motorcycle accident injuries and pain. 

Calculate your motorcycle accident damages

The damages include everything you have suffered so far, including your medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, physical and mental therapy, and other damages you may have incurred. They would also factor your share of fault into the equation if you were partially at fault for the accident. This can only be done by people who have prior experience in calculating damages in personal injury cases. Timothy J. Ryan & Associates can help ascertain the worth of your Orange County motorcycle accident claim. 

Write a demand letter and negotiate with the insurance company

The insurers will do everything in their power to reduce your compensation, regardless of whether their client was at fault for your motorcycle injuries. A skilled legal negotiator can help by negotiating a fair settlement with the insurance company. If you want to stand a chance at winning a settlement, you have to hire an experienced motorcycle accident attorney. 

Represent you in court

If the negotiations with the insurance company don’t work out, you’d have to file an Orange County motorcycle accident lawsuit against the defendant to recover compensation. Not only can a knowledgeable lawyer file the legal paperwork, but they can represent your interests in the courts. The legal team of Timothy J. Ryan & Associates can fight your case in the courts to get you the compensation you deserve. Schedule a free consultation with us today to get started on your case. 

Why Choose Timothy J. Ryan & Associates, Orange County, CA

Timothy J. Ryan & Associates is a personal injury law firm in Orange County, CA, with 40 years of experience in the legal representation of victims in all kinds of personal injury cases. We have cumulatively recovered over $1 billion for our clients. We stop at nothing while pursuing justice for our clients. We understand just how painful an accident can be, both for the victim and their family members. To save you from experiencing any more pain, we take it upon ourselves to deal with your case’s legal aspects. 

From collecting evidence to speaking to the witnesses and negotiating with the insurance company, we take care of all the hard work of the case while you take your time to heal from your Orange County motorcycle accident injuries. We spare no expense in getting you the compensation you deserve. We negotiate with the insurance company and attempt to persuade them to give you the settlement you deserve. If the negotiations fail, we will take the matter to court to get justice. If you want to get started on your case right away, schedule a consultation with our motorcycle lawyers. Speak to us as soon as possible after your accident. 

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Frequently Asked Questions 

How are most motorcycle accidents different from car accidents?

Motorcycle accident cases are different from other types of accident cases in several ways, but the severity of injuries sets them apart. Motorcycle riders are extremely vulnerable because they have nothing to protect them except their helmets. Helmets can only do so much to protect the head against impact, and even then, the rest of the motorcyclist’s body remains vulnerable to damage. 

What is the average personal injury settlement in California?

Personal injuries and fatal accidents can include many accidents, including car, motorcycle, and truck accidents. The average settlement of every kind of personal injury case is different, as is the extent of injuries. There is no way of pinpointing an exact figure of personal injury settlement in California since various factors play a role in determining the case’s worth. These include the circumstances leading to the accident, the exact cause of the accident, the nature and extent of your injuries, your share of fault, among other things. However, on average, you can expect a personal injury settlement to be around $150,000, which is the median compensatory award for personal injury trials in California, including Orange County. 

What type of compensation can I get?

In a standard motorcycle accident case, you can recover compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, loss of earning capacity, and more. Non-economic or general damages consist of damages that cannot be easily quantified. Usually, motorcycle accidents result in pain and suffering that the victims and their family members go through after an injury. Punitive damages can be awarded in some cases.

 In a wrongful death claim, medical bills, funeral and burial expenses, and compensation for loss of parental guidance are included. You would have to speak to a knowledgeable motorcycle accident attorney and get expert counsel on your case. They would be able to calculate the overall damages for you. 

Should I talk to the insurance company?

If you are a motorcycle rider who has been in an accident in Orange County, the insurance adjuster of the negligent party would likely establish contact with you soon. They would try to reduce your compensation amount as much as possible, so it’s best to limit communications with them until you’ve hired a lawyer. Talk to the insurance adjuster only with your lawyer present, so you don’t end up agreeing to an unfavorable deal. Contact a motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible after the accident, and talk to the insurance carrier only with your lawyer present.

If you are an injured motorcyclist who has suffered a serious injury due to someone else’s negligence, contact Timothy J. Ryan & Associates – we are legal experts who know how to handle a personal injury claim.