For many people, exploring California’s abundant scenic drives, whether that’s going through the desert, along the coast, through the state’s deepest canyon or around the crystal-clear waters of Lake Tahoe, means getting aboard a motorcycle. Whether you’re commuting or you are out for a relaxing and scenic ride, getting aboard a motorcycle comes with a unique set of risks. According to federal research, one of the most dangerous settings for a motorcyclist is not on the open road bur when that biker approaches a vehicle whose driver desires to turn left. Some 42% of the worst motorcycle accidents happen in that scenario.
Too many times, the driver simply does not maintain the high level of awareness needed and misses the motorcycle’s presence on the road. Often times, these and other motorcycle accidents end with the biker either dead or seriously injured. When that happens, you should look to a skilled San Mateo injury attorney to help you and your family get the recovery you deserve.
Local news is a reminder of this harsh reality related to motorcycles. Just before Easter, a motorcyclist traveling along Highway 101 here in San Mateo County was killed the wee hours of the morning. An SUV and the motorcycle crashed into one another between Menlo Park and East Palo Alto, with the motorcyclist pronounced dead at the scene, according to a
Mercury News report. The man was the second motorcyclist to die in the South Bay area within a one-week period.
Whether you were hurt, or a loved one was killed, aboard a motorcycle, there are several things that you should know. Here are two big things:
- Don’t be too easily discouraged
- Take action as quickly as you can
One piece of negative evidence doesn’t automatically equate to doom for your case
Regrettably, biases of all sorts still exist, and they sometimes skew the thinking of people, including law enforcement officers. Many people see all motorcyclists as reckless drivers. This can lead to many kinds of problems. Mostly, whether the person in question is a witness or a police officer, the fundamental problem is that they didn’t actually see the crash but made certain assumptions anyway that colored their statements. They may claim the motorcyclist was speeding or was driving aggressively, even though they don’t actually have proof of that.
The point of that is to remind you never to give up too easily, even though the other side may try to get you to do so. Just because there is an unfavorable police report or witness statement against you, that doesn’t mean you can’t still win your case. With the accumulation of enough strong evidence in your favor, such as contrasting witness statements and persuasive forensic evidence from the crash scene and an accident reconstruction expert, you conceivably can overcome that potentially harmful report or statement.
Take care of your health first, but then take care of your legal rights
Obviously, the first thing to do after your motorcycle accident is to ensure that you and your passenger (if you had one) are OK medically. After that, though, taking speedy legal action can be vital. Our team can place knowledgeable investigators at the accident scene to make sure that valuable evidence isn’t swept away or otherwise lost or destroyed. This may be essential to making your case as powerful and persuasive as possible to get you the full recovery you deserve.
Motorcycle crashes can cause very serious damage to bikers and their passengers. That can be many things, including broken bones, spinal damage, traumatic brain injuries, knee/elbow/wrist/shoulder problems and extreme “road rash.” Getting what you need out of your case means more than simply getting a judgment of liability. It means getting that judgment against all of the right defendants for the full amount of your harm, including medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering and more.
Be sure you know what to do after your
motorcycle crash has taken place. Start by reaching out to San Mateo personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos. Our attorneys have been helping people for many years and have handled a wide array of vehicle accident cases, including motorcycle crash injuries. To set up a free consultation with one of our experienced attorneys, contact us at 650-345-8484 or through our website.
