The rate of fatal accidents involving at least one motorcycle has been going up for decades. Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that people on motorcycles are, per mile driven, roughly 28 times more likely to die on board their bikes as compared to people in cars, trucks or SUVs. Many times, those accidents occur through no fault of the motorcyclist involved. If you’ve been hurt in a crash while you were aboard a motorcycle, don’t wait to take action. Reach out promptly to contact an experienced San Mateo motorcycle accident attorney.
One of the more commonly occurring situations that can place a motorcyclist in danger of severe harm is a vehicle whose driver is coming in the opposite direction and contemplating a left turn. If that car, truck or SUV driver goes ahead and turns in front of you, your choices may be few… with none of them good.
You may have to choose between swerving, laying your bike down or trying to stop. All of these options create the possibility of your being thrown from your bike, which places you in serious danger of major injury or death. These include severe road rash, broken bones, brain injury or being run over by another vehicle.
A tragic crash from the southern part of the state is an example of this type of accident. The Bakersfield Californian reported that a man and a juvenile were aboard a motorcycle northwest of downtown Bakersfield. A woman driving an SUV “made a left turn in front of the westbound motorcycle when the collision happened,” according to the Bakersfield Police. The collision left both the man and the juvenile down in the road. The man had “life-threatening injuries,” and the young person was dead, according to the report.
The police also indicated that “the factors of speed and sobriety are still to be determined.”
Indeed, issues like speed often come up in motorcycle crash cases. In an attempt to avoid or minimize their liability, a car, truck or SUV driver who turned in front of you may try to play upon the stereotype of motorcyclists as reckless and assert that you were speeding and that your speed caused (or at least contributed to) the accident.
The right legal representation can make all the difference
That’s why having the right legal team is essential if you’re a motorcyclist injured in a crash. With the right legal team on your side, you can be confident that your attorneys will have investigators on the scene as soon as possible to make sure helpful evidence isn’t swept or washed away.
Your legal team also can help you decide if your case would benefit from one or more expert witnesses. In motorcycle crash cases, an accident reconstruction expert potentially can provide the jury with essential aid in making sense of what those skid mark photos, vehicle “black box” recorder data and other pieces of evidence mean with regard to what you – and the other driver — were or weren’t doing in the moments before the collision.
An effective advocate can piece this all together into a powerful and persuasive case. Count on our team to be that kind of effective legal advocate for you. The knowledgeable San Mateo motorcycle accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos have the determination, the skill and the experience with the unique nature of motorcycle accidents to get you the results you deserve. To set up a free consultation with one of our helpful attorneys, contact us at 650-345-8484 or through our website.
A Fatal Crash is a Tragic Reminder of the Dangers Motorcyclists Across California Face
