Maison Law represents motorcycle accident victims throughout Bakersfield. Any motorcycle accident in Bakersfield carries the risk of serious injuries, but one of the most common is a left turn accident, where a driver fails to account for your motorcycle and collides with you while they try to turn left.
If you or a loved one have been injured in one of these accidents, or if you want to learn more about your options, contact us for a free consultation.
Protecting Your Rights After an Accident
While it’s one of the most common types of motorcycle accidents in Bakersfield, a left turn accident isn’t unique in terms of what you need to do right after you’re in one. At the same time, it’s an incredibly stressful time, so it can be difficult to think clearly about your potential claim. Still, there’s a few things you should do to protect your health and rights:
- Get medical care – Check yourself for injuries and seek medical attention right away, either from ambulance services at the scene or at an emergency room or urgent care if you’re under your own power. This will help assess your injuries and what treatment you need.
- Exchange information – If possible, exchange contact and insurance details with the other driver involved. If they leave the scene, call the police and report the accident.
- Report the accident – Contact the Bakersfield Police Department (BPD) or the Kern County Sheriff’s Office to report the accident. Even though you can’t use a police report as evidence in a lawsuit (because it’s based on hearsay), it’s important for your insurance claim.
- Collect your own evidence – Take photos and videos of the accident scene if you’re able. This evidence can support your claim later on.
Do You Need a Lawyer?
These steps not only protect your health but also lay the groundwork for your legal claim. Insurance companies will do anything they can to try to minimize their insured’s liability, so protecting your claim is very important. Our team of experienced lawyers can help you do that, but we can help you in other ways, as well:
- Investigating the accident and figuring out all the responsible parties
- Dealing with insurance companies
- Evaluating your case and letting you know what’s ahead
- Keeping you updated on the case’s progression
- Making the whole process simpler for you and your family
You might be aware that there isn’t an actual requirement in California that says you have to have a lawyer represent you. And whether or not you need one depends on your circumstances and how serious your accident is. That said, simply having our team on your side can give you all the support you need to see the claim through–which can sometimes be difficult.
Legal Process in a Motorcycle Accident Claim
There’s two main parts of a motorcycle accident claim: liability and damages. Both of these things are related, and will play a huge role in how your case plays out.
Liability
The first step is establishing liability–or legal responsibility for covering your injuries and damages. In a left turn motorcycle accident, it’s pretty simple: it’s going to fall on the driver of the car that hit you, because they will have:
- Acted negligently, causing the accident and your injuries.
That said, parts manufacturers, other drivers, or even the city or county government could share some liability depending on what happened. For example, if the traffic light was malfunctioning, the government agency responsible for its maintenance could be liable, too.
Damages
The second part of your injury claim is actually filing it and going through the process of recovering damages. Usually, this involves you either:
- Filing an insurance claim outside of court
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit and going to court
Normally, an insurance claim is a lot less formal, and can potentially get money in your pocket sooner. However, negotiating with an insurance company is very difficult. They’re the ones who get to make the final determination of what your damages are and what they decide to offer you. Most of the time, it’s less than what you need. If that happens, you can then move on to a lawsuit.
A lawsuit is much more time-consuming and involved, but it carries the potential for greater rewards. Instead of the insurance company deciding how much your case is worth, an impartial judge and jury will decide that in a trial. However, many lawsuits for these types of accidents wrap up before trial through negotiation and evidence exchange. Regardless, you can potentially recover the following damages in these types of claims:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Lost income
- Loss of companionship or enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death expenses, if the accident was fatal
Even though these damages are generally available, what you’re ultimately able to get back depends on the circumstances of your accident and the extent of your injuries. It’s your job to show this through evidence, but another important thing to know is that you have two years from the date of the accident to file your claim. If you miss this statute of limitations, you won’t be able to recover any damages.
Causes of Left Turn Motorcycle Accidents and Injuries
It’s difficult to pin down what can lead to left turn motorcycle accidents, but the reality is that even if you’re careful, wear proper safety gear, and do everything you can to make yourself visible to drivers, you’re still at the mercy of their actions. Unfortunately, it’s often totally out of your hands. But it still helps to know what commonly causes these accidents:
- Failure to yield – Drivers may fail to yield to oncoming traffic, misjudging the speed or distance of your motorcycle or getting distracted while turning.
- Misjudging distance – Drivers may misjudge the distance between their vehicle and your oncoming motorcycle, resulting in collisions with little time for you to react.
- Distracted driving – Distractions such as phones or passengers can lead to drivers not paying attention to the road or other vehicles, including you on your motorcycle.
- Driving under the influence – Impaired drivers may have slower reaction times or impaired judgment, increasing the risk of these accidents.
- Speeding – Speeding drivers may not have enough time to react to oncoming traffic, increasing the likelihood of collisions as they turn into you.
Left-turn accidents often result in severe injuries for you or other motorcycle riders due to their vulnerability in collisions with larger, heavier vehicles moving at high speeds. Typical injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Fractures
- Road rash
- Internal injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Psychological trauma
No matter what injuries you suffer, our team of Bakersfield motorcycle accident lawyers will be there to support you. We believe that a tailored approach to your case can lead to a successful result, and we will work tirelessly to make that happen.
Count on Maison Law After a Left Turn Motorcycle Accident in Bakersfield
You never know when you’ll be faced with a left turn motorcycle accident in Bakersfield. The fact that you have to interact with so many vehicles and drivers means that this could happen to you at any time. When it does, you can count on our team of Bakersfield motorcycle accident lawyers at Maison Law. We have the experience and dedication you need to have a successful recovery from any injuries. Don’t wait–contact us today to set up your free consultation.
