Motorcycle accident victims riding through the mountainous landscape of Lake Tahoe typically suffer serious injuries, often leaving them with significant medical expenses, career-altering injuries, and other financial obstacles that lower a person’s quality of life for an extended period of time, or permanently. For these reasons, it is essential that motorcycle accident victims obtain monetary compensation through a personal injury settlement. The amount a person can receive for a motorcycle accident injury settlement will depend on their medical costs, lost wages at work, and having a skilled attorney representing their rights.
That’s where Maison Law can help. Motorcycle accident lawsuits can seem daunting, but we make the process quick and easy by managing your medical treatment, contacting the insurance company, and winning fair compensation on your behalf. Don’t leave the rest of your life up to chance after a motorcycle accident; contact us today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Lake Tahoe Motorcycle Accident?
With its mix of winding roads and stunning views, Lake Tahoe offers many scenic rides for motorcyclists, including 72-mile lake and Kingsbury Grade. However, Lake Tahoe is known for its many tourist drivers who may be more prone to make more careless decisions on the road than a typical, local driver. And according to the California Office of Traffic Safety, motorcycle accidents in California are not uncommon, averaging around 10,000 injury-related or fatal accidents.
One thing these statistics don’t mention is how expensive motorcycle accidents can be for victims and their families. According to the Insurance Information Institute, motorcycle accidents have an average of around $16 billion in damages each year. For that reason, it is recommended to consult with an experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyer at Maison Law to get the full extent of your damages.
While it is common for insurance companies to blame motorcyclists for accidents or deny their claims entirely, Maison Law protects injured motorcyclists’ right to fair compensation, regardless of who was at fault. If you’ve been injured in Los Angeles, our firm will ensure you’re compensated for the following damages:
- Economic damages: The financial damages you incurred due to the accident.
- Medical bills
- Lost Wages
- Loss of future potential earnings
- Loss of property
- Cost of property repair or replacement
- Non-economic damages: These are subjective, non-compensatory damages.
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Loss of consortium
- Punitive damages: These are damages awarded to serve as punishment to the at-fault party.
- Reckless behavior (DUI, street racing)
- Actions performed out of spite
What You Will Need When Consulting with Our Lawyers for the First Time
The initial process of speaking with our law firm for the first time usually starts off with a questionnaire to assess the merits of the case. This questionnaire will provide us with key information to help determine if a case is worth pursuing or not. However, if you’d like to speak directly to one of our attorneys, you can set up a brief meeting to discuss the details of your situation prior to answering a questionnaire. The following data is what potential clients will need when they first sit down with us:
- Employment details: current or former employer, job title, dates of employment, and compensation information.
- Nature of the complaint: type of carelessness that led to your injury (premise liability, reckless driving, defective equipment)
- Timeline of events: dates of key incidents, formal complaints filed, relevant communications with the employer
- Witnesses: names and contact information of potential witnesses to the alleged misconduct
- Documentation: list of relevant documents (x-rays, MRIs, doctor’s diagnosis, physical therapy appointments, workers’ compensation forms)
- Prior legal action: if you’ve filed previous personal injury claims, then the details of your previous case may be relevant to your new case
- Medical information: details about your medical diagnosis and treatment plan
- Social media presence: your injury may be documented online, as well as you discussing the details of your personal injury
How to Maximize Your Motorcycle Accident Settlement
Maximizing your settlement is perfectly normal, as most motorcycle accident victims will suffer major medical costs, vehicle repairs, and serious changes in their lifestyle. Motorcycle accident injuries can be life-altering, which is why accident victims are entitled to the maximum amount of compensation for all the damages they’ve been forced to endure. While an experienced Motorcycle Accident Attorney will handle the legalities of your case, you can help maximize your settlement after an accident by:
- Seeking medical treatment: Nothing is more important than your health. After an accident, you should always get seen by a doctor, even if you feel fine. Not seeing a doctor will only hurt your chances of receiving fair compensation.
- Reporting the accident: After a motorcycle accident, it is important to get a police report. Police reports typically cover who was involved in the accident and who was at fault. It’s okay if you’re unable to get it yourself. A lawyer can subpoena that information if necessary once a lawsuit is filed with the courts.
- Gathering evidence: take your own photos of the scene and get witness statements, as well as their information. Accidents can get cleaned up quickly and cars can get moved, so it is important to capture the damage of all the vehicles involved.
- Following up on your injuries with a doctor: Any injuries you’ve sustained from your accident will become a part of your case and you will need a doctor to corroborate your injuries.
- Contact Maison Law: protect your legal right to compensation. Most accident victims find themselves overwhelmed after a motorcycle accident and fail to realize the enormous impact a serious injury can have on their lives. Our experienced attorneys can help you understand your options and get you the compensation you need.
How Does Fault Work in a Motorcycle Accident Injury Claim?
In most states, the at-fault party’s insurance is responsible for damages. In California, however, the fault is determined by a “comparative negligence” system. Comparative negligence allows an injured party who shares fault for their injuries to receive compensation, a legal action covered by the Comparative Negligence Law, which states:
“Under the pure comparative negligence rule, the state allows the plaintiff to claim damages for the 1% they are not at fault even when they are 99% at fault.”
So, being found partially at fault for a motorcycle accident doesn’t mean you can’t be compensated for your injuries. At Maison Law, we specialize in reducing liability or eliminating it entirely. To see what legal options are available for your situation, contact us today for a free case review.
What Determines the Value of a California Motorcycle Accident Claim?
You may consider filing a personal injury claim if you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident in California. Before filing, it is important to understand several factors that may influence the value of your settlement. The following factors include:
- Liability: the degree to which the defendant is found responsible for the injury can add value to your settlement. The more reckless the defendant’s actions usually result in a higher settlement.
- Insurance coverage: the defendant’s insurance policy limits can cap the maximum settlement amount. If the defendant has an insufficient insurance policy, then alternate means of compensation will have to be pursued.
- Legal representation: the expertise and negotiation skills of a personal injury attorney will impact the outcome of your case.
- Contributory negligence: California is a pure comparative negligence state, meaning both the plaintiff and defendant can be found at fault. If you’re found at partial fault, then your settlement will be reduced accordingly.
- Nature and extent of Injury: the cost of all reasonably necessary medical treatment and the estimated cost of future medical treatment are essential to the value of a case.
- Objective findings for physical pain: pain is a subjective thing, so, objective evidence is needed to support it in a personal injury case. This is usually presented in the form of X-rays and MRIs.
- Medical history of the victim: the prior medical history of the plaintiff comes into play if they were injured in the same area where they already have a medical history of issues. Under California, the negligent party is not responsible for prior injuries unless they were made worse by the incident.
- Plaintiff’s age: the age of the victim comes into play if the injury may have been a result of “degenerative changes” rather than the careless act, or hazardous condition.
- The occupation of the victim: the amount the injured victim was making and the amount they can no longer make due to their injuries plays a large role in determining their settlement.
Contact Maison Law | Lake Tahoe Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
At Maison Law, we understand that injured victims only have one chance at securing financial relief after a serious accident. That’s why we focus on getting your case resolved and getting you paid as quickly as possible.
Our firm has proudly managed numerous motorcycle accident cases, successfully protecting riders from liability and reaching fair settlements quickly and efficiently on their behalf. So, don’t wait until it’s too late to take legal action for your motorcycle accident injury. Contact Maison Law today for a free, no-risk consultation and case evaluation. There are no upfront fees, and you don’t pay a cent until your case is won.
