Clovis residents hop on motorcycles to go to work, to travel into Fresno and beyond, and for occasional getaways up Highway 168 into the Sierra Nevada mountains. Unfortunately, riders will find motorists behaving carelessly, no matter what direction they head.
Reckless drivers can make mistakes that force riders to choose between running off the road or taking a powerful collision. When motorcyclists suffer serious injuries, they require enough in support to pay for the best medical care available. Victims also need to be able to count on compensation to pay their bills while they are out of work.
A Free Consultation with a Clovis Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle accident victims may face a long, difficult journey to heal and get back on their bikes again. Sadly, victims often deal with worries over paying for medical care, especially when insurance companies try to refuse support by unfairly blaming motorcyclists for their own accidents.
To find out how to hold insurance companies for at-fault drivers fully responsible, it’s important to understand your rights and know about the benefits available to you after a motorcycle accident. Contact a Clovis motorcycle accident lawyer to get a good idea of what you should expect from your settlement offer.
Clovis Motorcycle Accident Dangers
Motorcycle riders in Clovis know all about the unreliability of the drivers traveling alongside them on busy roads like Shaw Avenue. Those drivers can speed along without paying attention to who is in the next lane. They often say they never noticed the motorcyclist they collide with. It’s more often an excuse for the lack of attention they pay to others who use the road.
It’s a dangerous situation that plays out too often in Clovis and across Fresno County. California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) recorded 23 motorcycle accidents involving injury in Clovis in 2021. Those accidents lead to at least one tragic death.
What’s more, Highway 168, also known as the Sierra Freeway, alone was the scene of 16 serious motorcycle accidents through Fresno County. In 2021, the freeway saw at least two tragic motorcycle accident fatalities.
The results of these frightening accidents can leave motorcycle accident victims and their families in need of legal protection. Car insurance companies like to use stereotypes of those who ride motorcycles to shift blame from the at-fault drivers. A Clovis Personal Injury Lawyer provides strong evidence to insurance adjusters, so they aren’t able to point the finger of blame at riders. They are forced to admit fault and provide full compensation for a motorcyclist’s recovery.
Common Motorcycle Accidents in Clovis
Motorcyclists using Clovis roads to travel across the city or pass through must avoid the same set of dangerous situations each time they pull their bikes out of the driveway. Drivers make some common errors that end up placing riders in harm’s way. Experienced riders can sometimes steer clear of these hazards, but sometimes reckless motorists leave motorcyclists too little room and time to avoid a dangerous impact.
These are just a few of the errors Clovis drivers can make:
- Dangerous Lane Changes – Drivers in bigger, heavier vehicles sometimes don’t bother to check their mirrors and blind spots and veer over onto a motorcyclist beside them. It’s also a common risk as traffic merges to get on or off highways at exits.
- Lane Splitting – This occurs when a motorcyclist travels between two lanes of slow-moving traffic, often at red lights. It also occurs when traffic jams on Highway 168 grind traffic to a stop. Many drivers are ignorant that motorcyclists have this legal right to split lanes in California. Motorists might open their doors in a traffic jam or leave little room on one side of the lane, not checking to see if a motorcyclist is moving alongside them.
- Rear-end Collisions – Another problem with drivers unwilling to take the time to identify when riders are nearby. They can come upon stopped traffic but not hit the brakes in time to avoid crashing into the back of a motorcycle. Stop-and-go traffic also makes motorcycle rear-end accidents more likely.
- Road rage and Aggressive Driving – Drivers can lose their heads over the perfectly legal maneuvers of motorcyclists and try to run down a rider. They can also exceed the speed limit on Clovis roadways. They might be switching lanes within inches of cars and motorcycles. What might be only a fender bender for a car or SUV could lead to a traumatic injury for a rider.
What to Do After a Clovis Motorcycle Accident
A Clovis motorcycle accident victim should act as quickly as possible to start the process of filing a claim against a driver’s auto insurer. Witnesses can move and become hard to reach. Evidence might also disappear the longer you wait to tell a Clovis motorcycle accident lawyer about what happened.
Your lawyer will begin investigating your case and gathering proof of a car driver’s fault immediately. But you may be the only person who has access to some of the best evidence that’s found on the scene of the accident in the moments after it happens.
You should try to gather these important details on your accident scene if you are left strong enough:
- Dial 911 and inform Clovis officers or the California Highway Patrol about everything you observed before the accident. Let them know if you saw the driver holding a cellphone or behaving aggressively. Officers will be writing up a collision report that provides evidence for your case.
- Get every injury checked out by paramedics and go to the hospital if necessary. If you must leave the scene, ask someone with you or a helpful witness to take some photos for you.
- Get cellphone images at the scene. Show the car that hit you, the damage to your motorcycle, and any visible injuries. Take photos of any traffic signs and lane markings that are related to what happened. Show yourself with a helmet if you were wearing one. Take pictures of any visible injuries.
- Get contact information from witnesses. Your Clovis Motorcycle Accident Lawyer will be calling on them to provide important testimony.
- Exchange information with everyone involved if an officer doesn’t provide this information to you. Be careful what you say around the driver. You may say “I’m fine” and “my bad.” Insurance companies can twist these statements to use as evidence that you weren’t hurt at all and that you were fully at fault.
- Get checked out by your own doctor. Follow recommendations the doctor makes including going to physical therapy and visiting specialists.
- Hang on to your damaged motorcycle. Keep any damaged clothing and personal items. Don’t wash bloody clothing. Preserve it.
Compensation for Clovis Motorcycle Accident Victims
Clovis motorcycle accident victims may also need help building a list of their hardships to submit with a motorcycle collision injury claim. A lawyer would work with you to make sure every damage you’ve taken in an accident and during a difficult recovery is included.
Anything not included in your claim would not be eligible to earn compensation for you and your family. Your attorney would also include some factors you may not have known could contribute to the amount you’d see on a motorcycle accident injury settlement check:
- Current medical bills and those expected in the future.
- All costs associated with a permanent physical disability. Lifelong support from an insurance provider.
- Wrongful Death benefits for the families of victims. Support to help loved ones pay for a funeral and leftover medical bills. Money to keep the family afloat in the years to come as they lose the income the victim would have provided.
- Support for your emotional trauma, such as depression and anxiety.
- Loss of enjoyment of life. You may not be able to participate in family activities or get back on a motorcycle for months.
- The anguish experienced due to constant physical pain.
- Lost wages and benefits while you are unable to work.
- Money for motorcycle repairs or a new motorcycle.
Deadlines for Clovis Motorcycle Accident Victims
Clovis motorcycle accident victims have up to two years to file a claim over a motorcycle accident. This countdown begins on the day of the accident. Families who have lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident also have up to two years to file a wrongful death claim.
It’s best to take action quickly to allow your motorcycle accident lawyer as much time as possible to track down witnesses and secure fresh evidence. The sooner your lawyer is able to file a claim on your behalf, the sooner you can hope to secure the compensation you need to recover physically, emotionally, and financially.
Contact a Clovis Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one were injured in a motorcycle accident in Clovis, discuss your case with Maison Law first. Insurance companies will try to offer you the lowest settlement possible. They are more interested in their bottom line than your full recovery.
If you allow Maison Law’s skilled Clovis Motorcycle Accident Lawyers to represent your case, you can rest assured that our legal team will be fighting for your best interest. Let us tackle frustrating communication with insurance adjusters, allowing you to focus on healing.
We will build a strong case for you to obtain the maximum settlement or award for your injuries. Contact us right away for a free, no-obligation case consultation. You don’t pay us until we’ve won your case for you.
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