Maison Law can help you through the claims process if you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident in Delano. When you’re hurt in a motorcycle accident, it’s rarely minor. These crashes can leave you with broken bones, head injuries, and a long road to recovery. That’s hard enough on its own, but we can guide you through it. Set up a free consultation today.
How a Lawyer Helps After a Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle accidents can vary a lot, but one thing that’s consistent through pretty much all of them are how hurt you’re going to be. It’s not hard to see why, since there’s so little protection against a moving car or hard pavement. On top of that, insurance companies know that motorcycles are inherently risky and use that to challenge your version of events. That makes everything else harder, and when you’re in that situation, it makes sense to have someone in your corner that can help you by:
- Looking into what caused the accident and who may be responsible
- Gathering and organizing the information and evidence needed to support your claim
- Dealing with insurance companies and pushing back when they try to blame you or downplay your injuries
- Handling the legal side of things while you focus on getting better
A motorcycle accident doesn’t just leave you hurt. It can interrupt your work, throw off your daily routine, and put a strain on your family. You shouldn’t have to figure everything out at once. A good place to start is looking at information and getting a clearer picture of what happened.
Information That Can Help With a Motorcycle Accident Claim
A motorcycle accident can happen in a split second, but sorting through everything afterward takes time. If you’re hurt, your first priority should be getting medical attention and making sure the accident is reported by calling 911. Getting an ambulance and police to the scene is really all that you should worry about. Yes, there’s important information at the scene, but you shouldn’t try to push through injuries to try to get them. But if you’re under your own power, you can try to get a few basic things like:
- Pictures/videos of the accident, your motorcycle, and any visible injuries
- Contact information for anyone who saw what happened or helped you after
- The driver’s license and insurance information
That gives you a starting point. Other important evidence may come together in the days and weeks after the accident, including:
- Medical records showing your injuries and treatment
- The official police report
- Traffic camera, dashcam, or surveillance footage from nearby businesses or homes
- Progress pictures of your injuries as they heal or get worse
- Repair estimates and photos showing damage to your motorcycle
- Records of missed work and lost income
Taken together, this information helps show what happened, who may have been responsible, and how the accident has affected your life. You don’t have to track down every piece of evidence yourself, especially when you’re trying to recover from serious injuries.
Who Pays For My Injuries and Losses From a Motorcycle Accident?
Every motorcycle accident has different circumstances, even though a lot of them happen for the same reasons. Usually, they happen when a driver:
- Turned left without checking for you approaching on your motorcycle
- Merged into another lane without checking their blind spot
- Drifted into your lane because they weren’t paying attention to surrounding traffic
These may seem like simple mistakes, but they can have serious consequences for someone on a motorcycle. And in the context of a motorcycle accident, these things amount to negligence. That makes the driver responsible for paying for your injuries and other damages you’re left with.
Sometimes, though, the other driver isn’t the only possible source of responsibility. Depending on what happened, a claim might also involve:
- Another driver or motorcyclist that wasn’t directly involved in the collision but did something to start the chain of events
- Companies that made or sold a motorcycle or car with defective parts
- The city or state government that didn’t fix a pothole or some other road hazard
California also follows comparative negligence rules. In other words, you may still be able to file a claim if you were partly at fault. But if the insurance company argues that you share some of the blame or something like not wearing a helmet made your injuries worse, that can affect how much it has to pay. That’s why it’s important to look closely at the evidence instead of simply accepting the insurance company’s version of events.
How The Claims Process Works After a Motorcycle Accident
After a motorcycle accident, the last thing you probably want to deal with is an injury claim. You’re trying to get better, keep up with bills, and figure out what life looks like after the crash. But at some point, you also have to deal with the insurance company, and that’s not always straightforward. Generally, though, you have two options for filing a claim:
- Filing an insurance claim. This is usually where things start. You file through the at-fault driver’s insurance, and the company looks at the evidence before deciding whether to make an offer. But don’t expect them to simply take your word for everything. They may question your medical treatment, push back on how much work you’ve missed, or try to put some of the blame on you. And even when they make an offer, it may not come close to covering everything you’re dealing with now or might need down the road.
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit. If the insurance company won’t take responsibility or offer a fair amount, filing a lawsuit may be the next step. That doesn’t mean you’re automatically headed to trial. It means both sides have to go through a more formal process of sharing evidence, questioning witnesses, and working toward a resolution.
Either way, the point is to account for what the accident has actually cost you. That can include:
- Current medical bills and the cost of future treatment
- Lost wages and reduced ability to earn a living in the future
- Motorcycle repairs or replacement and other damaged property
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Changes to your daily activities and quality of life
- Funeral and burial expenses in a fatal accident
Deadlines matter, too. In California, you generally have two years from the date of an injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. If a government agency may be responsible for a dangerous road condition, a much shorter deadline may apply—often six months to file an initial claim with the agency. It’s worth getting advice early so you don’t miss a deadline that could affect your options.
Where Do Motorcycle Accidents Happen in Delano?
Motorcycle accidents can happen anywhere in Delano, but some roads come with their own challenges. Between busy intersections, cars turning into shopping areas, and drivers merging into faster traffic, and people opening their car doors, riders don’t always have much time to react. Some of the main roads in the area include:
- Cecil Avenue. With intersections, business entrances, and drivers turning across traffic, there’s a lot for riders to watch out for along this main east-west road.
- Garces Highway. Drivers pulling into traffic or turning across a rider’s path can create problems, especially when they don’t take the time to look for motorcycles.
- High Street. This main route through central Delano connects local streets and businesses, which means riders have to watch for turning vehicles and sudden changes in traffic.
- County Line Road. Intersections, turning vehicles, and changing road conditions can all make this stretch challenging for riders.
- Highway 99. Things move faster here, so sudden lane changes, tailgating, and drivers merging without checking around them can put riders at risk.
Again, these places show the different patterns of motorcycle accidents in the city. Such accidents can happen anywhere, especially when somebody else isn’t being careful or safe. At that point, you have options and our team will be there to help you through them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the deadline for filing a motorcycle accident claim?
In California, you generally have two years to file a personal injury claim. Claims involving government agencies have shorter deadlines, so it’s best to look into your options early.
What if the driver who hit me leaves the scene?
Report the accident to the police and share everything you remember about the car/driver. If the driver isn’t found, your own uninsured motorist coverage may help, depending on your policy.
Can I file a claim if I wasn’t wearing a helmet?
Yes. Not wearing a helmet doesn’t automatically prevent you from filing a claim, though California’s helmet laws and the circumstances of your injuries may impact how your claim plays out
Maison Law Helps Delano Motorcycle Accident Victims
After a motorcycle accident, you may be dealing with injuries, mounting bills, a damaged bike, and an insurance company looking for answers before you’ve had a chance to catch your breath. That’s a lot to manage at once.
At Maison Law, we take that burden off of you. We’ll look into your accident, help you get all the information that can help, then guide you through the claims process. Set up a free consultation today to learn more.
