Motorcyclists can jump on the 405 Freeway to make their way to work, to reach a vacation destination, or for a quick run to feel the wind rush past. Unfortunately, the 405 is one of the busiest interstates in Los Angeles and perhaps in the entire country.
That overuse means that riders must contend with even more bad drivers and their careless errors as they travel. A small mistake by a reckless driver can send motorcyclists off their bikes and leave them at risk of traumatic injuries.
When riders are forced into frightening 405 Freeway motorcycle accidents, they should receive support to pay for the best medical care available. Unfortunately, victims must often demand what’s fair with the help of a skilled Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Los Angeles 405 Freeway Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
As a recovering L.A. motorcycle accident victim, don’t let an at-fault driver’s insurance adjuster decide what you should receive for your injury. They may offer you enough to pay for one night in the emergency room. But that might leave you paying for physical therapy and additional surgeries for months to come. These enormous bills can become your responsibility if you aren’t careful.
Schedule a free consultation with Maison Law of Los Angeles to get a sense of what kind of support you’ll really need to fully recover from a motorcycle accident injury. It’s a no-risk way to find out what your motorcycle injury is really worth and how to secure what’s fair from unhelpful car insurance companies.
Motorcycle Accident Dangers on Interstate 405
A reckless motorist can change lanes without checking a blind spot and run a rider out of a 405 Freeway Lane. Drivers texting and driving may ram a motorcycle from behind when they don’t notice traffic slowing for a traffic jam.
These types of collisions are bad enough when experienced in a car or SUV. However, a rider doesn’t have the protection of metal walls, seatbelts, and airbags. Even with a helmet on, motorcyclists have few safeguards when struck by a heavy vehicle.
The threats to the well-being of riders are constant on the 405 Freeway. They are documented each year by California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS). They tracked 129 motorcycle accidents involving injury along the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles County in 2021. According to TIMS, those accidents did not result in a fatality, but 142 people were injured in those crashes.
There were fewer accidents in 2020 on the 405, but the results were more tragic. For the year, there were 105 motorcycle accidents involving injury reported. Those collisions resulted in 3 deaths and left 112 victims suffering injuries.
These accidents are often caused by drivers who don’t pay enough attention to the road in front of them. In these cases, it’s critical to hold a careless driver and a driver’s insurance provider fully liable for an injury suffered on a motorcycle. Talk to a skilled Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Lawyer to find out how to get the most out of your injury claim.
What to Do After a 405 Freeway Motorcycle Accident
Maximizing the settlement check you receive for a 405 Freeway accident injury claim is key to your future financial security and your family’s. You won’t know if an injury flare-up a year from now could require additional expensive surgery. A relapse could even force you off your bike again. These possibilities must be accounted for in any motorcycle insurance settlement you sign off on.
In order to force an insurance company to cover your damages now and in the future, you’ll need to secure the best evidence you can. Some of the most powerful proof of a driver’s fault will be found on the scene of an accident.
If you are physically up to it, try to secure these details in the moments after your 405 Freeway accident.
- Call 911. Tell the responding CHP officers everything you can remember about what happened. Alert them if a driver was looking at a cellphone or driving recklessly. This information goes into their collision report.
- Let EMTs check you out and go to a Los Angeles emergency room if necessary. If you won’t be able to remain on the scene, ask someone with you or a helpful witness to take photos for you.
- Use your cellphone to get pictures of all vehicles involved. Show lane markings and any black tire marks left in the lanes. Document any injuries that are visible and any damage to personal property. If you were wearing a motorcycle helmet, be sure to get a picture proving it.
- Find out what witnesses observed. Get contact information so your 405 Freeway Motorcycle Accident Attorney can reach them for testimony.
- Exchange information with the drivers involved but don’t make any statements about fault in your motorcycle accident or the severity of your injuries. Avoid saying “I’m okay” or “my bad.” Insurance companies will twist these comments and use them against you later.
- Make an appointment to see your family doctor. Follow the doctor’s instructions on treatment and see any recommended specialists.
- Keep evidence like damaged clothing, shoes, and your helmet if you were wearing one.
- Contact an experienced Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorney. You should be left to focus on recovery and not forced to worry over the medical bills arriving. A lawyer handles all of the frustrating parts of dealing with unhelpful insurance companies. A lawyer will also make sure you secure the most compensation possible for what you’ve been through. Even if you weren’t wearing a helmet, or if you may have been partially at fault in your collision, a skilled motorcycle accident attorney can secure compensation to help you rebuild your life.
What Kind of Compensation Can I Count on After a 405 Freeway Motorcycle Accident?
Your L.A. motorcycle accident lawyer will be creating a full list of every hardship you and your family have endured since the accident. This list will wind up on the insurance company’s desks and it informs adjusters of what they’ll need to consider when they send you a settlement offer.
Your Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will be submitting a list of some obvious accident damages. But your lawyer will also include some things you probably didn’t know could earn you additional compensation:
- All medical expenses now and those anticipated in the future. Suffering a permanent physical disability would mean a car insurance company would provide you with lifelong benefits.
- Physical pain and emotional distress endured in the accident and during recovery.
- Compensation for a loss of enjoyment of life. The trauma of being unable to get back on a motorcycle.
- Compensation for a loss of consortium. This involves the loss of intimacy with a spouse due to injury.
- Wrongful death benefits. Families who have lost loved ones in a freeway motorcycle accident will file wrongful death claims to secure support for burial expenses and lingering medical bills. They’ll also seek help with making up the income and benefits the victim can no longer provide for close relatives.
- Travel costs getting to and from doctor’s visits and surgery consultations.
- Money for repairs or a new motorcycle.
- Past and future lost income as the patient is unable to perform job duties at work.
Contact a Los Angeles 405 Freeway Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
After a serious motorcycle accident while traveling on Interstate 405, make sure you know about every benefit available to you and your family. Insurance companies will not inform you of your rights and will try to get you to sign off on an insufficient settlement check. Once that settlement is signed, you can’t go back to ask for more if your pain returns.
Take advantage of a free case consultation from Martin Gasparian, the founder of Maison Law. It’s a no-risk way to find out how to avoid the pitfalls of dealing with insurance companies after a Los Angeles Car Accident. We are advocates for safe rides for all motorcyclists and we work hard to see injured riders get back on their bikes again.
