Los Angeles Motorcycle Accidents on Freeway 5
Motorcyclists can use Interstate 5 for rides to work, for rides strictly for the joy of riding, or to reach any destination along the west coast. The freeway is sometimes a quicker route for some and also sometimes a gridlock nightmare.
No matter the conditions or time of day, Freeway 5 will always place riders alongside careless drivers. Those on motorcycles will observe plenty of reckless moves taken without one look at a blind spot. A collision can result in devastating injuries for defenseless drivers. This could leave an injured victim and family members scrambling to find the best medical care available and also looking for ways to pay for that care.
Contact a Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Once your injuries have stabilized, you’ll likely have to take your focus off healing to deal with medical bills and even your mortgage and car payments coming due. Determining who should be offering you financial assistance after a Freeway 5 motorcycle accident and how much won’t be easy on your own. Yet, it’s critical to make sure you don’t face a financial crisis over an accident that wasn’t your fault.
There’s an easy way to get a legal perspective on this dilemma and find out about every benefit available to motorcycle accident victims. Schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation and talk with a real Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorney. It’s a chance to examine just who should be offering insurance help to you and your family and how to get the most from your motorcycle accident injury claim.
Freeway 5 Motorcycle Accident Dangers
Freeway 5 motorcyclists must constantly be on the lookout for drivers switching lanes without checking their mirrors or blind spots properly. This is a major problem as riders and drivers attempt to merge onto the freeway or veer off on an exit.
People on motorcycles are also at constant risk of getting struck from behind in traffic jams. A careless driver may be approaching slowed traffic at full speed and not have time to stop before striking a motorcyclist. The hazards arise in stop-and-go interstate traffic when a driver behind a rider loses focus and rams a motorcycle. Even a fender-bender for an SUV can result in a serious impact on a motorcyclist.
According to data from California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) there were 2,787 motorcycle accidents involving injury in Los Angeles County in 2021. Those crashes left a tragic 122 people killed.
On freeways and interstates across Los Angeles County in 2021, there were 896 motorcycle accidents involving injury and 26 fatalities.
The rates of these tragic incidents go up and down each year, but each year there are far too many collisions that could have been avoided by a little extra attention and care from drivers.
Compensation Available After a Freeway 5 Motorcycle Crash
The first mistake accident victims often make is not knowing what benefits are available when they negotiate a motorcycle accident insurance settlement. The insurance company won’t be informing you of all of your options. They hope you don’t find out what your injury and time in recovery are actually worth.
Your Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Lawyer builds your accident claim with accurate totals on your current bills and accurate estimates on care you may need in the months to come. Your lawyer also ensures that every hardship you’ve faced in recovery is included when you submit a motorcycle accident claim. This can include both economic damages like hospital bills and some non-economic damages.
These are just a few factors that will determine the size of your motorcycle accident settlement check:
- Totals on hospital bills and physical therapy expenses.
- All costs associated with a permanent physical disability after a motorcycle crash. These expenses include estimates on medical care over a lifetime, renovations to a home, and perhaps job training for a new career.
- Wrongful death benefits. Families can earn support after losing a motorcyclist in a tragic Interstate 5 motorcycle accident. The support can cover the cost of a funeral and any remaining ambulance and hospital bills. The income the deceased can no longer provide for a spouse and children in the years ahead would also be reimbursed.
- The hardship of dealing with chronic pain.
- Emotional trauma. This non-economic damage can lead to depression and anxiety during recovery and beyond. The inability to get back on a bike can contribute to a loss of enjoyment of life and that distress shouldn’t be ignored.
- Past and future lost wages and benefits while victims are away from work.
- Money for a new motorcycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I wasn’t wearing a motorcycle helmet when I was hit?
You can earn accident compensation, even if you weren’t wearing a helmet. The support may be reduced if a jury determines your injuries would have been less severe with a helmet. A jury can still award you a substantial judgment.
How Long Do I have to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Los Angeles?
Two years. Motorcyclists face a statute of limitations of two years to file an insurance claim. Talking to a skilled attorney as soon as possible only helps your case because evidence and testimony are harder to secure as time passes.
What kinds of evidence should I gather at the scene of my L.A. motorcycle accident?
If you are safe and feeling up to it, try to get photos of car and motorcycle damage. Show any visible injuries and, if you’re wearing a helmet, show that. Get contact information from witnesses and exchange information with drivers.
Contact a Los Angeles I-5 Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
The Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Attorneys at Maison Law specialize in making sure insurance companies can’t find a way to let their drivers off the hook by blaming you. They like to play on stereotypes about reckless motorcyclists in order to reduce the support they must pay. Don’t let them use this tactic on you.
Take advantage of a free case consultation from Martin Gasparian, the founder of Maison Law. This evaluation comes with no obligation to you or your family. If you do hire us, we don’t get paid unless we win your case. Make sure you are treated fairly and receive the support you need to fully recover and get back on your motorcycle again.