Maison Law of Monterey represents motorcycle accident victims hurt by the actions of careless drivers. Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyers hold reckless drivers liable for the damage and injuries they cause. Contact Maison Law to talk with a real lawyer about your options in a free, no-obligation consultation. You’ll learn what your injury is worth and how to secure the compensation you need to recover.
Do I Need a Lawyer After a Motorcycle Accident?
If you suffer a serious injury in a motorcycle accident due to a driver’s mistake, you should speak to a Monterey motorcycle accident lawyer about your options. A serious injury includes any broken bone or conditions like head trauma or a back injury. These and other injuries can affect your life for years and they can also cause you to build up thousands of dollars in medical bills.
When car insurance companies see these types of bills, they look for ways to limit the compensation they have to provide you. They’ll try to blame you for the accident or find a doctor to say your injuries aren’t all that bad. Your lawyer is your safeguard against these tactics. Your Maison Law representative gathers evidence to fight back against any unfair accusations and demands the maximum in benefits for you.
How Many Motorcycle Accidents Occur in Monterey Each Year?
California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) reports that in 2023 there were 93 motorcycle accidents involving injury in Monterey County. Those accidents led to at least four tragic deaths. Of course, plenty of riders from across the country visit the area to enjoy the view along Highway 1 and the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). At least 11 motorcyclists were injured in collisions with vehicles on Highway 1 in Monterey County in 2023.
Sadly, it’s a common news headline. A distracted driver or a reckless driver makes a mistake and sends a rider into a dangerous crash. It’s often negligence on the driver’s part, failing to take the time to spot motorcyclists traveling nearby and give them space to safely continue on their rides.
Motorcyclists travel in the open air and are mostly defenseless when they are forced into collisions with vehicles. Even with a helmet on, victims can suffer Traumatic Brain Injuries, broken legs and arms, and neck and back injuries. A Maison Law personal injury lawyer protects victims as they heal and makes sure they have the support they need to recover for as long as necessary.
Common Causes for Motorcycle Accidents in Monterey County
Riders in Monterey will see the reckless moves drivers make on almost every ride. Sometimes they can steer clear of trouble, sometimes they can’t. Riders may be cruising down Del Monte Boulevard when motorists veer over on them without checking blind spots. They may have to navigate an unfocused driver cutting them off as the driver makes a turn.
These are just a few of the dangerous moves riders must try to avoid:
- 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 Highway 1 at exits. All riders know to try to avoid the blind spots of drivers, but when drivers get reckless they are still liable for the harm they cause.
- Dangerous Turns — Drivers preparing for a left-hand turn or a U-Turn can get anxious and don’t always take the time needed to spot the smaller profile of an oncoming rider. They monitor oncoming traffic and think the coast is clear and begin their turn. The driver becomes a wide, slow-turning obstacle for motorcyclists in the opposite lane. Riders have little time or space to slow down and steer clear.
- Lane Splitting – This occurs when a motorcyclist travels between two lanes of slow-moving traffic. It also occurs when traffic jams on highways grind traffic to a stop. Many drivers are unaware that motorcyclists have this legal right to split lanes in California. They 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 speed limits leaving less time to show caution to those on motorcycles. They might be switching lanes within inches of cars and motorcycles. What is only a fender bender for a car or SUV might lead to a traumatic injury for a rider.
After these sorts of scary incidents and others, it’s critical that motorcycle collision victims talk over their cases with a skilled Maison Law legal representative. Victims may be robbed of thousands of dollars in additional settlement benefits when they are kept in the dark about what their accident claims should be worth.
Support for Families After a Fatal Monterey County Motorcycle Accident
What Kinds of Things Can I Earn Compensation for After a Motorcycle Injury?
One way your Monterey motorcycle accident lawyer helps you get the most out of your motorcycle injury claim is by thoroughly documenting your damages. This is a crucial step because any hardship you’ve endured that’s left out of your injury claim won’t help you earn more in a motorcycle accident settlement.
A list of the totals on your bills and losses plays a big role in what you’ll receive in a motorcycle accident settlement check, but there are other factors involved:
- Exact totals on all hospital and physical therapy expenses and estimates on future care.
- All costs associated with a permanent physical disability. A disability may keep a motorcyclist from returning to work or ever riding a bike again. Lifelong medical monitoring and medical equipment may have to be provided.
- Compensation for the constant physical pain victims may suffer.
- Compensation for emotional trauma such as depression and anxiety. The mental hardships faced when a rider can’t get back on a motorcycle.
- Money for a new motorcycle after a bike is totaled in a collision.
- Past and future lost benefits and wages at work.
- Wrongful death support for families. After a family loses a loved one in a tragic motorcycle accident, they can ask for help paying funeral bills and replacing the future income the deceased would have provided.
Contact a Monterey Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Contact Maison Law to schedule a free, confidential consultation with a real Monterey motorcycle accident lawyer. We want to hear what happened to you. We’re going to answer your questions and make sure you are prepared for the insurance tactics you’ll face so you don’t forfeit valuable support. You’ll know what your injury is worth before an insurance adjuster tries to convince you it’s worth nothing at all.
Maison Law has a long background in earning motorcyclists the support they need to recover and return to their motorcycles again. There’s no obligation when you talk to us, but if you feel he can help you get the most out of your injury claim, you’ll need no upfront money. Maison Law doesn’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement a car insurance company must pay you.
