Big Bear Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Maison Law represents injured motorcycle accident victims in Big Bear, CA. If you’ve found yourself injured in a motorcycle accident, you’re most likely looking at extensive medical bills, property damage, and ongoing treatment costs. Just the financial toll alone can be overwhelming, especially when you’re unsure how to manage the aftermath on your own. But that’s where we can help.

At Maison Law, we will manage your motorcycle accident claim and recover all your costs, as well as additional compensation needed to get your life back on track. So while you focus on your recovery, we’ll take care of all your legal, medical, and financial needs.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Get the help you need by contacting us today for a no-cost, no-obligation case review.

Do I Need a Lawyer for a Motorcycle Accident?

Big Bear’s scenic mountain roads, like the Southern California Loop, is what make a trek up Big Bear Mountain so attractive to avid motorcycle riders in California. However, Big Bear’s roads present many hazards like inclement weather and dense traffic when thousands of Californians attempt to flock up the mountain for a quick getaway. These factors present a serious risk of injury for motorcyclists in Big Bear. When a motorcyclist is injured in an accident, they will usually face severe injuries and property damage that can be life-altering. For that reason, it is recommended to consult with one of our Motorcycle Accident Attorneys at Maison Law.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, you can pursue compensation through the at-fault driver’s insurance. However, insurance companies are notorious for being difficult to work with and will most likely offer you a low settlement or even deny your claim. Our law firm stands up for injured motorcycle accident victims and ensures they receive fair compensation from the insurance companies. The damages we secure for injured riders include:

• Economic damages: The financial damages you incurred due to the accident.
  • Medical bills
  • Lost Wages
  • Loss of future potential earnings
  • Loss of property
  • Cost of property repair or replacement
• Non-economic damages: These are subjective, non-compensatory damages.
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Loss of consortium
• Punitive damages: These are damages awarded to serve as punishment to the at-fault party.
  • Reckless behavior (DUI, street racing)
  • Actions performed out of spite

What You Will Need When Consulting with a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer for the First Time

The initial process of speaking with our law firm for the first time usually starts off with a questionnaire to assess the merits of the case. This questionnaire will provide us with key information to help determine if a case is worth pursuing or not. However, if you’d like to speak directly to one of our attorneys, you can set up a brief meeting to discuss the details of your situation prior to answering a questionnaire. The following data is what potential clients will need when they first sit down with us:

• Employment details: current or former employer, job title, dates of employment, and compensation information.
• Nature of the complaint: type of carelessness that led to your injury (premise liability, reckless driving, defective equipment)
• Timeline of events: dates of key incidents, formal complaints filed, relevant communications with the employer
• Witnesses: names and contact information of potential witnesses to the alleged misconduct
• Documentation: list of relevant documents (x-rays, MRIs, doctor’s diagnosis, physical therapy appointments, workers’ compensation forms)
• Prior legal action: if you’ve filed previous personal injury claims, then the details of your previous case may be relevant to your new case
• Medical information: details about your medical diagnosis and treatment plan
• Social media presence: your injury may be documented online, as well as you discussing the details of your personal injury

Some of these elements may seem irrelevant to your case, but trust us, they are not. Most defense lawyers will use anything they can to diminish the damage done to your life after a motorcycle accident. For example, if your social media account has videos of you speeding on your motorcycle or riding dangerously, they will most likely attempt to use that against you to say you’re a dangerous rider, even if you were safely riding when the accident occurred.

Proving Fault in a Big Bear Motorcycle Accident

If you can prove that someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, you will most likely have a case. The following are four elements of evidence necessary to prove fault in a wrongful death case:

1. Had an obligation to act with reasonable care: If a person is driving on the road, they are expected to follow traffic laws, as well as be aware of other drivers on the road.
2. Breached their “duty of care:” The injured party (plaintiff) must demonstrate they were owed a duty of care by the person at fault (defendant). For example, in a car accident, the duty of care would have been ignored if a driver broke a traffic law and was driving dangerously before the collision.
3. Acted careless or reckless: If the driver failed to follow the law or safety protocols and caused another’s death, the plaintiff must prove the other’s careless or reckless actions resulted in the loss of their loved one.
4. Damages: The plaintiff must be able to prove they suffered damages such as medical bills, lost wages, loss of enjoyment of life, or mental trauma.

Proving fault in a motorcycle accident case can be difficult, which is why it is important to have your case managed by a law firm that has the resources to conduct a thorough investigation and prove fault on your behalf. If you need help proving fault in your motorcycle accident case, please contact the attorneys at Maison Law to see what legal options are available for your situation.

Are Chains Required for Motorcycles in Big Bear?

When most people picture riding their motorcycle in California, the last thing that comes to mind are snow-capped mountains, but Big Bear is an exception, as it does receive its fair share of snow every year. Areas like Big Bear is where snowfall is most prevalent, and your motorcycle will require tire chains. Accidents caused due to a vehicle not having the required tire chains is a violation of California law and is a form of negligence. This can make or break your case, depending on if the driver has tire chains or not. Other areas where chains are required include:

• Interstate 5 north of Redding, CA
• Interstate 80 over Donner Pass, which sits between Sacramento and Reno
• US HWY 50 over Echo Summit between Lake Tahoe and Sacramento

Although Southern California mostly consists of a desert climate, snowfall does occur in certain parts. Chains are most often required in the following areas:

• State Route 58 near Tehachapi between Bakersfield and Mojave
• Interstate 15 over Cajon Pass between Victorville and San Bernardino
• Interstate 5 over Tejon Pass between Los Angeles and Bakersfield

Factors that Influence Compensation for a Motorcycle Accident

You may consider filing a personal injury claim if you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident in Big Bear. Before filing, it is important to understand several factors that may influence the value of your settlement. The following factors include:

• Liability: the degree to which the defendant is found responsible for the injury can add value to your settlement. The more reckless the defendant’s actions, usually result in a higher settlement.
• Insurance coverage: the defendant’s insurance policy limits can cap the maximum settlement amount. If the defendant has an insufficient insurance policy, then alternate means of compensation will have to be pursued.
• Legal representation: the expertise and negotiation skills of a personal injury attorney will impact the outcome of your case.
• Contributory negligence: California is a comparative negligence state, meaning your settlement can be impacted by your percentage of fault in the accident.
• Nature and extent of Injury: the cost of all reasonably necessary medical treatment and the estimated cost of future medical treatment are essential to the value of a case.
• Objective findings for physical pain: pain is a subjective thing, so, objective evidence is needed to support it in a personal injury case. This is usually presented in the form of X-rays and MRIs.
• Medical history of the victim: the prior medical history of the plaintiff comes into play if they were injured in the same area where they already have a medical history of issues. Under California Law, the negligent party is not responsible for prior injuries unless they were made worse by the incident.
• Plaintiff’s age: the age of the victim comes into play if the injury may have been a result of “degenerative changes” rather than the careless act, or hazardous condition.
• The occupation of the victim: the amount the injured victim was making and the amount they can no longer make due to their injuries plays a large role in determining their settlement.

Contact Maison Law | Big Bear Car Accident Lawyers

If you or your loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident in Big Bear, Maison Law can help. We understand that injured victims only have one chance at securing financial relief after a serious accident. That’s why we focus on getting your case resolved and getting you paid as quickly as possible.

Our firm has proudly managed numerous motorcycle accident cases, successfully protecting riders from liability and reaching fair settlements quickly and efficiently on their behalf. So, don’t wait until it’s too late to take legal action for your motorcycle accident injuries. Contact Maison Law today for a free, no-risk consultation and case evaluation. There are no upfront fees, and you don’t pay a cent until your case is won.