Maison Law represents families who lose loved ones in heartbreaking Santa Barbara motorcycle accidents. When reckless drivers cause fatal collisions, close relatives of the victims can seek assistance as they pay funeral expenses and face a future without a loved one’s support. Our wrongful death lawyers offer a free, confidential case consultation to all family members. Schedule a case review to find out how much your family should receive from a car insurance company.
Should I Call a Lawyer After a Loved One Is Killed in a Fatal Motorcycle Accident?
If a loved one is killed in a motorcycle accident caused by someone else’s mistake, families have the legal right to demand justice and financial support. A wrongful death would seek help from car insurance companies, but that doesn’t mean families are guaranteed to get the assistance they need. Insurance adjusters are trained to try to limit what families receive and they can even attempt to blame an innocent motorcyclist for an accident to escape accountability.
A Santa Barbara Motorcycle Accident Lawyer safeguards the family’s rights and fights back against these unfair tactics. A skilled lawyer makes sure families are awarded all benefits available. A Maison Law lawyer files a wrongful death claim and protects the family’s interests. Our representative also handles the frustrating negotiations with insurance companies while protecting families from disruptions as they grieve.
Santa Barbara Deadly Motorcycle Accident Dangers
Santa Barbara County attracts motorcyclists from across California and the country. Riders may head out on Highway 101 to take in the views or up into the mountains on Highway 154. Some riders may be local and will be out just heading to work, or out to grab some food.
With so many riders choosing to ride through Santa Barbara, drivers are required to stay extra focused to spot the motorcycles around them and to show caution to defenseless riders. Unfortunately, distracted drivers and motorists in a hurry can make a mistake around a rider and send someone into a devastating crash.
Riders may be on a busy route like State Street when a careless driver makes a left turn in front of them, leaving no room to avoid an impact with a vehicle and most likely with the road surface. A motorcyclist may get run off the highway when a driver doesn’t check mirrors and blindspots when switching lanes. Even a low-speed collision could leave a rider with life-threatening injuries.
California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) reveals that Santa Barbara County recorded at least 108 motorcycle accidents involving injuries in 2023. Four tragic deaths were reported over the year. At least 19 of those accidents occurred along Highway 101.
After these types of heartbreaking accidents, the close relatives of victims are empowered to seek help with the bills and the emotional stress a heartbreaking death will bring. But insurance companies for at-fault drivers are experts at finding reasons to leave loved ones to face the consequences alone. A Santa Barbara wrongful death lawyer will be an important protection for families. A Maison Law lawyer can build a powerful case based on evidence to make sure insurers can’t abandon families during such a difficult period.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim After a California Motorcycle Accident?
Families may wonder who should seek justice on behalf of close relatives. In California, the most immediate family is given the right to file a wrongful death claim.
- The spouse or domestic partner of the victim
- The children and adopted children of the victim
- In some cases, the step-children of the victim
Other family members like the parents and siblings of the victim could join in a wrongful death claim if they were financially dependent on the deceased.
A Maison Law attorney can file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the entire family or represent individual members of the family in seeking justice.
Can a Family Earn Support After a Loved One Is Killed in a Hit-And-Run Motorcycle Accident?
In some cases, yes. If a hit-and-run driver is never identified and caught, a family can see support from the victim’s own motorcycle insurance policy.
Support would come from the victim’s uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage is not mandatory, but it is usually included with motorcycle accident coverage unless it’s declined in writing.
Seeking Support for the Families of Wrongful Death Victims
Your lawyer takes action on behalf of your family and creates a full list of every hardship they are put through. The damages will be backed by documents and other evidence showing the toll the loss of a loved one has taken emotionally and financially.
Financial hardships include things that are clearly shown on bills and invoices. These are just a few of the economic damages that should be covered.
Economic Damages:
- Expenses of a funeral service and burial.
- Ambulance and emergency response fees from the accident.
- Hospital bills built up before the victim passed away.
- The paychecks and work benefits the victim will no longer be able to provide for the family in the years to come.
Non-Economic Damages:
- Support for the emotional trauma suffered by family members. This can include the loss of the love and guidance victims won’t be able to offer in the future. The companionship that’s been lost must also factor in.
- Loss of consortium. (The loss of intimacy now that a partner is gone)
- Cost of grief counseling and other mental health services.
Contact a Santa Barbara Fatal Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Families should be allowed the time they need to grieve after a tragic accident, but bills and hardships stemming from a tragedy can make a wrongful death lawsuit necessary. A Santa Barbara motorcycle accident lawyer can handle your case privately with as little disruption to close family members as possible.
Contact Maison Law for a free and confidential case evaluation for any family. Our lawyers offer compassionate care to those in mourning to ensure they don’t suffer the financial consequences of a motorist’s error in judgment.
At such a difficult time, your family doesn’t need to worry about facing the cost of hiring a lawyer. If you feel we can help earn your family more in a wrongful death claim, you won’t need any upfront money. Maison Law doesn’t get paid unless we win your case for your family. Then our fee comes out of the settlement an insurance company is forced to pay.
