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Motorcycle accidents often involve serious injuries and even death due to the fact that the rider of the motorcycle has far less protection from injury that the driver of a car. If a motorcycle and a car collide, or if the rider collides with a stationary object such as a lamp post, injury is not only possible but likely. If the rider is not wearing a helmet, the chances of serious injury and death increase significantly. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration estimates that at least half of all motorcycle fatalities could be prevented with proper helmet use.

The statistics on motorcycle accidents are frightening for riders and their loved ones. Between 1975 and 1999, more than 38,000 people were killed in motorcycle accidents, and the death rates have not decreased significantly in the decade since that time, despite better education and training for motorcycle riders. Motorcycle deaths are highest during the summer months, when more bikers take to the road along with an increased number of passenger vehicles.

Most motorcycle accidents involve collisions with passenger vehicles, and the majority of these were not the fault of the motorcycle rider. Drivers of passenger vehicles such as cars and trucks tend to "crowd" motorcycles on the road by not allowing them adequate passing room or by traveling too closely to them in adjoining lanes. Another common cause of motorcycle accidents is a problem at an intersection; car drivers tend to underestimate how fast a motorcycle is traveling toward them if they are stopped at a stop sign, and may pull out in front of a motorcycle without meaning to cut the rider off. Of course, there are some drivers who simply do not yield the right of way properly to any other vehicle on the road, and these drivers pose a significant danger not only to other cars but especially to motorcycle riders. More

A 42-year-old man suffered major injuries in a San Diego car accident after his motorcycle collided with a utility trailer being pulled by a truck. According to a 10News report, the injury motorcycle accident occurred the afternoon of February 4, 2012 on Route 76 near Mile Marker 44. California Highway Patrol officials say, the man was riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle at an unknown speed on westbound Route 76 near Valley Center Road. The motorcyclist suddenly veered out of control into the eastbound lane and entered the path of a Dodge Durango pulling a utility trailer. The truck’s driver, a 56-year-old man, tried to avoid the motorcyclist. But the bike collided with the trailer. The motorcyclist’s left leg was severed near the hip. The victim was airlifted to an area hospital. An investigation is ongoing.

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A 44-year-old man was critically injured in a San Diego County motorcycle accident after his 1997 Honda 650L veered out of control and he was ejected. According to a news report in U-T San Diego, the crash occurred on Interstate 5 near Camp Pendleton in North County, the afternoon of January 30, 2012. Officials say the Mission Viejo man was riding southbound on the freeway when he turned his motorcycle to the right and veered across several lanes of traffic. He landed on top of an on-ramp after being ejected from his vehicle. The motorcyclist suffered serious injuries and has been listed in critical condition. Officials are still looking into what caused the motorcyclist to lose control. They do not believe alcohol or drugs were factors.

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One of the first things most people want to know after an Irvine motorcycle accident is, “How much is my claim worth?”  Of course, this is a natural question, but it is one that may be difficult to answer, especially at the very beginning of your case.  Here is why.

When you are injured in an Irvine motorcycle accident, you will incur several types of expenses.  First, your motorcycle will probably need repairs, and an estimate must be gathered from a qualified repair shop, including parts, labor, and perhaps paint and body work.  Next, you will probably have some form of medical bills.  It is a well-known reality that when a car and a motorcycle collide, the motorcycle tends to fare worse in the collision.  It is unusual to see a motorcycle rider walk away from an impact with absolutely no medical bills.  A third type of payment which may need to be collected is lost time from work due to injuries and trauma.  With all of these figures to be collected, it may take a little time for an Irvine motorcycle accident attorney to come up with a firm figure for damages.  After all, the last thing you want to do is underestimate how much your medical bills will be, or how much time off from work you will need.

The next figure which must be calculated in your pain and suffering.  This is where a good Irvine motorcycle accident lawyer begins to earn his or her fee.  The calculation of “abstract” costs such as pain and suffering or punitive damages is a very difficult task and requires skill and experience.  For example, if the at-fault driver was criminally negligent or purposely hit the motorcycle rider, a personal injury attorney will approach the subject of damages quite differently than if the driver had mitigating circumstances, such as failed brakes.  It takes a professional personal injury lawyer to understand all the nuances of calculating damages in these various cases.

Finally, your Irvine motorcycle accident attorney will discuss with you a figure which is “ballpark.”  This means that the attorney has considered the facts and come up with a range of figures within which he or she feels settlement will probably fall.  These figures are not “set in stone,” but represent the attorney’s best guess as to what the defendants and their insurers will offer.

One other factor that affects the amount you will collect in your Irvine motorcycle accident claim is the circumstances of the accident and who was “at fault.”  Your attorney will need all the facts about the accident to advise you well on how much your claim is truly worth.  If you were engaging in negligent behavior at the time of the accident, such as drinking and riding, then it is likely that the settlement figures will be affected by these facts.  Going to trial is always a gamble, so in a case like this, your attorney would probably be right in advising you to settle, even for a slightly lower figure.  On the other hand, if the accident was completely the other person’s fault, then you can probably expect a higher settlement figure.  Most Irvine motorcycle accidents of this type never go to trial, as the insurers are well aware that juries could award plaintiffs in such a case a very large judgment.

Adalberto Ponce, 30, was severely injured in an Imperial County truck accident after his motorcycle struck the back of a big rig. According to a KXO Radio news report, the motorcycle accident occurred on Highway 86 near Borrego Salton Seaway, the morning of January 22, 2012. Officials say a tractor-trailer was accelerating after turning when the motorcycle struck it from behind. Ponce was thrown from the motorcycle and sustained major blunt force trauma. He was airlifted to a hospital from the scene of the crash. It is not clear if the truck driver, 44-year-old Victor Reyes, will be cited for the crash.

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Motorcycle accident lawyers in Anaheim know that riders are in serious trouble. Motorcyclists are 35 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than the drivers of automobiles, according to the Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The reasons for this may seem obvious: motorcyclists have far less protection from the effects of a crash than those in a car., and are far more likely to be hurt or killed if they suffer a collision. However, this is not the whole story.

In two-thirds of the cases in which a motorcycle collides with a car, it is the driver of the car, not the driver of the motorcycle, who is at fault. This data comes from the Hurt Report, published in 1981 at the request of Congress. The Hurt Report focused on motorcycle riders in the Los Angeles area, but its findings have been used to support studies and changes in laws throughout the nation. More

Mistakenly thought of as an act of nature, or a freak accident, many motorcycle accidents in California seem to be preventable. In 2008 5,290 people died in motorcycle accidents across the country--the highest number ever recorded. In fact, The number of motorcycle accidents and fatalities has increased every year for the last decade.

Last year, 14 percent of all traffic accident deaths involved motorcycles. There were 114,000 serious motorcycle accidents last year that involved injuries or property damage. One out of three motorcycle accidents involves a rider who is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Thirty-five percent of fatal motorcycle accidents involve a speeding motorcycle rider.

This shows how many of the accidents involve an irresponsible or impaired driver. Drinking and driving cost tens of thousands of lives each year and are completely preventable, and now distracted driving has taken an even bigger toll. Many passenger vehicles have collided with harder to see motorcycles due to talking or texting on their mobile device in recent years. More

Being involved in a motorcycle accident can be extremely emotional and stressful. One minute you’re driving down the highway feeling the wind in your hair, and the next you could be lying on the ground injured or in pain. This sudden shift in emotions and experiences can cause many motorcycle riders to make some critical mistakes after their accident.

Making a mistake after your motorcycle accident won’t cause any personal damage. However, it could present some problems should you wish to receive compensation for your pain and suffering, and medical expenses. The following are some common mistakes you should try to avoid after you have been involved in a motorcycle accident.

Don't Admit Fault to Anyone

That’s not to say that you shouldn’t say anything at all to the other driver, but it’s best to try to say as little as possible to the other driver. Anything that you say can be used in court, or reported back to the insurance companies. This can complicate a case, especially if you say you have no injuries or that you "feel fine." More

A 24-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman were injured in a Los Angeles car accident, after a suspected drunk driver struck their motorcycle. According to a report in The Whittier Daily News, the DUI collision occurred on Telegraph Road at Victoria Avenue in the unincorporated county area of South Whittier, the night of December 21, 2011. Officials say the driver involved in the crash was an underage drunk driver. The man and woman were hospitalized with unknown injuries. The motorist, Pedro Saucedo, 18, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

My thoughts and prayers are with the injured victims of this motorcycle accident. I wish them the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.

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