Motorcycles are a great option for many in Santa Clarita, California. Because they are more financially sustainable and environmentally conscious than traditional passenger cars, motorcycles make transportation easier for many of the city’s residents. Though they have many benefits, motorcycles do not come without some level of risk. Motorcycles are not equipped with the seatbelts and airbags of passenger vehicles and are therefore vulnerable to extremely dangerous accidents. Unfortunately, hundreds of Californians are severely injured in motorcycle accidents each year.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a motorcycle accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. The team of Santa Clarita personal injury attorneys at OnderLaw is ready to help you as you seek justice. For over nineteen years, we’ve been providing clients with high-quality legal counsel as they seek retribution for their injuries.

If you’re ready to seek compensation for injuries you sustained in a motorcycle accident due to someone else’s carelessness, call OnderLaw today to schedule a free, confidential case evaluation. We’ll put you in contact with one of our personal injury lawyers so that you can hear all of your options and decide what’s best for you.

Why Do I Need a Lawyer?

Handling a motorcycle accident case can be a difficult process, particularly if you’re trying to recover from injuries you’ve sustained at the same time. When you hire a OnderLaw lawyer, you’re trusting us to manage your case so that you have time to rest and recuperate.

In addition, it can be extremely difficult to communicate with all the parties involved in your case. From discussions with law enforcement, insurance companies, and other third parties, it’s important to manage communication in as efficient a manner as possible. At OnderLaw, we’re committed to handling all communication on each client’s behalf. Not only does this streamline the legal process, but it protects you from potential accidental self-incrimination.

Why Choose OnderLaw?

At OnderLaw, we believe in pursuing excellence. This belief has not only led us to reach impressive settlements and trial awards over the years, but it has also earned us acclaim on local and national levels. Organizations, including The American Society of Legal Advocates, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, The American Trial Lawyers Association, and The Trial Lawyers Board of Regents, LLC™, have recognized OnderLaw for our hard work and commitment to each case we take on.

One of our top personal injury lawyers, Matt O’Grady, works hard to make sure each client’s rights are protected. O’Grady, a graduate of the Washington University School of Law, has reached many impressive settlements throughout the duration of his career. He has been nominated to Missouri Super Lawyers three times between 2016 and 2018 and was nominated as a member of the Insurance Legislative Committee for the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys in 2017. O’Grady’s attention to detail and dedication to justice have made him an important part of the OnderLaw team.

Motorcycle Laws in Santa Clarita

There are several important laws and regulations concerning motorcycles in Santa Clarita to be aware of. Some examples you might find useful are:

  • According to Section 12.76.090 of the Santa Clarita Municipal Code, no one is permitted to carry a passenger on the handlebars of their bicycle or motorcycle.
  • Section 12.76.200 of the same code states that no motor vehicle (including motorbikes and motorcycles) shall be operated on any place other than a highway so as not to disturb the peace or quiet of any neighborhood or person.
  • Section 12.76.100 states that no person operating a motorcycle may cling to or attach themselves to another vehicle.

Types of Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents rarely look the same, as there are many ways in which a motorcyclist may be injured. A wide variety of factors may contribute to a motorcycle accident, whether they are due to environmental conditions or because of the behavior of another driver. A few examples of such accidents include:

  • Dooring accidents
  • Head-on collisions
  • Turning accidents
  • Pedestrian accidents
  • Lane-splitting accidents
  • Rear-end collisions
  • T-bone accidents
  • Rollover accidents
  • Sideswipe accidents
  • Multiple-vehicle accidents
  • Stationary object accidents

Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

An important part of knowing what kind of compensation you can expect is determining the cause of the motorcycle accident in which you’ve been injured. There are many potential causes of such accidents. A few examples include:

  • Distracted driving: Any driver whose focus is not on the operation of their vehicle is engaging in distracted driving. Distractions may be caused by cell phone use, drowsiness, or passengers in the car and can put other motorists at risk of being injured.
  • Driving under the influence: Should a driver choose to drink or use drugs while operating a motor vehicle, they will be engaging in driving under the influence. This kind of driving is extremely dangerous, as it can blur a driver’s vision and impair a driver’s judgment and depth perception.
  • Reckless driving: Those who do not observe traffic regulations while operating a motor vehicle are engaging in reckless driving. This kind of driving can be neglectful and can put other motorists in danger of being seriously injured. Examples of reckless driving include speeding, failing to check blind spots, weaving, failing to stop at a stop sign, or taking too wide a turn.
  • External conditions: There are external factors that may contribute to a motorcycle accident, as well. Some examples include weather conditions, municipal negligence (bumps in the road, potholes, etc.), or roadside construction.

Common Injuries Suffered in Motorcycle Accidents

Because motorcycles are much smaller than passenger cars and are not equipped with safety measures like airbags and seatbelts, motorcyclists are prone to a higher degree of injury than those in enclosed passenger vehicles. Examples of injuries you could sustain in a motorcycle accident include:

  • Paralysis
  • Decapitation
  • Road rash
  • Laceration
  • Concussion
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Broken bones
  • Neck trauma
  • Internal bleeding
  • Internal organ damage
  • Spinal cord damage

Who Is Responsible?

In the state of California, responsibility is largely determined by the level of negligence each party exhibited at the time of the accident. Negligence is defined as an action or lack of action that brings harm to another party and causes an accident. California works on the basis of pure comparative fault, meaning each party is entitled to compensation to the same degree they are not found liable.

For example, if you are entitled to $50,000 of compensation and are found to have been 15 percent liable, our personal injury attorneys will work to secure the $42,500 to which you are still entitled, or the 85 percent of the accident for which you are not considered liable.

Compensation for a Motorcycle Accident Claim

There are two main types of compensation you may expect for injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. You may be eligible for compensation for economic damages and/or noneconomic damages, depending on the nature of your particular injuries and losses.

Economic damages are any explicitly financial costs associated with a motorcycle accident. They may be the costs to repair damaged personal property, medical expenses (such as treatments, diagnostic procedures, and doctor’s appointments), or lost wages or income as a result of time taken off of work to heal. You can keep track of economic damages by keeping all repairs receipts, medical records, pay stubs, and timecards.

Noneconomic damages are the intangible costs of any pain or suffering you experience as a result of a motorcycle accident. Examples of such damages include loss of companionship, loss of mobility, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional/psychological trauma. The best way to track these damages is to take note of any therapy/counseling services you receive as a result of an accident or to write down the way the injuries you sustained in an accident impact your daily life.

California Motorcycle Accident Statistics

A report from the Insurance Information Institute claims that motorcyclists were nearly 29 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash per vehicle miles traveled in 2019.

Data from the University of California at Berkeley’s Safe Transportation Research and Education Center reflects that in 2015, motorcycle accidents caused 451 fatalities and 2,317 severe injuries across the state of California.

In 2019, there were 474 motorcycle accident-related fatalities in California, according to a report from the California Office of Traffic Safety.

Call OnderLaw Today

Motorcycle accidents can be devastating. Because of their vulnerability compared to occupants of large trucks and passenger cars, motorcyclists are at risk for severe injury when they are involved in motor vehicle accidents. If you or someone you love has been involved in a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

Sometimes, though, motorcycle accident victims are reluctant to hire an attorney because of their finances. Here at OnderLaw, we work on contingency. That means you pay us nothing upfront. We take our fee out of any compensation we obtain for you. If we get you no money, you owe us nothing.

Are you ready to begin your journey towards retribution? Call OnderLaw today to schedule a free confidential consultation. We will walk alongside you to make sure you feel heard and supported as you pursue compensation in your motorcycle accident case. Don’t let one more day stand between you and the justice you deserve. Call now.