Motorcycle Accidents
Monterey Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Motorcycle riders are especially vulnerable in accident situations because, unlike operators of other motor vehicles, they are not protected by a framed vehicle and are immediately exposed to road dangers. As a result, the injuries that occur from motorcycle accidents are often catastrophic and life changing. Unlike regular car accidents, there are rarely motorcycle collisions that result in minor injuries to the rider. These injuries are often debilitating and permanent. Victims of motorcycle accidents may never be able to work again in their chosen profession and enjoy the daily activities they used to.
A rider can be doing everything right, obeying all traffic laws, and taking all safety precautions, but still be the victim of a negligent motor vehicle operator. A large number of motorcycle accidents involve a negligent automobile or truck driver that did not see the rider, made an improper lane change or pulled out abruptly in front of the rider. As a result, injuries may result from a collision with another vehicle or from the rider having to take an evasive maneuver such as laying the motorcycle down.
Locating witnesses is extremely important in these cases because often times the injured rider is unfamiliar with the events leading to the accident. At one time the rider is minding his or her own business, a split second later he or she may be flying through the air or unconscious. It is not unusual for a rider to have no idea who hit him or recollection of how the accident happened. As a result, finding witnesses that saw the accident and can testify as to how it happened is critical. Our firm has the resources and employs the necessary investigators to seek out this information early in a case, before memories fade and witnesses can no longer be located.
When the stakes are high, our attorneys will go to the scene of the accident and perform their own investigation. Our attorneys will travel the exact paths as the vehicles involved in the accidents and search for physical evidence and note observations that may benefit our clients. This gives our attorneys the benefit of experiencing the scene first hand.
Motorcycle operators start at a disadvantage in motorcycle accident cases. The average person does not drive a motorcycle and has never ridden one. As a result, the general public has a negative opinion of motorcycle riders. They view riders as dare devils that weave through rush hour traffic and split lanes. They believe that riding a motorcycle is inherently dangerous and that riders do so at their own risk. A skilled attorney can turn these tables. Our attorneys make sure that insurance adjusters and jurors know the personal story of our injured clients—who they are, what they do, and the families they support. It is this personal element that often times makes the difference in obtaining a successful outcome.
