Marysville Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
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Marysville motorcycle accident attorney
Many Marysville area residents enjoy riding motorcycles, and most are able to enjoy their time on the road without any serious problems. However, there is always a risk of having an accident any time you drive any vehicle, but the risks facing motorcyclists are much more severe than those facing drivers of standard passenger vehicles. Motorcycles are inherently dangerous in several ways, from the lack of physical protection they provide in a collision to their small profile and low visibility compared to most larger vehicles.
Representing Motorcycle Accident Claims in Marysville
If you or a family member recently sustained injuries in a motorcycle accident caused by another driver in the Marysville area, it’s natural to have many questions regarding liability for the damage you experienced and your best available options for recovering from those losses. A Marysville motorcycle accident attorney can provide the guidance you need in this scenario, and it’s likely they will uncover channels of recovery you may not have considered on your own.
The Kreeger Law Firm offers decades of experience handling personal injury cases in Marysville and surrounding communities, including those pertaining to motorcycle crashes. We know how damaging and traumatic any vehicle accident can be, and motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to crash impact forces. Our team can help you determine fault for your recent motorcycle accident, assess the scope of damages you can claim from the at-fault driver, and guide you through the procedures required to ensure their accountability.
Benefits of Hiring an Experienced Marysville Motorcycle Accident Attorney
When you are struggling with losses caused by another driver’s misconduct or negligence, you likely face a multifaceted series of legal challenges if you want to ensure full responsibility for the damages you and your family have suffered because of their actions. It may technically be possible to handle your recovery without hiring professional legal counsel but doing so entails many risks most people will not know how to handle on their own.
Hiring an experienced legal team offers the best chance of maximizing your recovery and securing it as quickly as possible. The initial aftermath of your accident may be damaging and traumatic, but the losses you suffered can quickly compound into a very precarious financial situation for your household. Severe injuries lead to expensive medical bills, and if the victim cannot work, their medical treatment costs and lost income will very quickly snowball into a desperate financial situation.
Unfortunately, many motorcycle accident victims are unaware of all the rights available to them after experiencing accidents caused by the negligence and misconduct of others. The desperation they experience in the face of their extensive damages sometimes compels them to accept lowball insurance claim offers and settlements, leaving them with no further recourse to secure full compensation for their damages. When you have the right attorney handling your case, you are more likely to maximize your total recovery and do so in a fraction of the time you might expect your case to take.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Marysville
- Distracted driving, which is responsible for most of the vehicle accidents that occur in the United States every year. Motorcycles are smaller than most other vehicles on the road, and this leaves them more susceptible to collisions from inattentive drivers.
- Speeding, which not only contributes to the number of vehicle accidents each year but also their severity. Catastrophic and fatal injuries are more likely to occur from motorcycle accidents that happen at high speeds. Speeding tops the list of most common contributing factors to fatal motorcycle accidents throughout the country.
- Lane splitting, which describes moving between slower-moving lanes of traffic or sharing space in the same lane with another motorcycle. There may not be any law explicitly banning lane splitting, and there are some arguments as to why it can be beneficial to motorcyclists in some cases. For example, two motorcycles riding next to one another in the same lane are more visible to nearby drivers, and weaving between slower-moving traffic can potentially allow a motorcyclist to avoid colliding with a vehicle in front of them if traffic suddenly slows. However, the practice is heavily discouraged as it can startle another driver and cause a serious accident.
- Driving under the influence (DUI), which is illegal in every state and will lead to criminal charges for the at-fault driver in addition to their civil liabilities. If any illegal misconduct caused your recent motorcycle accident, your Marysville motorcycle accident attorney will inform you how this could influence your legal proceedings and your final recovery.
Auto Insurance Claims for Motorcycle Accidents in Marysville
All drivers are legally required to have auto insurance that meets the state’s minimum coverage requirements for bodily injury liability, total accident liability, and property damage liability. Drivers are also encouraged to purchase underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage that can allow them to claim against their own insurance if an at-fault driver does not have appropriate coverage. If they do, you have the right to file a claim against their policy, but you must do so soon after the accident they caused.
Dealing with insurance claims is notoriously stressful, and insurance companies have no incentive to pay out on claims filed against their policyholders. As a result, they generally look for all the reasons they can find to reduce claim settlement offers as much as possible or deny claims whenever they see any justification to do so. Some insurance company representatives will even engage in unethical bad faith tactics to avoid paying out on legitimate claims.
When you have a Marysville motorcycle accident attorney representing you, they can streamline your insurance claim process and increase the chances of maximizing the compensation you receive. The team at Kreeger Law Firm can help you draft your initial claim letter to the insurance company and resolve any issues that may arise so you can maximize your claim payout.
Personal Injury Damages and Compensation for a Motorcycle Accident
California’s personal injury statutes enable plaintiffs to claim full recovery from all the economic losses they have suffered due to the negligence or misconduct of the defendants named in their claims. An initial auto insurance claim can offer some valuable compensation, but it is unlikely to fully compensate for the losses resulting from a serious motorcycle accident. Your Marysville motorcycle accident attorney can help you secure as much compensation as the defendant’s auto insurance policy provides before moving to a personal injury case to seek compensation for the remaining damages.
The economic damages you can claim from the defendant are fairly straightforward, and most plaintiffs are able to prove these damages with the appropriate documentation. For example, you can seek repayment for all the medical expenses you incurred because of the defendant’s actions, and this includes any ongoing treatment costs for managing your symptoms and healing as fully as possible. The defendant is responsible for all the medical care you require to achieve maximum medical improvement. Similarly, if you are unable to work for an extended time, the defendant is responsible for your lost wages, and they could also face liability for lost future earnings if you are left permanently unable to work because of their actions.
California law also enables the plaintiff to claim compensation for pain and suffering in a motorcycle accident case with no upper limit. Your Marysville motorcycle accident attorney can help you determine a fair amount to seek from the defendant based on the scope and severity of your condition resulting from their actions. When you choose the Kreeger Law Firm to represent you in a motorcycle accident case, we will do everything we can to maximize the final case award you secure from the defendant who caused your accident.
FAQs
Q: How Do I Prove How My Motorcycle Accident Happened?
A: You may have been so severely injured in your accident you have no recollection of the event, and it is also possible for many other factors to make it difficult for a victim to determine exactly how their accident happened. A Marysville motorcycle accident attorney will know what to do to locate and identify the party who caused your accident. Most motorcycle accident claims are generated by acts of negligence, such as inattention behind the wheel, but it is also possible for illegal misconduct to cause a devastating crash.
Q: How Much Is My Accident Claim Worth?
A: State law is relatively flexible in terms of an injured plaintiff’s claimable damages. You have the right to hold the defendant accountable for all the financial losses they caused, from your medical expenses and vehicle repairs to the income you cannot earn because of their actions. The best way to determine the total potential value of your motorcycle accident case is to consult a Marysville motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible after addressing your medical needs.
Q: What Happens If I’m Partially Responsible for the Accident?
A: California’s pure comparative negligence law allows a plaintiff to seek compensation for a personal injury even if they are partially responsible for the injury. A partially liable plaintiff will have a fault percentage assigned by the judge handling their case and lose this percentage of their case award. There is no limit to a plaintiff’s fault percentage, and it’s theoretically possible for the plaintiff to be 99% at fault and still recover 1% of their claimed damages. However, the higher the plaintiff’s fault percentage, the more vulnerable they could potentially be to a countersuit from the defendant.
Q: How Much Does a Marysville Motorcycle Accident Attorney Charge a Client?
A: Kreeger Law accepts personal injury cases on a contingency basis, meaning there is no risk for our clients when it comes to the cost of representation. Our fee is a percentage of the client’s case award that we only take if we win their case. Therefore, you will not face any ongoing legal fees and will not owe anything if we cannot secure a settlement or case award on your behalf. We carefully review our billing policy with each client before any formal agreements for representation are signed.
Q: Is It Really Worth Hiring Legal Representation for a Motorcycle Accident Claim?
A: It may be possible to file an insurance claim and even a civil suit without an attorney, but you must understand the risks you would face. Most people would struggle to meet the procedural demands of their case while managing their medical needs and household. Hiring the right attorney lets you focus on recovery and your personal obligations with the reassurance that your legal team has your case well in hand. Even after accounting for your attorney’s fee, the difference they can make in your final case award can be substantial.
The Kreeger Law Firm has the experience and professional resources you need on your side to recover as fully as possible from your recent motorcycle crash. If another driver hurts you through their negligence or illegal misconduct, we can help you hold them accountable. Contact our team today and schedule a free consultation with a compassionate and skilled Marysville motorcycle accident attorney.
