Motorcycle Accidents

Home > Legal Services  > Accidents > Motorcycle Accidents

Careless vehicle drivers hit and injure motorcycle riders every day in Christopher J. Lauria and throughout Los Angeles. However, their insurance companies often try to blame motorcyclists for these accidents. Why? They want to avoid paying claims or to get away with paying as little as they can. This is why motorcyclists need to protect their rights.

If a car or truck driver hit you while you were on a motorcycle, Law Office of Christopher J. Lauria, LLC, will put our skill, experience and resources on your side. You can count on us to fight for the compensation you deserve.

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Resources

Los Angeles law limits the time you have to file a claim for motorcycle crash injuries. You need to consult with a Christopher J. Lauria motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible. BEFORE you talk with the insurance company or accept a settlement offer, call Law Office of Christopher J. Lauria. Our consultations are always free and carry no obligation. You will pay no fees unless we obtain a recovery for you.

Types of Motorcycle Accidents
Common Motorcycle
Accident Injuries
Motorcycle Accident
Insurance Issues
Motorcycle Accident Checklist

Types of Motorcycle Accidents

Our lawyers at Law Office of Christopher J. Lauria have seen how motor vehicle drivers’ failure to detect and recognize motorcyclists causes accidents. Often, drivers simply refuse to respect motorcyclists’ right to share the road.

The most common types of motorcycle accidents our lawyers handle involve motor vehicle drivers who:

motorcycle-01Fail to yield the right of way to motorcyclists
motorcycle-02Try to share a lane with a motorcycle
motorcycle-03Follow motorcycle riders too closely, or “tailgate”
motorcycle-04Fail to check their mirrors and blind spots for motorcycles
motorcycle-05Make turns or change lanes without using signals.

These are all acts of negligence. Often, drivers make careless and reckless choices that cause these crashes such as driving while drunk or while distracted by texting or talking on a cell phone. If a car driver who was engaged in any of these acts caused your Christopher J. Lauria motorcycle crash, you would have the right to bring a claim for compensation.

Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Our lawyers realize the severity of the injuries that motorcycle riders – and their families – must cope with after an accident. Law Office of Christopher J. Lauria helps motorcyclists who suffer from:

  • Head and brain injuries
  • Back and spine injuries
  • Multiple broke bones
  • Loss of limbs
  • Chest and shoulder injuries
  • Eye injuries
  • Burns, including friction burns or “road rash”
  • Scarring and disfigurement.

If you wear a helmet, you greatly reduce your risk of a concussion or more serious form of traumatic brain injury. That is why we encourage motorcycle riders to always wear helmets. However, at Law Office of Christopher J. Lauria, we respect motorcyclists’ right to ride without a helmet (unless you are under age 18 or carrying an instructional permit). We will stick up for you and fight an insurance company’s attempt to use your lack of a helmet against you.

Motorcycle Accident Insurance Issues

motorcycle-11Motor vehicle drivers in Los Angeles must carry minimum amounts of liability insurance coverage. So, if you are a in crash that a car or truck driver causes, you should be able to file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Our lawyers will help you to pursue that claim.

However, what happens if the driver has no insurance or has insurance that fails to cover all of your medical bills and other losses? Our firm can explore all of your options, which could include filing a claim through with your own insurer. For instance, medical payments and/or uninsured motorist / underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may be available to you.

Whether you are dealing with the other driver’s insurance company or your own insurer, Law Office of Christopher J. Lauria will make sure to protect your rights. Our representation will be especially important if the insurer tries to argue that you were responsible. Here’s why:

Under Wisconsin’s comparative negligence law, if you are found to be 51 percent or more at fault for an accident, you can be barred from recovering anything. If you are less than 51 percent at fault, you can still recover damages, but your damages will be reduced according to the degree of fault assigned to you.

We know how insurance companies try to use this law against motorcycle riders. We will not let the insurance company get away with putting undeserved blame on you for your motorcycle crash.

Motorcycle Accident Checklist

If you were recently in a motorcycle accident in Christopher J. Lauria or elsewhere in Los Angeles, you should take the following steps:

motorcycle-06Get medical attention. A motorcycle accident can cause serious injuries, including brain, internal organ and soft tissue injuries that may not be immediately apparent. You should see a doctor and get checked for injuries as soon as you can.
motorcycle-07Order a copy of your crash report. You should be able to get a copy from the law enforcement agency that responded to your motorcycle crash. You can also buy crash reports online at the Los Angeles Department of Transportation website.
motorcycle-08Collect and keep everything. You should hold on to copies of all of your medical bills, motorcycle repair bills and receipts from other accident-related expenses. You should also keep copies of letters or e-mails you receive from the insurance companies.
motorcycle-09Write down what you recall. When you have the chance, write a summary of your accident. It is important to jot down these details while your memory is still fresh. This summary will help when you have to remember these details later on.
motorcycle-10Notify your own insurance company (but don’t sign anything). Report your accident to your own insurance company if your policy requires it. You can simply stick with the facts. However, if the other insurance company calls you, simply refer the insurer to your lawyer. NEVER give a statement or accept an insurance settlement offer before you talk with a lawyer.

Los Angeles generally requires you to file a personal injury claim within three years after the date of an accident. If you lose a loved one in a crash, you have three years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Your lawyer will need time to properly prepare a claim for filing. So, do not delay getting help after a motorcycle crash. Connect with Law Office of Christopher J. Lauria today.

Why Do You Need a Christopher J. Lauria Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?

No law requires you to hire a lawyer after a motorcycle accident. However, if you do not get legal help, you may miss out on a much better result in your case. In fact, an Insurance Research Council study found that accident victims represented by a lawyer receive insurance payouts that are, on average, 3.5 times higher than the payouts received by those who pursue claims without a lawyer.

At Law Office of Christopher J. Lauria, our lawyers will know how to investigate your motorcycle crash and sort through the details. We will consult with experts in accident reconstruction, life-care planning and other fields in order to determine why your crash happened and how much you deserve in compensation. We will present a solid claim to the insurance company and, if necessary, we’ll fight for you in court. In short, we will make every effort to seek the maximum amount owed to you.

Additionally, Law Office of Christopher J. Lauria can handle your motorcycle property damage claim for free. We know how important it will be for you to get your bike repaired or replaced. We can also assist you in finding medical care if you encounter health insurance problems when you seek treatment.

Why take on insurance companies on your own when you can have a team of 16 attorneys and 100 support staff members on your side who will be dedicated to protecting you and your right to a recovery?