Riverside Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Request Free ConsultationMotorcycle accidents are often devastating, due to simple matters of physics. Unlike cars, motorbikes do not have the protection of a metal casing, nor do they have safety features like seat belts or airbags. For these reasons, motorcyclists are far more likely to experience incapacitating, disabling, or fatal injuries in an accident. If you or a loved one is struggling under the weight of medical bills, lost wages, property damage, or the other costs of a Riverside motorcycle accident, you may be able to collect compensation in the form of a personal injury lawsuit. Speak to a Riverside motorcycle accident lawyer for legal representation in an injury claim.
Why Choose Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP for Your Riverside Motorcycle Accident Case?
When you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident in Riverside, you need an experienced and dedicated law firm to fight for your rights. Here’s why Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP is the right choice:
- Proven Track Record of Success
With a history of securing significant settlements and verdicts for clients, Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP has the experience and expertise to handle complex motorcycle accident cases. - Personalized Attention
Our Riverside injury lawyers treat each client as a priority, offering personalized care and a dedicated team to guide you through every step of the legal process. - Extensive Legal Expertise
Our team has a deep understanding of motorcycle accident laws and know how to navigate the challenges unique to these cases, including issues of liability and insurance disputes. - Aggressive Representation
Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP will aggressively pursue the compensation you deserve, whether through negotiations or by taking your case to trial. We don’t settle for less. - No Fees Unless You Win
They operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay unless you receive compensation. This ensures that you have access to top-tier legal representation without worrying about upfront costs.
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP can help you secure the compensation and justice you deserve. Reach out to their team today to discuss your case.
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Different Types of Motorcycle Accidents We Handle
At Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, we have stood with motorcyclists across California for many years. We understand how these cases work and the unique elements that come with various types of motorcycle accidents.
Our legal team in Riverside can help you navigate any type of motorcycle accident claim, including:
- Rear-end collision: a distracted, speeding or tailgating driver rear-ends you or strikes your motorcycle from behind.
- Lane-change accident: a driver who isn’t paying enough attention or makes an unsafe lane change sideswipes you or forces you to veer into another lane to avoid a collision.
- Left-turn accident: a driver fails to notice your oncoming motorcycle or underestimates your speed and makes a left turn directly in front of you, causing a T-bone accident.
- Lane-splitting accident: a driver hits your motorcycle while you are lawfully riding between lanes of slowed or stopped traffic.
- Head-on collision: a car collides directly with the front of your motorcycle while traveling from the opposite direction. These accidents are usually catastrophic or fatal.
- Dooring accident: a parked driver opens a car door into the path of your approaching motorcycle, causing you to strike the door or veer out of the way and into another vehicle’s path of travel.
- Drunk driving accident: an intoxicated or drugged driver crashes into you, potentially leading to criminal charges as well as a civil case against the driver.
- Defective motorcycle accident: Your bike crashes due to a defective part, such as brake failure, potentially allowing you to hold the manufacturer liable.
- Road hazard accident: dangerous road conditions or defects, such as potholes or loose gravel, cause you to lose control of your motorcycle and crash.
We also represent motorcyclist victims of hit-and-run accidents, uninsured and underinsured motorist accidents, distracted driver accidents, single-vehicle motorcycle accidents, speeding accidents, and more. Discuss your individual case with our attorneys during a free consultation to find out how we can help.
Important California Motorcycle Accident Laws
As is the case in most states, motorcyclists have all the same rights and responsibilities as other motorists in California. They have a right to use all roadways and to drive in traffic as any other type of vehicle. They even have the right to ride between two lanes of traffic moving in the same direction, thanks to the lane-splitting laws in California. Motorcyclists also have the same responsibilities – they must obey all traffic laws and rules, on top of a few motorcycle-specific laws. In Riverside, here are a few laws to know as a motorcyclist:
1. Helmet laws: All motorcycle riders and their passengers must wear safety helmets when riding motorcycles in the state of California. Allowable helmets must meet all federal safety requirements. Failing to wear a helmet could result in fines, as well as comparative liability for head or brain injuries in the event of a crash.
2. Bike equipment requirements: Motorcycles must have daytime running lights (modulating headlights are permissible), at least one rearview mirror, a muffler, a red brake light, and a second seat if carrying passengers.
3. At-fault accident laws: California is a “fault” insurance state. This means that for a motorcyclist or other party to seek damage recovery after a crash, he or she must file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. Determining fault can be difficult in a traffic collision and requires a full investigation.
The best way to protect your rights as an injured motorcyclist in Riverside is to retain a motorcycle accident attorney. Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP has years of experience helping California’s bikers and we know that motorcyclists often must deal with biases against them on top of other burdens during personal injury claims.
Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Riverside, CA
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of motorcycle fatalities and injuries has increased throughout California in recent years, which includes Riverside County and the Inland Empire. Some of the most common reasons for biker accidents in California, according to the NHTSA, include:
- Increased volume of riders: Our area is famous for traffic congestion, and California is the only state in the nation to allow lane splitting. This makes getting a motorcycle an attractive prospect, so more people are purchasing them to shave minutes off their daily commute.
- Unlicensed riders: Unfortunately, not everyone gets licensed before they get on the road, which can lead to more accidents.
- Intoxication: When motorcyclists have to share the road with intoxicated drivers on the Riverside roadways, the likelihood of being in a serious accident increases. Drunk driving in Riverside kills hundreds of people in our state each year, and motorcyclists are not immune.
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, 91 motorcyclists in the City of Riverside were injured and killed in 2022. Riverside County as a whole reported 1,018 injured and killed motorcyclists.
Common Riverside Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Unfortunately, many motorbike accidents lead to serious injury. Here are some of the most common injuries our Riverside motorcycle accident lawyers have seen:
- Head trauma. Even when wearing a helmet, a motorcycle accident can lead to a concussion or other forms of traumatic brain injury (TBI). These are serious conditions that require lengthy healing and careful medical monitoring.
- Spinal cord injury. The force of landing on the pavement can lead to a broken neck or the bones that protect the spinal cord. Spinal cord injuries vary widely in severity, but those involving the upper spine are generally more severe.
- Multiple broken bones. The impact between the motorcyclist’s body and the roadway can break one or multiple bones. Common areas for fractures are the arms, legs, skull, pelvis, ribs, and collarbone.
- Crush injuries. One of the main reasons that motorcycles do not have seat belts is that ejection from the bike is actually safer than being attached to it. When a bike lands on the rider, it can lead to severe crush injuries and burn injuries from the engine.
- Road rash. This is a painful but common condition from motorcycle crashes that results from skin scraping against the pavement. Depending on the severity of the injury, road rash may require skin grafting or other intensive medical treatment.
Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents often result in the death of the rider. If you have lost a loved one, please reach out to our compassionate Riverside wrongful death lawyers today.
Joe and Didi Powers
Who Is Liable For A Riverside Motorcycle Accident?
In a motorcycle collision, you might assume that the only party who could be legally responsible for your damages is the other driver. This is not necessarily the case. Many motorcycle accidents involve the fault of more than one party or the unexpected presence of defendants. The California courts may split accountability between one or more parties, often making multiple defendants jointly liable for damage recovery. This can mean greater compensation for the plaintiff. A Riverside accident attorney can help you assess your case and identify all possible liable parties. This could include:
- A company: If the driver who struck you was an on-duty worker at the time of the crash, the driver’s employer could be vicariously liable for your damages. For example, if the other driver was part of a delivery service, mail company, Uber or Lyft, taxi service, bus company, trucking company, or other business, you could pursue a claim against the company itself instead of only the individual driver.
- Parts manufacturer: Motorcycles can experience harmful part failures that cause single-vehicle accidents. Bad brakes, defective tires, malfunctioning lights, and other parts could fail and result in loss of control of the vehicle. In these types of crashes, injured motorcyclists might be eligible for product liability claims against the manufacturer or distributor of the parts.
- The City of Riverside: Motorcycles are more vulnerable to road defects such as potholes and loose gravel. Spinning out, flipping, or crashing because of a dangerous roadway could result in the liability of the government entity in charge of road maintenance. You may have the opportunity to file a claim against the government, but you must act quickly – these types of lawsuits have much shorter deadlines to file.
Explore the question of legal accountability for your recent motorcycle crash with help from experienced motorcycle accident attorneys in Riverside, CA. Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP has represented crash victims throughout California for decades. We have the knowledge and commitment to justice that you need to maximize your odds of a successful claim. Contact our law firm today to learn more during a free consultation.
Compensation for Motorcycle Accidents in Riverside
Every accident claim is different, and therefore, the damages obtained are different; the damages you suffered determine your compensation amount. Damages included in the compensation award include present and future medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Tangible expenses like medical bills and lost wages are easy to calculate, but pain and suffering will require the assistance of a motorcycle accident lawyer to determine how much you are entitled to. Depending on your case, you may also be entitled to punitive damages, which are meant to punish the liable party for their reckless behavior.
What Damages Are Available in My Motorcycle Accident Claim?
California law allows for the recovery of compensatory as well as punitive damages, in some cases. Compensatory damages are the most common. They are designed to compensate an accident victim and make him or her whole again. The aim is to restore the victim of negligence to his or her financial state prior to the motorcycle accident. Compensatory damages are divided into economic and non-economic awards.
Economic
Economic damages compensate an injured motorcyclist for the monetary losses suffered because of the incident. They can include:
- Past and future medical bills
- Necessary health care in the future
- Disability costs and accommodations
- Lost wages and diminished capacity to earn a living
- Property damage or destruction
- Transportation and travel costs
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Funeral and burial costs (in wrongful death claims)
Do your best to keep all bills and receipts associated with your motorcycle crash in Riverside. This can be used as evidence to support your economic damage claim.
Non-Economic
Non-economic damages describe all the ways the motorcycle accident affected the victim outside of monetary losses. They are also referred to as intangible damages or pain and suffering. Non-economic damages may include:
- Physical pain or chronic pain
- Emotional distress
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Depression or anxiety
- Insomnia
- Mental anguish
- Inconvenience
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Permanent disability
- Reduced quality or enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium (for family members)
While non-economic damages can be difficult to prove because there is no set metric or dollar amount, these damages are often the most valuable damages in a personal injury lawsuit. You can strengthen your claim by seeking medical care for your mental health struggles and writing a daily diary of how your accident and injuries have affected you. Your lawyers at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP will help you and your loved ones maximize your right to non-economic damages.
Punitive
Punitive damages exist outside of compensatory damages. Rather than serving to compensate or reimburse a victim, they are designed to punish a defendant for especially wrongful or negligent acts. If a driver was heavily intoxicated when he or she crashed into your motorcycle, for example, you may be eligible for punitive damages.
Punitive or exemplary damages are typically available under California Civil Code § 3294 if the plaintiff can prove with clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted with fraud, malice or oppression. Our attorneys can help you put in a claim for punitive damages to hold a defendant accountable for wrongdoing and maximize your financial recovery as much as possible.
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What Evidence Is Crucial to a Motorcycle Accident Claim?
To receive financial compensation from a motorist’s insurance company or a third party, you or your personal injury lawyer must prove fault. The burden of proof in a personal injury claim rests with the plaintiff or injured party. That burden requires the plaintiff or injured party to prove that the defendant’s negligent conduct was the probable cause of the accident and the resulting injuries. Stated numerically, plaintiff’s burden is to prove that there is a greater than 50.01 percent likelihood that defendant caused the accident and your damages.
The strength and success of a motorcycle accident claim in Riverside rely on evidence. Common types include:
- Police report of the accident
- Statements from witnesses and those involved
- Photos and videos from the scene
- Dashcam or GoPro footage of the accident
- Your damaged helmet or gear
- Cellphone records (for a distracted driving claim)
- Your medical records and injury diagnosis
- Motorcycle repair estimates
- Other proof of your losses
- Medical or crash expert testimony
If you are contacted by an insurance company after your motorcycle accident, keep the letters sent to you and write down phone conversations. Document everything that you can after your crash to build a stronger claim, including crash records and your medical journey as you heal from your injuries. Most importantly, do not talk to the defendant’s insurance company. Tell the representatives to call your attorneys at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP. Our attorneys will step in to preserve and gather important evidence before it’s too late and ensure that the drivers and their insurance companies are held responsible for your injuries, damages, and losses.
Do Insurance Companies Treat Motorcycle Accidents Differently?
Yes, insurance companies often treat motorcycle accidents differently from collisions involving two passenger vehicles. Insurance providers harbor biases against motorcyclists that can make it more difficult for riders to receive fair settlement offers. The insurance company may try to assert that you are a “risk-taker,” for example, and assumed the risks of an injury by choosing to ride a motorcycle. This could be used against you to diminish your payout.
An insurance company may also try to blame you for the accident unfairly, stating without evidence that you were speeding or “driving recklessly.” The insurer may attempt to use the comparative negligence doctrine to assign partial blame to you and reduce your payout. This is an especially common tactic when a motorcycle accident case involves severe or catastrophic injuries, as this results in larger claims.
Be prepared for an insurance company to use everything it can against you, such as whether you were wearing a helmet, whether you were lane-splitting at the time (even though it’s allowed in California) and if you delayed in seeking medical care. The best way to fight back is by hiring an attorney to represent you during insurance settlement negotiations. Do not accept a fast settlement until you speak to a lawyer about your rights. Insurance companies are not interested in making you whole again. If you are unrepresented, insurance companies will attempt to settle your motorcycle accident case for pennies on the dollar.
Will My Riverside Motorcycle Accident Case Go to Trial?
This is a question that only an attorney can answer for you with accuracy after reviewing your specific case, evidence, and circumstances. However, as a general rule, most motorcycle accident claims in California reach settlements and do not have to go to trial.
Settlements are the preferred method of resolving motorcycle accident claims because they can be kept private, cost less than a court case, and are faster. With the right attorney by your side, you can improve your chances of achieving a fair settlement outside of court.
However, there are certain circumstances that create the need to go to court to resolve a motorcycle accident case. If the driver’s car insurance company is refusing to offer a fair settlement or has wrongfully rejected your claim, for instance, your lawyer may recommend a personal injury lawsuit.
Going to court can have certain advantages, such as the opportunity to collect beyond the limits of an insurance policy. A court-ordered judgment award can require an insurance provider to pay much more than the original settlement offered – sometimes, in the millions. Hiring a trial attorney from Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP can ensure that you are prepared for either legal route.
Our trial capabilities not only allow us to present compelling evidence with a strong narrative to a judge or a jury, but also to increase the odds of reaching an out-of-court settlement. The ability to go to trial alone is often enough to convince an insurance provider to offer a reasonable settlement, as they want to avoid the costs and uncertainty of a trial.
Discuss Your Case With a Riverside Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today
Being involved in an accident can turn your life upside down. You may be wondering how to pay for your medical bills or compensate for any loss in income. A motorcycle accident lawyer in Riverside can help you pursue economic and general damages against the parties responsible for your accident. Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP has a reputation for excellence in litigating motorbike cases and wants to go to work for maximum compensation. Contact us to schedule a free and strategic review of your legal options. Call (951) 363-2410 today! We serve clients in Riverside County and throughout Southern California.