Step-by-step Guide: What Should I Do If in a Torrance Motorcycle Crash?
Step-by-step Guide: What Should I Do If in a Torrance Motorcycle Crash?
Accidents tend to occur when you least expect them, and a motorcycle accident can leave you vulnerable. For many victims, it can turn their lives around, with no hopes of positive recovery.
Ehline Law and our Torrance motorcycle accident attorneys have more than 15 years of experience dealing with motorcycle crashes and helping protect the rights of injured motorcycle riders. If you suffered a serious injury in a motorcycle accident in Torrance, contact our Torrance motorcycle accident lawyer to learn more about your rights.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Torrance
Since motorcycles are not enclosed vehicles, the riders do not have the same protection as drivers in motor vehicles. Even in a minor motorcycle accident, injuries are often devastating.
Depending on how the victim falls from the motorcycle or the impact of the accident, there are several types of injuries they can suffer, including the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head, neck, and back injuries
- Broken bones
- Bruises, lacerations, abrasions
- Soft tissue injuries
- Facial injuries
- Internal bleeding and organ damage.
After an accident, injured motorcycle accident victims need to seek medical attention to prevent further medical complications arising from the injuries.
Depending on the severity of the injuries, physical injuries can take weeks, months, or even years to heal. In severe cases, victims never recover from their injuries, seriously affecting their quality of life.
Besides physical and emotional injuries, a motorcycle accident can also burn through your finances. Medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and other out-of-pocket expenses can cause a dent in the victim’s finances. Fortunately, injured victims can pursue personal injury claims after motorcycle accidents to recover compensation.
Pursuing Motorcycle Accident Injury Claim
If a motorcycle rider suffers injuries in an accident due to a negligent driver or any other party, they must prove the following elements of a negligence claim to have a valid case:
- Duty
- Breach of Duty
- Causation
- Damages.
What Is the Average Settlement for a Motorcycle Accident in Torrance?
With so many motorcycle accident cases settled outside of court, it is difficult to calculate the average settlement for motorcycle accidents.
Many factors affect how much you may be able to recover in a motorcycle accident claim, including the following:
- The severity of the injuries sustained
- Type of injuries sustained
- Medical expenses
- Degree of fault
- Life disruptions
- Evidence available
- Attorney’s expertise.
Every motorcycle accident case is unique, and injured victims need to reach out to Torrance motorcycle accident lawyers to assess the value of their case.
What Should I Do If in a Torrance Motorcycle Crash?
The steps you take following your motorcycle accident will determine the outcome of your motorcycle accident case.
Our Torrance motorcycle accident lawyer recommends taking the following steps to protect your case and increase your chances of recovering a maximum settlement.
Get to Safety
After getting into a motorcycle crash, you may feel confused or in shock, but don’t let your emotions consume you. Move away from the roadway to avoid further accidents and assess the situation.
If you’re seriously hurt and cannot move around, you must call 911 or the bystanders for help. However, if you can move around, you can take certain steps to protect your case.
Exchange Details
To pursue a personal injury claim, you must have information about the negligent party and their insurance company. Talk to them and exchange contact and insurance information.
Gather Evidence
If you’ve called 911, the police will arrive at the accident site, talk to the parties involved, and write a police report. A police report can help strengthen a motorcycle accident claim as it consists of the officer’s opinion on how the accident happened.
You should also photograph and take videos of the accident site, the vehicles involved, nearby traffic signs, the road, and your injuries. Photographs and videos help the insurance company determine the at-fault party.
Speak to Witnesses
Witness statements are a great way to add weight to your motorcycle accident case. If there are any witnesses, reach out to them and take their contact numbers.
Seek Medical Attention
The most crucial step to protecting your personal injury case is to seek medical attention. In some cases, serious injuries may not be apparent immediately after an accident, and it may take a few hours, days, weeks, or even months for the symptoms to appear.
You must go to a hospital for medical evaluation to determine any internal damage from the motorcycle crash. Make sure to keep track of the symptoms you’re experiencing and keep your doctor informed. Following their recommended treatment plan is crucial to your case, as failing to do so will give the insurer a reason to decline or reduce your claim.
Contact an Experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
After an accident, you should immediately reach out to an experienced Torrance motorcycle accident attorney to discuss your legal options. Going against an insurance company without legal representation can seriously disadvantage you.
Insurance companies usually coerce injured victims into accepting lower settlement offers. If you have an experienced Torrance motorcycle accident lawyer on your side, they will handle the legal process and the insurance company on your behalf.
The Clock Is Ticking. Hurry up, as You Don’t Have Much Time!
Under California statute of limitations, Torrance motorcycle accident victims have two years following the date of the event that causes their injuries. The statute of limitations for grieving family members who lost their loved ones in fatal motorcycle accidents is also two years.
If the victim or surviving family members fails to bring a civil action within two years, they lose the right to recover compensation. However, there are certain exceptions to this for your Torrance motorcycle accidents or other auto accidents.
It is important to note that the statute of limitations shortens to six months if the accident occurred due to a negligent government entity. Experienced motorcycle accident lawyers can help determine the liable parties and guide you on the time you have left to bring a civil case for this type of car accident.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Ehline Law Torrance Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Do you want help making a Torrance motorcycle accident claim? If you suffered injuries or lost a loved one in a Torrance motorcycle accident due to another’s negligence, contact us at (833) LETS-SUE for a free consultation, as you may be eligible for compensation. Motorcycle wrecks are our specialty and we are are ready 24/7 to take your call.
Categories
- A to Z Personal Injury Podcast
- Auto Accident Blog
- Brain Injury Blog
- Burn Injury Blog
- Civil Rights Blog
- Death Law Blog
- Dog Bite Blog
- Elder Nursing Abuse Blog
- Government Tort Blog
- Insurance Law Blog
- Piloting and Aviation Accident Blog
- Premises Liability Blog
- Products Defect Blog
- Recreation-Sports Accident Blog
- Reports
- Sea Admiralty Maritime Accidents
- Service Related Cancer Blog
- Sexual Assault Blog
- Spinal Cord Injury Blog
- Torts, Examples, Explanations
- Train Accidents Blog
- TV, Media & Firm News
- Uncategorized
Firm Archive
Main Los Angeles Location
Michael Ehline
Michael Ehline is an inactive U.S. Marine and world-famous legal historian. Michael helped draft the Cruise Ship Safety Act and has won some of U.S. history’s largest motorcycle accident settlements. Together with his legal team, Michael and the Ehline Law Firm collect damages on behalf of clients. We pride ourselves on being available to answer your most pressing and difficult questions 24/7. We are proud sponsors of the Paul Ehline Memorial Motorcycle Ride and a Service Disabled Veteran Operated Business. (SDVOB.) We are ready to fight.