Were you involved in a motorcycle accident in Glendale, California? You may be entitled to significant compensation for your injuries and related damages. Onyx Law Firm can help you file a claim and fight for the full amount of money you need to get back on your feet.
Our Glendale personal injury attorneys have decades of combined experience and have secured substantial recoveries for our clients throughout the State of California. We know the risks riders take every time they get on the saddle and will prioritize your case from the moment you hire us.
Contact our law offices today at (844) 669-9529 for a free consultation. You can get some initial legal advice at that time with no strings attached.
Glendale Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Schedule a Free ConsultationHow Can Onyx Law Firm Help After a Motorcycle Accident in Glendale, CA?
Insurance companies are notorious for placing unfair blame on motorcyclists, and they will look for any excuse they can to reduce the value of your claim and protect their profits. You need a Glendale personal injury attorney who knows how to shut down those arguments and ensure you are fully compensated for what happened.
Onyx Law Firm is qualified to help you throughout the entire legal process, including in the courtroom if necessary. When you hire our legal team to represent you, we can:
- Investigate the crash and identify every party who may be liable
- Work with accident reconstruction and medical experts to strengthen your claim
- Calculate the full scope of your current and future damages
- Handle all negotiations with the insurance company on your behalf
- Take your case to court if a fair settlement is not offered
Call our motorcycle accident lawyers in Glendale, CA, today to schedule your free case review. We’re ready to get to work for you right away.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Motorcycle Accident in Glendale?
California law allows motorcycle accident victims to pursue compensatory damages against the party who caused the crash. These damages fall into two main categories.
Economic damages compensate you for the financial toll of the accident, including:
- Medical bills, current and future
- Rehabilitative care
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
- Miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages account for your more personal losses, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Conditions like PTSD, depression, and anxiety
In cases where the at-fault party’s behavior was especially egregious, California courts may also award punitive damages. These are reserved for extreme circumstances in cases that go all the way to trial and are intended to punish the wrongdoer rather than simply compensate you as the victim.
How Should I Deal With the Insurance Companies After a Motorcycle Accident?
The short answer is to let our lawyers handle it for you. Insurance adjusters are trained to protect their company’s profits, not to make sure you receive fair compensation. This is especially true in motorcycle accident cases, where insurers frequently try to exploit the misconception that riders are inherently reckless.
Some of the tactics you should be prepared for include:
- Contacting you shortly after the crash and asking for a recorded statement before you have had time to consult with a lawyer
- Offering a quick settlement that sounds appealing but falls far short of what your claim is actually worth
- Requesting access to your full medical history in hopes of attributing your injuries to a pre-existing condition
- Suggesting that you were at fault for the accident because you were on a motorcycle
A well-intentioned conversation with an adjuster can potentially result in statements that are later taken out of context and used to weaken your case. The safest approach is to refer all calls from the insurance company to us so that we can ensure you aren’t taken advantage of and are set up for a complete financial recovery.
What if I Am Being Blamed for My Glendale Motorcycle Accident?
California follows a pure comparative negligence rule regarding the issue of contributory fault. This means you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident. Your compensation will be reduced by your share of responsibility, but you are not barred from recovering at any percentage of fault.
For example, if your total damages are $500,000 and you are found to be 20% responsible, your recovery would be reduced to $400,000. Even at higher levels of fault, you still have the right to pursue compensation for the portion that was not your responsibility.
Our motorcycle accident attorneys know how to gather the necessary evidence and build a compelling case that minimizes the amount of fault assigned to you. We will push back against any allegations of blame and protect your right to a full and fair recovery.
We Will Fight for Compensation for All of Your Glendale Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcyclists lack the structural protection that passenger vehicles provide, which means the injuries they sustain in a collision tend to be far more serious. Our personal injury lawyers at Onyx Law Firm are prepared to help you pursue damages no matter what kind of harm you have suffered.
Common motorcycle accident injuries we handle include:
- Road rash
- Broken bones
- Fractured ribs
- Dislocated joints
- Torn ligaments
- Herniated discs
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord damage
- Paralysis
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Nerve damage
- Burns
- Facial injuries
- Crushed limbs
- Amputations
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Regardless of where your injuries fall on this list, our law firm has the experience and resources needed to build a successful claim from the ground up. Contact us today to review your case during a free consultation.
How Much Is My Glendale Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?
Every motorcycle accident case carries its own value based on the specific facts and circumstances pertaining to the situation. There is no formula that applies across the board, but several key factors will shape what your claim is ultimately worth. These include:
- How severe your injuries are and whether they will require future treatment
- The total amount of income you have lost or will lose going forward
- Whether the accident has permanently altered your ability to work
- How the crash has affected your daily routine and overall quality of life
- The strength of the evidence linking the other party to the accident
- Terms and limits of any applicable insurance policies
Working with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney can also have a direct impact on the outcome. A lawyer who knows how to properly document your losses and present your case can often secure a significantly higher recovery than what the insurance company would offer on its own.
What Is Negligence and How Do I Prove It in a Glendale Motorcycle Accident Case?
Most motorcycle accident claims in California are built on the legal theory of negligence. At its core, negligence means that someone failed to exercise the level of care that a reasonable person would have used in the same situation. To succeed on your claim, you will need to establish four legal elements:
- The other party had a legal duty to operate their vehicle safely
- They violated that duty through some act of carelessness
- Their carelessness was a direct cause of the collision
- You suffered real, measurable harm as a result
These elements must generally be established on a “by a preponderance of the evidence” basis, meaning you must bring enough proof to show each is 51% or more likely to be true.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Glendale
Motorcycle crashes happen for a variety of reasons, but driver negligence is a factor in the vast majority of them. Broadly speaking, some of the most frequent causes in Glendale motorcycle accident cases include:
- Drivers making left turns in front of oncoming motorcycles
- Motorists failing to check blind spots before merging
- Distracted driving
- Tailgating
- Speeding
- Running red lights
- Opening car doors into the path of a passing motorcyclist
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Unsafe road conditions caused by poor maintenance
- Debris left in travel lanes
California law permits lane splitting for motorcyclists under Vehicle Code § 21658.1, but other drivers do not always anticipate it. This can lead to collisions when motorists change lanes without checking for riders filtering through traffic.
How Long Do I Have To File a Motorcycle Accident Claim in California?
Per California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, you generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Courts enforce this statute of limitations strictly, and failing to file on time will almost always result in losing the ability to pursue your claim.
Certain exceptions may apply in limited circumstances, such as if the injured person is a minor or if the at-fault party is a government entity. We recommend that you contact our personal injury lawyers as soon as you can to ensure you file your claim on time.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Glendale?
Onyx Law Firm takes motorcycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis. There is nothing to pay upfront, and you will not be charged by the hour either. Instead, we only receive payment for our work if we successfully handle your case, whether it’s through a jury verdict or settlement agreement.
This system is meant to benefit everyone involved. You’ll be able to afford a top-rated lawyer for your case without regard to your current financial situation, and our motorcycle accident attorneys in Glendale will be motivated to increase the value of your claim as much as possible.
Contact Our Experienced Glendale Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
A motorcycle accident in Glendale, CA, can leave you with a number of debilitating consequences all at once. If someone else’s actions put you in this position, you deserve experienced legal representation on your side that will fight for the maximum value of your claim.
Look no further than Onyx Law Firm to help you to that end. Contact our Glendale motorcycle accident lawyers for a free consultation today at (844) 669-9529. We work on contingency, which means you only pay attorney’s fees if we successfully handle your case.