MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS
Motorcycle Accidents: Injuries to Passengers
Motorcycle accidents occur at an alarming rate in large cities such as Los Angeles. Over ten thousand (10,000) motorcyclists are injured in accidents in California each year. Of those accidents, more than four hundred (400) are fatal. Riders and passengers between the ages of 25 and 34 are the most often injured or killed in these accidents. These accidents clearly result in substantial physical injuries, medical bills, and lost income. The experienced attorneys at Slatter Law Firm will aggressively fight to recover the maximum compensation for your injuries.
Safety protocols such as helmets, gloves, boots, protective clothing, and safe riding techniques help reduce the number of these accidents. However, the great difference in size between a motorcycle and a vehicle leaves riders and passengers vulnerable to significant injuries. Common injuries include bone fractures, concussions, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, nerve damage, and facial and body cuts and scars. Regardless of the severity of your injury, you should seek immediate medical attention after your accident.
Motorcycle accidents are typically caused by the other driver’s failure to see the motorcyclist. Some of the most common causes are unsafe lane changes by the driver and/or motorcyclist; the driver carelessly making a left turn in front of a motorcycle; and cars exiting side streets and/or parking lots into the motorcyclist’s path.
Motorcycle accidents are governed by the laws of negligence. The law affords motorcyclists the same rights as vehicles. As such, drivers must exercise care and caution in order to prevent harm to motorcyclists. This duty requires drivers to be attentive, observe their surroundings, and be mindful of motorcyclists. If they fail to do so, they may be at-fault for your injuries. If you are injured as a passenger of a motorcycle, potential at-fault persons include the motorcycle rider, the other driver, the registered owner of the other vehicle, and the employer of the driver at the time of the accident. An experienced personal injury attorney will conduct a thorough investigation to identify all at-fault persons.
Issues arise when a passenger of a motorcycle is injured in an accident. The law allows a rider to carry a passenger only when the motorcycle has: (1) a seat “securely fastened” to the motorcycle with foot rests; or (2) an attached sidecar that is designed for carrying passengers. Additionally, the passenger must keep his or her feet on the foot rests at all times. If these requirements are not met, the rider may be at-fault for the passenger’s injuries.
If you suffered injuries as a passenger on a motorcycle, you may recover money for your injuries, incurred medical expenses, need for future medical treatment, and income lost due to the accident. A requirement to receive this money is filing your lawsuit within two years of the motorcycle incident.
Contact Us Today
Contact a Los Angeles personal injury attorney today if you or a loved one was involved in an accident involving a dangerous road condition. Slatter Law Firm has been helping individuals injured due to car accidents and slip and falls throughout Los Angeles and Southern California for over four decades. To schedule a free consultation, call our office at (310) 405-0964 or contact us online.
