Close

Were You Injured in A Motorcycle Accident in California?

Binder Law Group: Helping Clients Recover From Serious Injuries

For many riders, motorcycling isn’t just a mode of transportation—it’s a way of life. Southern California’s scenic highways, warm climate, and challenging routes make it one of the best places in the country for motorcycle enthusiasts. From the winding canyon roads of the San Fernando Valley to the open stretches of Los Angeles County, motorcyclists enjoy some of the nation’s top riding experiences in California. However, with that freedom comes significant risk, as riders are far more exposed to serious and life-altering injuries when involved in an accident.

When a car, truck, or other motor vehicle collides with a motorcycle, the consequences are often catastrophic. Fractures, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and even fatalities are all too common. Negligent drivers, distracted motorists, and reckless behavior on the road put motorcyclists at an unfair disadvantage. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident anywhere in Southern California, you deserve experienced legal representation to help you recover the compensation you need for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

At Binder Law Group, PlC, our dedicated Encino motorcycle accident attorneys aggressively pursue justice for injured riders and their families. We speak multiple languages to ensure clear communication and convenience for our clients during difficult times.

Contact us today for a free consultation online or call (818) 659-8588 to learn how we can help you get the justice and compensation you deserve.

Encino lawyer

What To Do After a California Motorcycle Accident to Protect Your Health and Personal Injury Claim

Distracted drivers and negligent motorists often pose serious risks to motorcycle riders, causing significant property damage and severe injuries to motorcyclists in a motorcycle accident. If you’re involved in a motorcycle accident, there are things that you can do for your safety and to preserve your potential compensation claim.

After your accident, it’s essential to:

  • Call the police: Report the accident to the authorities immediately. The police can bring emergency responders to treat injured parties and clear the wreckage. Authorities will also make the police report, which can be vital evidence to support your insurance claim or lawsuit.
  • Gather important information about the other motorist: Get essential details such as the identities of the other motorist, passengers, and witnesses of the accident. Note the other vehicle’s license plate numbers, makes and models, and insurance company information.
  • Take pictures: Using a smartphone or other device with a digital camera, take photos of the accident site, particularly of the damage to your motorcycle, other vehicles, and other property involved in the accident. Take pictures of any injuries you may have sustained in the accident.
  • Report the accident to your insurance company: Call your insurer immediately and inform them of your accident. Provide only essential information by stating the crash’s date and time, the accident’s location, and the names of other motorists involved. Do not admit any fault in the accident.
  • Keep all your medical bills: If you are treated for injuries caused by the motorcycle accident, retain all copies of receipts and other documents related to your treatment.
  • Don’t make a statement to other motorists’ insurers: The other motorist’s insurance company may try to contact you—do not make any statements that these insurers may use to deny or limit your compensation claim.
  • Contact an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer: A skilled motorcycle accident attorney can help establish your injuries and the cause of your injuries, defend your claim before insurance companies and, if necessary, in court. At Binder Law Group, our experienced attorneys have helped thousands of injured clients obtain the maximum value of compensation that they legally deserve.

California Motorcycle Collisions & Liability

It is a common misnomer that motorcyclists are more likely to be found at fault for a motorcycle accident than the drivers of other vehicles. Many people believe that if a motorcycle is involved in an accident, the rider must have caused the crash. No research supports this belief, and the opposite is almost always true.

Below are some of the most common parties who may be held legally responsible for a California motorcycle accident:

  • Negligent Drivers of Passenger Vehicles or Trucks

One of the leading causes of motorcycle accidents is reckless or careless driving by other motorists.

Drivers of cars, trucks, and SUVs may be held liable if they:

  • Fail to check blind spots before changing lanes.
  • Drive distracted (texting, talking on the phone, or using GPS).
  • Speed or engage in reckless driving.
  • Fail to yield the right of way to a motorcyclist.
  • Drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Since motorcycles are smaller and more challenging to see, negligent drivers who fail to remain aware of their surroundings are often at fault for devastating crashes.

  • Employers of Commercial Vehicle Drivers

If a motorcycle accident is caused by a commercial truck, delivery vehicle, or rideshare driver, the employer may also be held liable.

Companies like FedEx, Amazon, Uber, Lyft, and trucking companies can be responsible if they:

  • Hire unqualified or untrained drivers.
  • Fail to maintain company vehicles.
  • Encourage unsafe driving practices to meet deadlines.

Under California’s vicarious liability laws, employers are responsible for accidents caused by employees acting within the scope of their job duties.

  • Motorcycle or Auto Manufacturers

If a defective motorcycle part, tire blowout, brake failure, or faulty vehicle component contributed to the crash, the manufacturer or distributor may be held accountable under California product liability laws.

Manufacturers may be liable if the accident resulted from:

  • A defective braking system.
  • Faulty tires prone to blowouts.
  • A malfunctioning throttle or steering system.
  • Defective safety gear, such as helmets.

These cases often require technical investigations and expert testimony to prove the defect directly caused the accident.

  • Repair Shops and Maintenance Providers

Motorcycle safety depends on proper maintenance, and if a repair shop or mechanic fails to correctly service a bike or a vehicle involved in the accident, they may share responsibility.

Common examples include:

  • Failure to detect or fix faulty brakes or tires.
  • Improper installation of motorcycle parts.
  • Negligent inspections leading to mechanical failures.

If a mechanic’s mistake caused the crash, they may be liable for damages suffered by the injured motorcyclist.

Motorcycle accident victims deserve full compensation for their injuries, but insurance companies often try to shift blame onto the rider to minimize payouts. Injured riders have a better chance of securing maximum compensation by identifying and proving negligence against the actual at-fault parties.

Dealing With Insurance Companies After a California Motorcycle Accident

If you are injured in a motorcycle accident, your immediate concern is to resume your everyday life as soon as you can. This means getting the appropriate medical care and treatment for your injuries, having your motorcycle restored or replaced, paying your medical bills, and recovering wages or salaries lost due to the accident. If another party caused your accident, you’ll have to deal with the other party’s insurance company to recover compensation for all your injuries and damages.

Insurance companies, however, can make it difficult for you to receive compensation by requiring you to provide proof of your injuries and damages and convince them that the accident was not your fault. Assuming that you can establish your claim, the insurance company will most likely offer to settle at a minimal amount that is insufficient to cover your injuries and damages. While you can negotiate directly with the insurance company, you can obtain better results with the help of experienced professionals from Binder Law Group, who work with no out-of-pocket expenses from you.

Encino Brain Injury Attorneys Helping Victims of Motorcycle Crashes in California

California has a helmet law that requires motorcyclists to wear prescribed helmets to reduce head injury incidents in accidents. Unfortunately, protective headgear and clothing cannot prevent severe head injuries, particularly in higher-speed accidents and crashes with much larger vehicles.

At Binder Law Group, our attorneys have helped persons with traumatic brain injuries resulting from motor vehicle accidents. Moreover, motorcyclists can suffer other types of serious injuries such as broken bones, road rash, and spinal cord injuries. These injuries can have lasting consequences, preventing people from working and supporting themselves, and carrying on their daily activities. Our Encino motorcycle accident attorneys know how to gather evidence of the other driver’s negligence and injuries to make a strong case for your damages.

Why You Need to Hire a Skilled Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Encino, California

Meeting with an Encino motorcycle accident attorney about your legal options following a motorcycle accident should be a priority because the statute of limitations puts limits on how long you have to collect compensation for your medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and other damages.

The injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents are frequently much more serious than those that occur in car accidents. Motorcycle riders are much more at risk for injury since they don’t have the luxury of being inside a vehicle’s steel cage ot protections such as seat belts and airbags. This level of exposure with only a helmet and sometimes other riding gear to protect you oftentimes leads to more significant injuries, including severe, debilitating injuries that require ongoing care or lead to permanent disfigurement or disability.

The costs of caring for these more severe, life-changing injuries can quickly eclipse the limits available through a typical insurance claim. An experienced Encino personal injury lawyer can help you negotiate a settlement that will provide all the care you need and cover your medical expenses from the accident. If a settlement is not possible, we can ensure you receive a fair payout for your injuries.

Contact Our Dedicated Motorcycle Accident, Injury & Fatality Attorneys in Encino, California Today

A motorcycle accident can change your life in an instant, leaving you with serious injuries, mounting medical bills, and the uncertainty of what comes next. If you or a loved one has been injured—or if you have lost someone in a tragic motorcycle crash—you deserve a legal team that will fight for the justice and compensation you need to move forward. At Binder Law Group, we are committed to protecting the rights of injured motorcyclists and their families, holding negligent drivers and other responsible parties accountable.

Don’t wait to take action—the sooner you reach out, the stronger your case will be. Call our skilled Encino motorcycle accident attorneys today at (818) 659-8588 or contact us online for a free consultation to discuss your options and take the first step toward securing the financial recovery you deserve.

Related Links:

Call 818-659-8588
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Follow Us