Thousand Oaks Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Hold Bad Drivers Accountable when They Behave Unsafely

As motorcycles are not enclosed like other vehicles, damages sustained to riders in an accident can be much more severe than a car accident. Negligent and inattentive automobile drivers make motorcycle riding much more difficult, dangerous, and complex than driving a car. If you have been involved in an accident, get the help of a Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village motorcycle accidents lawyer by calling Westlake Injury Law today. Call (805) 338-6880 now for a free consultation with the experienced legal team at Westlake Injury Law.

Accident Statistics for Motorcycle Riders

Riding a motorcycle is far more perilous than driving a car. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finds that the risk of a fatal crash is 35 times greater for a motorcyclist than for a car, with approximately 80% of reported motorcycle crashes resulting in serious injury or death. According to the California Office for Traffic Safety, there were 565 motorcycle fatalities in 2021. It is vital that other drivers make an effort to pay attention to riders sharing the road with them. In 2020 in Los Angeles County 29.86% of riders involved in accidents were seriously injured. Factors that contribute to more serious motorcycle accident injuries include:

Speeding
Improper turning
Automobiles failing to yield the right-of-way
Impairment by alcohol or drugs by either the motorcyclist or the driver
Failing to obey traffic lights or stop signs

California Motorcycle Lane Sharing Requirements

California laws allow motorcyclists to share the lane with other vehicles. Nevertheless, negligent drivers may fail to see motorcyclists and change lanes, causing an accident. In these cases, defense attorneys have been known to place the blame on the rider by claiming they were partially at fault. These claims are almost never true, so it is important to obtain the help of an experienced Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village motorcycle accidents lawyer to help you obtain the compensation you are owed. To increase the odds of a favorable settlement, accident victims should take steps following an accident, such as:

Refusing to give a recorded statement to any insurance company before hiring an experienced motorcycle accident attorney to protect your rights
Taking photos of the damage
Seeking immediate medical attention for any injuries

How California Helmet Laws Can Impact Your Accident Case

In California, all motorcyclists and passengers are required to wear a helmet. This law is designed to protect riders from severe, often life-threatening head injuries in motorcycle accidents. If you were involved in an accident without wearing a helmet, it is still possible to file a claim, but it can have negative consequences on your case. Since not wearing a helmet on a motorcycle breaks California law, it can be used as evidence against you. The defendant can use it to place some of the liability for head or neck injuries on you.

If your injuries were unrelated to head trauma, such as broken bones or internal injuries, not wearing a helmet may have less impact on your claim. You may still have grounds to receive compensation for a motorcycle accident if you were not wearing a helmet. California uses a pure comparative negligence in injury cases. This means that that you are not barred from recovering compensation from an injury if you were partially at fault. Speak with an experienced Motorcycle accident attorney to determine how best to proceed with your motorcycle accident claim.

How Long Do I have To File a Motorcycle Accident Claim in California?

When you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, it's important to act quickly. California law sets a limit on the amount of the time you have to file a personal injury claim. This deadline is known as the statute of limitations, and for most motorcycle accident cases, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit.

If you miss this window, you could lose your right to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. There are some exceptions to this rule, such as cases involving government entities or if the injuries were not immediately apparent, but these are rare and require special legal attention. To avoid forfeiting your claim, consult with an attorney as soon as possible after the accident.

Protect Your Interests. Call (805) 338-6880

Even when a negligent driver swerves into a motorcyclist, there may be some who will unfairly place blame on the rider. With the help of an experienced trial attorney in Ventura County on your side, you may be better able to convince a jury that you or the victim of the accident was 0% at fault in the incident.

As motorcycles are not enclosed like other vehicles, damages sustained to riders in an accident can be much more severe than a car accident. Negligent and inattentive automobile drivers make motorcycle riding much more difficult, dangerous, and complex than driving a car. If you have been involved in an accident, get the help of a Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village motorcycle accidents lawyer by calling Westlake Injury Law today. Call (805) 338-6880 now for a free consultation with the experienced legal team at Westlake Injury Law.

Accident Statistics for Motorcycle Riders

Riding a motorcycle is far more perilous than driving a car. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finds that the risk of a fatal crash is 35 times greater for a motorcyclist than for a car, with approximately 80% of reported motorcycle crashes resulting in serious injury or death. According to the California Office for Traffic Safety, there were 565 motorcycle fatalities in 2021. It is vital that other drivers make an effort to pay attention to riders sharing the road with them. In 2020 in Los Angeles County 29.86% of riders involved in accidents were seriously injured. Factors that contribute to more serious motorcycle accident injuries include:

Speeding
Improper turning
Automobiles failing to yield the right-of-way
Impairment by alcohol or drugs by either the motorcyclist or the driver
Failing to obey traffic lights or stop signs

California Motorcycle Lane Sharing Requirements

California laws allow motorcyclists to share the lane with other vehicles. Nevertheless, negligent drivers may fail to see motorcyclists and change lanes, causing an accident. In these cases, defense attorneys have been known to place the blame on the rider by claiming they were partially at fault. These claims are almost never true, so it is important to obtain the help of an experienced Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village motorcycle accidents lawyer to help you obtain the compensation you are owed. To increase the odds of a favorable settlement, accident victims should take steps following an accident, such as:

Refusing to give a recorded statement to any insurance company before hiring an experienced motorcycle accident attorney to protect your rights
Taking photos of the damage
Seeking immediate medical attention for any injuries

How California Helmet Laws Can Impact Your Accident Case

In California, all motorcyclists and passengers are required to wear a helmet. This law is designed to protect riders from severe, often life-threatening head injuries in motorcycle accidents. If you were involved in an accident without wearing a helmet, it is still possible to file a claim, but it can have negative consequences on your case. Since not wearing a helmet on a motorcycle breaks California law, it can be used as evidence against you. The defendant can use it to place some of the liability for head or neck injuries on you.

If your injuries were unrelated to head trauma, such as broken bones or internal injuries, not wearing a helmet may have less impact on your claim. You may still have grounds to receive compensation for a motorcycle accident if you were not wearing a helmet. California uses a pure comparative negligence in injury cases. This means that that you are not barred from recovering compensation from an injury if you were partially at fault. Speak with an experienced Motorcycle accident attorney to determine how best to proceed with your motorcycle accident claim.

How Long Do I have To File a Motorcycle Accident Claim in California?

When you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, it's important to act quickly. California law sets a limit on the amount of the time you have to file a personal injury claim. This deadline is known as the statute of limitations, and for most motorcycle accident cases, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit.

If you miss this window, you could lose your right to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. There are some exceptions to this rule, such as cases involving government entities or if the injuries were not immediately apparent, but these are rare and require special legal attention. To avoid forfeiting your claim, consult with an attorney as soon as possible after the accident.

Protect Your Interests. Call (805) 338-6880

Even when a negligent driver swerves into a motorcyclist, there may be some who will unfairly place blame on the rider. With the help of an experienced trial attorney in Ventura County on your side, you may be better able to convince a jury that you or the victim of the accident was 0% at fault in the incident.

Call (805) 338-6880 now and learn more about the legal strategies you have available.

"He is one of the hardest working attorneys I know and he always fights for his clients."

Adam P.

"I highly recommend Russ as he knows the laws and helped us through a real tragedy."

George O.

"Russ was very professional and kept us informed through out the process."

Jen B.

"If you need representation you will love Russ' expertise."

Tom L.

"Russ and his staff made every step of the way a precise, simple and easy procedure in our case."

Jill L.

"My family was recently represented by Russ Ercolani and we couldn't be happier with the results."

Paul R.

Timing is Everything.

Do not delay in addressing your legal concerns. If your situation has gotten out of hand, contact a Ventura County lawyer at the Westlake Injury Law to learn more about how we may be able to help you.

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4165 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd,
Suite 350,
Westlake Village, CA 91362

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(805) 338-6880

The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute a client relationship.