Riding a motorcycle through downtown Redding or taking scenic trips to nearby destinations like Sonora, Angels Camp, or Pinecrest Lake can be an exhilarating experience.
However, motorcyclists face significant risks due to the lack of protection their vehicles provide. In the event of a multi-vehicle crash with a car or truck, riders are directly exposed to the environment, potentially leading to serious or even fatal injuries.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, reach out to a Redding motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your case and potential legal options.
Table of Contents
- Why Choose Our Redding Motorcycle Accident Lawyers?
- 5 Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in and Around Redding
- Common Types of Injuries After a Redding Motorcycle Accident
- Factors That Determine the Severity of Motorcycle Accident Injuries
- Damages You Can Recover in a Motorcycle Accident
- What You Need to Know About Motorcycle Accident Claims
- Talk to a Redding Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today About Your Legal Matter
Why Choose Our Redding Motorcycle Accident Lawyers?
With over 40 years of experience, our firm has represented clients who have suffered catastrophic injuries, such as paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and amputations.
Throughout our history, we have secured more than $600 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients, including the largest single-plaintiff jury verdict in Shasta County history.
When you choose our Redding motorcycle accident lawyers, you can expect a seamless and supportive process:
- Your First Contact With Our Law Firm: When you reach out to us, we will schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your case and help you understand your options.
- A Redding Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Contacts You: One of our skilled attorneys will personally contact you to gather more information about your accident and injuries.
- We Provide an Initial Assessment: Based on your information, we will assess your case and advise you on the best course of action.
- We Send a Demand Package to the Parties at Fault: If you have a viable case, we will send a demand package to the parties at fault, seeking compensation on your behalf.
Our legal team is committed to providing compassionate, personalized legal representation and fighting tirelessly to protect your rights. We understand what you are going through, and we know how to help. We even offer a free initial consultation to discuss your case and help you understand your options.
5 Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in and Around Redding
While motor vehicle driver error plays a significant role in most accidents between cars, trucks, and motorcycles, it is not the only cause of a motorcycle crash. Some of the main reasons why motorcycle accidents happen include:
1. Negligent Driving
A car or truck operator engages in negligent driving when they carelessly violate road rules. California road rules are intended to keep drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians safe.
When a motor vehicle operator violates one of these rules, the chances of a severe crash increase exponentially.
Some of the most common types of negligence that can lead to serious motorcycle crashes include:
- Failing to yield the right-of-way at a traffic intersection
- Speeding, tailgating
- Carelessly weaving in and out of traffic
- And similar violations
2. Intoxicated Driving
Motorcyclists in Redding face a significant danger when sharing the road with drunk or drugged drivers. Impaired drivers, with their compromised judgment and reaction times, pose a serious threat to motorcycle riders, who are more vulnerable due to their smaller size and lack of protection.
Under California law, driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher is considered intoxication, and convicted drunk drivers may face penalties such as fines and jail time.
However, the consequences extend beyond legal ramifications when an intoxicated driver causes a crash resulting in injuries, particularly when a motorcyclist is involved.
3. Poor Road Maintenance
Construction companies, cities, municipalities, and others responsible for road maintenance must act reasonably. When there are large potholes in the road or grooved pavement, such as at a construction site, a motorcycle rider can easily fall to the ground—especially if they are operating their vehicle at a high rate of speed.
If poor road maintenance causes or contributes to a motorcycle accident, the responsible party can face civil liability for the accident victim’s injuries.
4. Distracted Driving
A person drives distracted when they fail to pay attention to the road, such as when they turn their head.
Other distractions in the vehicle can include:
- GPS devices
- Cell phones
- Other electronic devices
- Loud music
- And passengers in the vehicle
When a driver’s head turns for even a second or two, they might not see a relatively low-to-the-ground motorcycle, thereby striking it.
5. Defective Motorcycle Parts
Just as other motor vehicle operators owe a duty of care to operate their vehicles safely, motorcycle part manufacturers must perform the necessary tests and checks before making their products available for purchase.
If a motorcycle part or component is defective, it can lead to a serious accident while out on the roadway. For example, the braking system might give out while the motorcyclist is on the road, causing the motorcycle rider to crash with another vehicle or a stationary object near the road.
As a result, the cyclist can suffer severe injuries from the crash. If that happens, the cyclist may be able to bring a product liability claim against the appropriate party.
Common Types of Injuries After a Redding Motorcycle Accident
Due to the lack of protection offered by motorcycles compared to other vehicles, riders are particularly vulnerable to serious harm in the event of a crash.
Some of the most common types of injuries our Redding personal injury lawyers assist clients with after a motorcycle accident include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Even with a helmet, motorcycle riders can suffer from traumatic brain injuries due to the force of impact in a crash. TBIs can range from mild to severe and permanent cognitive impairment.
- Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis: The impact of a motorcycle accident can cause damage to the spinal cord, leading to partial or complete paralysis, such as paraplegia or quadriplegia.
- Broken Bones and Fractures: Motorcycle accidents often result in broken bones and fractures, particularly in the legs, arms, ribs, and collarbone. These injuries can require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation.
- Road Rash and Severe Lacerations: When an accident throws a rider off their motorcycle, they can suffer from road rash, which is a severe skin abrasion caused by sliding across the pavement. Deep cuts and lacerations are also common.
- Internal Organ Damage: The blunt force trauma experienced in a motorcycle crash can lead to internal bleeding and damage to vital organs such as the lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys.
- Neck and Back Injuries: Whiplash and other neck and back injuries are common in motorcycle accidents, causing chronic pain and limited mobility.
- Amputation and Loss of Limb: In some severe cases, a motorcycle accident can result in the loss of a limb, requiring extensive medical treatment and prosthetics.
- Disfigurement and Scarring: Facial injuries and severe lacerations can cause permanent disfigurement and scarring, leading to emotional trauma and potentially requiring plastic surgery.
If you or a loved one has suffered any of these injuries in a Redding motorcycle accident, our experienced personal injury attorneys are here to help. We understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll these injuries can take on you and your family, and we are committed to fighting for the compensation you deserve.
In addition to motorcycle accident cases, our Redding personal injury lawyers also assist people with other types of injury accidents, including:
- Redding Personal Injury
- Redding Car Accident
- Redding Truck Accident
- Redding Motorcycle Accident
- Redding Bicycle Accident
No matter the type of accident you’ve been involved in, our dedicated team is ready to provide the legal guidance and support you need during this challenging time.
Factors That Determine the Severity of Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Each motorcycle accident is unique, with its own set of circumstances. Although some people walk away from a motorcycle crash with minimal injuries, this typically occurs when the incident happens at lower velocities.
With every additional mile per hour of speed, either from the motorcyclist or the other vehicle involved, the likelihood of the rider sustaining severe injuries increases exponentially.
In addition to speed, several other elements contribute to the severity of injuries in a motorcycle accident, such as:
- Ejection from the motorcycle: Whether the rider was thrown off the bike during the collision.
- Secondary impacts: If ejected, whether the motorcyclist struck any other objects after being thrown from the motorcycle.
- Protective gear: The quality and extent of the protective equipment and apparel worn by the rider during the accident.
Damages You Can Recover in a Motorcycle Accident
If the other driver caused the accident and your resulting injuries, you can pursue financial compensation for your losses.
The expenses associated with severe injuries can accumulate at an astonishing rate.
The following types of damages are commonly sought in personal injury cases:
- Medical Expenses: This includes bills already incurred and projected future costs for treatment recommended by a healthcare provider.
- Lost Wages: Compensation for time missed from work, including a loss of earning capacity if the injuries prevent you from returning to your usual job or working at all.
- Pain and Suffering: Also known as non-economic or general damages, this compensation pays for the physical and emotional distress caused by the injuries sustained in the accident.
Pursuing a Wrongful Death Claim for a Fatal Motorcycle Accident
Tragically, many motorcycle accidents result in the rider’s death. In such cases, the deceased’s heirs may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent driver who caused the fatal accident.
Wrongful death claims can provide compensation for both economic and non-economic losses suffered by the deceased’s family.
What You Need to Know About Motorcycle Accident Claims
When it comes to motorcycle accident claims and lawsuits, strict time limits apply. This time limit is known as the statute of limitations. In California, a motorcycle accident victim only has two years from the date of their accident to take legal action.
If the injured cyclist does not file their claim or lawsuit in two years, they cannot pursue monetary compensation and damages for their injuries later. Therefore, the sooner you get a lawyer involved in your claim, the better.
A skilled Redding motorcycle accident lawyer at Reiner, Slaughter & Frankel can immediately begin investigating your motorcycle accident, well before the statute of limitations expires.
Negotiating with Insurance Companies
Once we file your claim with the at-fault person’s insurance company, and assuming it accepts fault for the accident, we can begin negotiating on your behalf.
Settlement negotiations with insurance companies can sometimes take significant time, as the insurance company will do everything possible to limit the payout in your case. They do this to keep as much of their money in-house as possible.
However, our aggressive legal team will zealously advocate for your interests and bring out the strengths in your motorcycle accident case. If the insurance company has not offered fair compensation after several rounds of negotiations, we can file a lawsuit against the at-fault person and litigate your case in court.
Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution
Even after filing a lawsuit, we can still settle your claim. However, you may need to take your case to a jury trial or an alternative dispute resolution proceeding, such as binding arbitration or mediation.
When you allow the skilled legal team at Reiner, Slaughter & Frankel to handle your case, you can rest assured that we will fully explore your settlement and litigation options and help you decide on the best option for your case.
Talk to a Redding Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today About Your Legal Matter
Russel Reiner, Redding Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
We hope you don’t need us, but if you do, the skilled team of attorneys at Reiner, Slaughter & Frankel is ready to help you get the compensation you need for your motorcycle accident injuries.
For your free case evaluation and legal consultation with a knowledgeable Redding motorcycle accident attorney, call us today at (530) 241-0290 or contact us online for more information.
We’re ready to help you pursue the justice and compensation you deserve.
