Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Orange County

Skilled Motorcycle Accident Lawyers and Attorneys in Orange County

The statistics are clear: riding a motorcycle carries a greater risk of personal injury than driving a motor vehicle. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists were 29 times more likely to die in a crash and 4 times more likely to be injured than a motor vehicle driver, per vehicle mile traveled in 2019.

While the single most important measure a motorcyclist can take to protect themselves against injury is to wear a helmet, it does not eliminate the risk entirely.  Data from the NHTSA indicates that helmets are approximately 37% effective in preventing motorcyclist fatalities, and 41% effective at preventing fatalities to motorcycle passengers. The fact remains that motorcycle riding is an inherently risky activity.

Orange County is located in sunny Southern California between Los Angeles and San Diego and is a prime location for motorcycle enthusiasts. The region boasts several popular motorcycle routes including Ortega Highway, Pacific Coast Highway (CA-1), Santiago Canyon to the roadhouse at Cook’s Corner, Live Oak Canyon, as well as Carbon Canyon and Turnbull Canyon roads. Despite the beautiful scenery and often ideal riding conditions, Orange County is not immune to the problem of motorcycle accidents.

If you sustained injuries in an Orange County motorcycle accident due to another person’s negligence, you may be eligible for compensation. This can include damages such as medical bills, lost wages, property damage, as well as pain and suffering.  The motorcycle accident lawyers at Carpenter & Zuckerman have been representing motorcycle accident victims for over 25 years and will fight to obtain the compensation you deserve. Contact CZ Law today for a FREE consultation! 

Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Orange County, CA

Like any other vehicle accident, collisions involving motorcycles happen instantaneously, leaving victims little time to react defensively. The reason motorcycle accidents are so dangerous is that motorcyclists and their passengers do not have the same level of protection as those traveling in an enclosed vehicle. 

Understanding the common causes and types of motorcycle accidents can increase awareness of motorcyclists on the road and help to prevent collisions. The common types of motorcycle accidents include: 

Head-on Collisions

More than three-fourths of fatal motorcycle accidents involving two vehicles were head-on collisions, according to a 2019 NHTSA Report. Frontal crashes carry a high risk of catastrophic injury or death for motorcyclists primarily due to the difference in weight between a motorcycle and a passenger vehicle. Most cars are four times the weight of a motorcycle, which translates to a much greater force of impact for the motorcyclist than the vehicle driver during a crash.

Left-Turn Collisions

Two-vehicle crashes involving motorcycles often occur when a vehicle is making a left-hand turn and collides with a motorcycle that is going straight. In fact, almost half of the nearly 2,500 fatal two-vehicle motorcycle accidents in 2019 involved this type of scenario, according to NHTSA data. In these vehicle left-hand turn situations, the vehicle driver usually either does not see the motorcyclist approaching or simply misjudges the time it will take for the motorcyclist to reach them. In many cases, the vehicle driver is deemed at-fault for these crashes; however, a motorcyclist can be found liable if they were speeding or otherwise not following traffic laws at the time of the accident. 

Splitting Lanes

Lane splitting is a dangerous practice in which a motorcycle drives in between two lanes of traffic that are going in the same direction. With the motorcycle advancing through the tight space between the two lanes of vehicles, the risk of collisions is heightened, especially since vehicle drivers may not notice a motorcycle approaching in their blind spot. Lane splitting is illegal in many states in the U.S.; however, in 2017 it was officially legalized in California, in an effort to reduce traffic congestion.

Vehicle Blind Spots

It is quite common for motorcycle accidents to occur when a vehicle is attempting to make a lane change. If the vehicle driver fails to check their blind spots before executing the lane change, they may strike an unsuspecting motorcyclist, causing a potentially severe injury accident. 

Rear-End Accidents

Although fatal rear-end collisions involving a motorcycle are not as common as fatal head-on collisions, a motorcyclist can still sustain severe injury if they are struck from behind by another vehicle. It does not take a great amount of force during a rear-end collision to result in a motorcycle losing control. In any crash involving a motorcycle and another vehicle, the motorcyclist always stands the risk of more severe injury, since they have much less protection than occupants of a standard vehicle.  

Hazardous Road Conditions

Debris in the roadway, sinkholes, potholes, and uneven lanes are all examples of hazardous road conditions that can cause motor vehicle accidents. Hazards in the road are especially dangerous to motorcycle riders. If a motorcyclist strikes an obstacle in the road, they can quickly lose control of their bike, resulting in a crash. State and local governments have a responsibility to maintain safe roadways. If you were injured in a motorcycle accident and you believe it may have been caused by hazardous road conditions, contact CZ Law for a FREE consultation today.

Tips to Document Your Motorcycle Accident 

In the event you are involved in a motorcycle accident in Orange County, one of the most important things you can do is gather documentation at the scene. Any information you can safely compile after the accident will aid your personal injury attorney in reconstructing the crash and determining liability. A skilled motorcycle accident lawyer can use evidence from the scene to help secure the highest compensation possible for your damages. 

Keeping in mind that safety is  always the top priority, follow these tips for documenting evidence at the scene: 

• Call 911 immediately in the event of an injury accident.

• Ask for a police report even if there are no apparent injuries from the accident.

• Remain near your vehicle until help arrives. 

• Take photos to document conditions including weather and  road conditions.

• Take photos of property damage and injuries, safety permitting.

• Take photos of  important documents including drivers’ licenses and insurance cards.

• Gather contact information of anyone involved in the accident, as well as witnesses. 

• Don’t admit liability or wrongdoing before consulting with a lawyer.

• Get medically evaluated to document any injuries you sustained.

• Contact a personal injury lawyer skilled in handling motorcycle accident cases..

A CZ Law Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Help!

Being involved in a motorcycle accident can be a traumatic and potentially life-changing event. You may be suffering from severe injuries that have left you unable to work and your vehicle may have been totaled. You are likely under a tremendous amount of stress in the aftermath of your accident. 

An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer at Carpenter & Zuckerman can help relieve some of the stress so you can focus on recovering from the accident. At CZ Law, we have been advocating on behalf of motorcycle accident victims and other injury victims for over 25 years, and we have won more than $2 billion dollars for our injured clients.

If you sustained injuries in a motorcycle accident due to another person's negligence, contact a personal injury attorney at Carpenter & Zuckerman today. Our firm is committed to fighting for the maximum compensation possible in your case. 

CZ Law’s motorcycle accident attorneys represent clients throughout the state of California, as well as other states.  The firm maintains offices in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Orange County (Garden Grove), Irvine, San Diego, Bakersfield, and Las Vegas. 

Fill out our online form for a FREE, no-obligation consultation for your Orange County motorcycle accident! You will not pay any legal fees unless we win your case.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not to be considered a substitute for advice from a qualified attorney. If you require legal assistance, we highly recommend you speak to a qualified attorney. By reading this post, you agree this information is for informational use only and agree to hold Carpenter & Zuckerman harmless for any losses or damages as a result of this information. For more information, view our full disclaimer.