Motorcycle Accident Lawyer | Personal Injury Lawyers

Archive for the ‘Motorcycle Accident Lawyer’ Category

Injuries From Accidents Often Last A Lifetime

Tuesday, November 15th, 2011

The Lasting Danger of Car and Motorcycle Accidents

You saw him swerving, scooting, zigging, and zagging through the traffic. He was driving faster than all the cars and trucks on the road pushing his motorcycle between cars in his desire to race down the road. As he flies up beside you as another driver makes a mistake. The motorcyclist turns right into the side of your car going down in a heap on road.

You slam on your brakes and rush back to check on his safety. You stay by his side as you call for help and the ambulance arrives. You sit in the back of the patrol car explaining to the officer how the motorcycle accident happened. The officer thanks you for your time and sends you on your way after a clean alcohol breath test.

You even take time to follow-up on the condition of the rider. You send flowers to the hospital expressing your concern and apologizing for your involvement in the accident.

Are Your Problems Over?

It would seem you have done everything right. Weeks have gone by and nothing has been said about the accident. Your car has been repaired and you are back to living your life. Then you hear the doorbell ring. You open the door to discover a very official looking gentleman serving you papers that you are being sued for the accident.

This type of problem occurs more often than you expect. The normal reaction of most drivers at fault in an accident is to start looking for someone else to blame. The motorcycle driver may be completely convinced you pulled into him and expects you to pay for damages to his motorcycle, medical expenses, and lost wages. How should you react?

You best course of action is to attempt to remain calm. Contact a good car accident attorney immediately and schedule an appointment. When you go to your consultation take along everything you have about the accident including your insurance policy, repair receipts, an accident report, and any notes you made after the accident.

In many of these cases once the other driver realizes you are not going to fold and just give them what they want they drop their case. Your attorney can take all of the hard tasks off your hands and deal with talking to the court, the other attorney, and your insurance company about what is going on. You can get back to life and let him deal with the problems.

Why Did This Motorcycle Accident Become Complicated?

Many times these cases occur because the other driver panics once they realize they have lost their motorcycle. They see their hospital bills growing daily. Their income has come to a halt while they are recovering from their motorcycle accident. In their state of panic they begin to seek a way out of the dilemma and you become the target. Your best way to get out of the crosshairs is to turn it all over to someone who is an expert, a car accident lawyer.

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Seeking a claim for injuries sustained as a consequence of another’s negligence?

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

While most people believe that you can successfully file a legal suit against the person who was responsible for the damage to property and personal injury that is sustained during a vehicular accident, what many people are unaware about is that there are many other forms of claims that can be filed that may have nothing to do with a car accident.

The law of tort stipulates that each person owes another a duty of care and this duty is manifest by ensuring that a person is not injured and his property not damaged as a consequence of any act or omission on the part of that person. Therefore there is also a possibility that if you sustain injury or damage to property in any other context, for example while you are in a store or as a consequence of being attacked by another’s pet or because of an uncovered manhole on the pavement, that you can also seek compensation for personal injury.

The success of such a claim is dependent on your personal injury attorney establishing that the injury you have suffered arises as a consequence of the negligence of the owner of the store or the pet or the local authority. In addition to that, it is imperative that the personal injury that you have sustained is quantifiable in the context of the medical expenses as well as any ancillary expenses that will have to be borne for your treatment. The law also allows your personal injury attorney to file for compensation for emotional distress or trauma and also for loss of income for the period that you cannot work due to the injuries sustained. In certain instances, your personal injury attorney may also recommend that you make a claim for general and even exemplary damages, depending on the nature of the incident.

It is therefore always best to seek professional legal advice when you have sustained injury or suffered damage to property as a consequence of another’s negligence. While you may regard the matter as minor, by seeking legal advice you will be able to better understand your rights as a victim as well as the other’s responsibilities and liabilities to you.

In the event that you are faced with such a situation therefore, it is imperative that you seek immediate medical treatment for any injuries sustained as well as keep records of all your dealings with the party who was responsible for the accident. If you are covered by health insurance or personal accident insurance, such documentation will also be useful for you when you file your claims with the insurance company. If you get professional legal advice you may discover that it is not necessary to make any claims of your own insurance as the liability will have to be borne by the other party, who will then have to compensate you for your loss. Initial consultation with a personal injury attorney is usually inexpensive and should be done as soon as possible after the accident.

Posted in Auto Accident Lawyer, car accident attorney, car accident lawyer, Motorcycle Accident Lawyer, Pedestiran Accident Attorney, Personal Injury, truck accident lawyer | Comments Off

What Do You Do After a Motorcycle Accident, Lawyer Reports

Monday, October 17th, 2011

Having an accident on a motorcycle can be especially serious. Unlike accidents involving cars, trucks or other large vehicles, motorcycle riders have little to protect them from impact with other vehicles or the road.

So what should you do if you are involved in a motorcycle accident? First it will depend on the seriousness of the accident. If it is minor, the safest thing to do may be to get yourself up and out of harm’s way if you are able.

If the accident is serious call 911 for immediate assistance and make sure someone calls police to report the accident.

Have someone preserve evidence take down driver and witness information and take photographs of the scene if you are hurt and unable to do so yourself.

Evidence: Gather as much evidence as possible. First, do not attempt to fix the motorcycle right away because the bike may need to be preserved as evidence. Also, preserve the articles of clothing you were wearing at the time of the accident such as jacket, pants, shirt, etc. This can also be used as evidence if needed to prove your case.

Photograph the scene of the accident: If you are able to, keep a cell phone that takes photos with you when you are on the road because you can use it to photograph the accident scene or ask someone else at the scene to take photos and email them to you if you are unable to do so yourself. Video can also be used as evidence. Take photographs of the entire area including skid marks, property damage, your motorcycle, signs or other roadway obstacles, even yourself.

Write a detailed account: As soon as you can, make sure you also write down as much as you can about what happened including the date, time of day, weather conditions, obstacles, witnesses’ names, address and telephone numbers, etc. You will need to get the name of the other drivers, their license plate number, driver’s license number, address and insurance information.

Make a police report: Whether it’s a minor accident or a more serious one, make a police report immediately. If police officers arrive at the scene take down their name, the police department they work for and their badge number.

Call a motorcycle accident lawyer: Keep the telephone number to your lawyer in your cell phone so you can call right away to report the accident. Call 1-800-300-0001 for Ledger & Associates, headquartered in Newport Beach, for a free consultation with one of our expert motorcycle accident lawyers.

Ledger & Associates, headquartered in Newport Beach, Calif., handles many different types of personal injury cases and specializes in handling accidents involving motorcycles. If you were injured in a motorcycle accident by another driver you will want to take action immediately by contacting a motorcycle accident lawyer and beginning a lawsuit to win compensation for your injuries and losses. If you have lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the person responsible.

Call for a free expert consultation with our car accident lawyers at 1-800-300-0001.

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Slippery Roads Ripe for Car Accidents Lawyer Says

Thursday, October 6th, 2011

Slippery roads from continuous rain over the past two days generated a lot of car accidents on Southern California’s busy streets and freeways. Some of the issues affecting drivers in the rain include diminished visibility, slick roads and poor traction.

Indeed the number of traffic accidents was up nearly 50% in Los Angeles County, according to California Highway Patrol officials.

Many of the accidents reported this week were generally due to the loss of traction during the rain. Motorists are unable to stop quickly enough can hydroplane and ultimately slide out of control. That was the case in an accident Wednesday morning where a 51-year-old woman was killed on the northbound 605 freeway. Police reported that the Cerritos woman’s vehicle drifted across lanes in front of a tractor trailer tow truck. The truck driver slammed on his brakes, but slid into the 1982 Toyota Corolla and broadsided the car, police said.

Two more fatalities were reported Wednesday afternoon in Pomona on the eastbound 10 freeway near State Route 71. The incident, which took place at about 1:30 p.m., involved a 1994 Toyota whose driver allegedly lost control of his vehicle and was struck first by a big rig and then a 2008 Ford truck that was towing a trailer. The collision killed the Toyota’s male driver as well as his female passenger.

Another rain-related accident involved an overturned tractor trailer truck on the 210 freeway in Pasadena yesterday morning.

“Loss of traction on wet streets is one of the main causes for accidents during rainy days, but taking a few precautions such as driving slower, leaving more stopping distance and pumping your brakes can certainly help save lives,” Car Accident Lawyer Emery Ledger said.

When it’s raining drivers should also consider whether their vehicles are road worthy. Many times accidents are the result of poorly maintained vehicles. The rain just happens to make matters worse. A car with worn out tires will most likely hydroplane or slide out of control because the rubber just cannot grip the surface. A car with faulty windshield wipers is going to have trouble seeing where he is going. Faulty brakes can also be more hazardous in the rain.

Attorneys at Newport Beach-based Ledger & Associates are trained to investigate the aftermath of a car accident to determine whether a motorist may have been at fault due to poor driving and can also find out if a driver neglected to maintain their vehicle. Should you be involved in a car accident you will need to have an experienced car accident lawyer handle the case.

Make sure you have the right team working on your side. Ledger & Associates’ car accident lawyers will work hard to get you a settlement and pay your medical bills so you can go forward with your life.

Call 1-800-300-0001 for a free consultation with a car accident lawyer today.

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Motorcycle Accidents on Decline, Car Accident Lawyer Says

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

Driving a motorcycle is inherently more dangerous than driving an automobile. Indeed, roughly 80% of motorcyclists who crashed were injured or killed compared to only 20% of motorists in other vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports.

But a new report released this week shows that fewer motorcyclists were injured or killed in 2010 and police are hailing the CHP’s “Share the Road” campaign for helping to raise awareness on roads for our two-wheeled motorists.

The CHP and the California Department of Transportation implemented a statewide motorcycle awareness campaign last year that alerted motorists to the presence of motorcycles by displaying messages on highways such as “Share the road – Look twice for motorcyclists.”

According to the California Highway Patrol, the number of motorcycle riders killed in traffic accidents last year decreased roughly 9% in 2010 compared to 2009 when 406 people died. Additionally, the number of motorcycle collisions where the driver of the bike was injured in decreased by 8.5%.

The figures came from a preliminary study issued by the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records report. In comparison, three years ago the number of motorcyclists killed reached its highest level ever at 529 people and 11,764 people were injured.

Sadly studies show motorcycle riders who are involved in fatal collision were themselves at fault for the accident, but often motorcycle accidents take place because another motorist just doesn’t see them coming.

Perhaps you were injured or lost a loved one in a motorcycle crash caused by someone else and you don’t know how to get compensation to pay for medical bills and ongoing treatment for your injuries. The first thing you should do is see a doctor, the second thing you should do is consult a car accident lawyer. There is no charge to you unless we get you a settlement for your injuries.

Newport Beach-based Ledger & Associates has an experienced team of car accident lawyers who can help you get the responsible party to pay for your medical bills, and if they were reckless, to pay for your pain and suffering as well.

Call today at 1-800-300-0001 for a free consultation with a car accident lawyer.

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Car Accident Lawyer Emery Ledger on Serious Burn Injuries

Monday, October 3rd, 2011

It is very common for a car to explode or catch fire as a result of a car accident. Some of the worst collisions can result in such injuries and deaths to the occupants of a motor vehicle. Tragically, people who are injured in this type of accident have some of the most painful injuries, difficult recoveries and lasting scars of all accidents on the road.

Roughly 500,000 people annually suffer burns that need medical attention in the United States. Occupants of cars, motorcycles and trucks are at risk of a burn due to the flammable liquids contained inside them such as gasoline and oil as well as electrical components. The impact of a collision can set off a fire or explosion and many times end in tragedy for those involved.

We often hear in the news about an accident victim who has suffered a third-degree burn, but what exactly does that mean? There are four degrees of burns suffered by victims of car accidents every year.

First degree burns are those affecting the outer layer of the skin or epidermis and often recovery takes about a week. Symptoms include redness, swelling, minor pain as well as blistering and peeling. Typically this type of burn is the result of sunburn.

The next type of burn is a second degree burn. There are two types of second-degree burns. The first level goes through the first layer of skin and into the superficial dermis. This type of burn reaches the epidermal layer of the skin, but should heal within a few weeks. The next level of this category goes deeper into the tissue into the dermis of the skin. Healing this type of burn can take up to a month and there can be lasting scars.

Third-degree burns are among the most serious, reaching below the surface of the skin deep into the tissue and the entire dermis. In cases where someone suffers this type of burn they are likely to need skin grafting, or reconstruction and sometimes amputation. Recovery can take many painful months. Fourth-degree burns are the worst types of injuries. In this type of burn the tissue is burned through to the muscle and bone.

Hopefully you or your family is never involved in an accident that results in burns of any kind. However, if this does happen to you please seek medical attention immediately. There are many medical advances in the area of burn treatment that can help you recover from your injuries, but such procedures can be extremely expensive.

If you were struck by another motorist in a car accident they may be held accountable to pay for your medical attention. A personal injury lawyer who is a car accident specialist will help you fight for the compensation you need to not only pay your bills, but reimburse you for lost wages and pain and suffering if the driver was negligent.

The car accident lawyers at Ledger & Associates in Newport Beach have many years of experience in personal injury. Attorneys who know how to get you the help you need to get treatment and begin recovery. You may worry whether you can afford an attorney in a situation like this, but at Ledger we offer a free consultation to determine if you have a case. Call us today at 1-800-300-0001.

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Employers are Responsible for Employees Cell Phone Use

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

Many firms require their employees to conduct extensive business on cell phones, but it’s important that it’s never done while operating a motor vehicle.

Personal injury lawyers advise that employers can be held vicariously liable for the acts of employees who cause accidents while driving their cars even if they are not conducting business on behalf of them.

It’s a fact that personal injury lawyers have won lawsuits in courts that have awarded millions of dollars in some cases to the victims of employees engaged in using their cell phones while driving on roadways. One of the first notable cases involved an attorney who struck and killed a teenager while engaged in a business conversation on her telephone. Another driver conducting sales on his cell phone severely injured a woman in Florida when she was struck. Also, a stockbroker in Pennsylvania who knocked down and killed a young motorcyclist on his personal time was encouraged to conduct business for his company after hours.

Next time you use your cell phone to conduct business on behalf of your employer while you are driving your vehicle keep in mind that if you get into an accident you are both liable for injuries to those you may hurt.

In fact, the employer can still be liable even when you are not conducting business at the time you are involved in an accident. Just the fact that the cell phone is issued by your employer can make them a party to a lawsuit, personal injury lawyers report.

Some companies train their employees or provide handbooks that outline policies on cell phone use and driving that either strictly prohibit its use completely or require hands-free devices to be used. In an effort to avoid liability, personal injury lawyers recommend that some employers may consider having an employee sign a document certifying that they did not use their cell phone while driving their car in order to be reimbursed for business calls on their own private cell phones.

These days most employers know it’s important to have policies regarding cell phone use among employees that stipulate no driving while using one unless there is a hands-free device in place.

Personal injury lawyers such as Ledger & Associates are experts in the legal field at handling any type of accident case whether it involves a vehicle, pedestrian, bicycle or motorcycle incident.

As a personal injury lawyer, Ledger & Associates is aware of such liabilities and if you are involved in an accident where someone was using a cell phone and hit you we will identify all possible parties that may be at fault in such a situation. It’s important to hold those responsible accountable so that you get the compensation you need to get better.

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