A motorcycle accident in Sacramento can leave you with physical, emotional and financial hardships. At Jacoby & Meyers, our highly experienced and compassionate legal team can help you navigate this challenging time. We personalize our legal services to help clients get the justice and financial compensation they deserve. Contact us today to begin your case with a free consultation in Sacramento.
Why Choose Us as Your Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Lawyers?
- Our Sacramento injury attorneys are experts in serious automotive accident cases, including motorcycle crashes. We recently collected $11 million for our client in a motorcycle vs. truck accident case.
- No law firm in California has more wins or higher settlements. We have been representing accident victims since 1972 and have achieved over $2 billion in settlements.
- There are no fees unless we win. We work for you and don’t take any money unless we secure financial compensation for your motorcycle accident case in Sacramento.
How a Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help You
Recovering from a motorcycle accident is already difficult enough; you don’t need the added stress of pursuing a legal claim. Having an experienced motorcycle accident attorney on your side can make all the difference to the outcome of your case. Your lawyer can negotiate a fair settlement with an insurance company for you or take your case to trial in Sacramento in the pursuit of justice.
While you focus on healing from your injuries, your attorney can investigate the motorcycle accident and collect evidence to prove your claim, such as police reports, eyewitness statements and photos from the crash scene. Your lawyer can work with a network of experts, including medical professionals and crash reconstructionists, to build the strongest possible case on your behalf.
What Causes Most Motorcycle Accidents in Sacramento?
Since California is a fault-based state, understanding the cause of a motorcycle crash is necessary before an insurance claim can be filed by an injured victim. Under the state’s insurance law, the driver or party at fault for causing the crash must pay for related medical bills and property repairs from his or her insurance policy.
Common causes of motorcycle collisions in California include:
- Distracted and inattentive drivers
- Inexperienced drivers
- Failure to keep a proper lookout for motorcycles
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Drowsy driving
- Failure to check blind spots
- Unsafe lane changes
- Speeding or aggressive driving
- Breaking traffic laws
- Following or passing too closely
In 2021, 565 motorcyclists in California lost their lives in traffic accidents. Careless and reckless actions by motor vehicle drivers are behind many devastating motorcycle collisions in Sacramento. Other common causes include road defects, dangerous weather conditions and motorcycle part failures.
Common Injuries From Motorcycle Accidents in Sacramento
Although protective gear such as a helmet can help prevent serious and fatal injuries in a motorcycle crash, motorcyclists are still prone to severe harm. They do not have any of the safety features that motor vehicle occupants enjoy. Motorcyclists can sustain many major injuries in accidents, including:
- Head, skull and brain injuries
- Facial injuries
- Bone fractures
- Road rash
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck injuries
- Permanent paralysis
- Internal injuries or bleeding
- Limb amputations
- Soft-tissue damage
Injuries from a motorcycle crash can affect a victim for the rest of his or her life, leading to physical disabilities, scarring, disfigurement and mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Victims may need months or years of therapies and treatments to recover from a motorcycle accident in Sacramento.
How to Prove Fault in a Motorcycle Accident Claim
Under California’s insurance law, the plaintiff (injured party) must prove that someone else is at fault before receiving compensation from that person’s insurance provider. The burden of proof that must be met by the plaintiff is a “preponderance of the evidence,” meaning more likely to be true than not true.
Proving fault is typically synonymous with proving negligence, or the failure of the accused party (defendant) to act with reasonable care based on the situation. Proving negligence requires evidence of four elements: duty, breach of duty, causation and damages.
Hiring an accident attorney in Sacramento can make it easier for you to prove your motorcycle accident claim. Your lawyer can conduct a comprehensive investigation to collect evidence that demonstrates that the defendant owed you a duty of care, violated this duty, this directly caused your accident and that you suffered actual damages as a result.
What to Do if You’re Injured in a Motorcycle Crash
The aftermath of a motorcycle crash in Sacramento can be chaotic and overwhelming. However, it is important to try to remember to take certain actions, as an insurance company will check to see if you fulfilled specific responsibilities after your accident. If possible, take the following steps:
- Assess yourself for injuries and seek medical attention. The adrenaline from the crash may mask symptoms of an injury, which is why it is important to go to a hospital immediately.
- Move to a safe area away from the road to call 911. Report the motorcycle accident and give the police your side of the story. Write down your police report number to obtain a copy later.
- Gather evidence at the scene, including photographs, the other driver’s contact and insurance information, and witness information. Look for any traffic or surveillance cameras.
- Report the motorcycle accident to your own insurance company first, then file a claim against the at-fault driver. Do not give the insurer a recorded statement or accept a fast settlement.
- Contact an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in Sacramento for assistance. Your attorney can protect your rights and advocate for your best interests throughout your claim.
If you get involved in a motorcycle accident, it might be difficult for you to do anything except seek medical care and focus on healing from your injuries. When you contact Jacoby & Meyers, our team of attorneys, case managers and assistants can step in to immediately handle the required tasks of your case for you.
Contact Jacoby & Meyers for a Free Motorcycle Accident Case Evaluation in Sacramento
An experienced attorney from Jacoby & Meyers can guide you through the process of finding the right doctor, gathering and preserving evidence, filing a claim, and negotiating with insurance companies for a fair case outcome. We understand the complex issues and nuances that accompany motorcycle accident cases in Sacramento and will give you the legal support you need.
Choose Jacoby & Meyers: because you deserve justice. Contact us today for a free motorcycle accident case evaluation.
We are located at 1215 K St 17th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814. Call our 24/7 hotline at (916) 269-8918.
Call or text 888-522-6291 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form