LONG BEACH Motorcycle
Accident ATTORNEYS

Motorcycles are far smaller than most other motor vehicles on the road. While the smaller size can be an advantage for operators in certain cases, it usually translates to crashes being worse for the motorcyclists than the other people involved.

Some of the most common causes of motorcycle crashes include, but are not limited to:

• Failure to Obey Traffic Signs or Lights — People who do not obey posted traffic lights or signs are far more likely to cause collisions in intersections.
• Driver Fatigue — A tired driver may not be able to react to sudden emergencies, but they are also more likely to simply fall asleep behind the wheel.
• Speeding — When a person is driving too quickly, they are also sacrificing some of their ability to control their vehicle if they need to stop.
• Distracted Driving — People can be distracted by a number of things within their vehicles or even some things outside of the vehicles. Distractions in virtually all cases are dangerous because they take the driver’s eyes off the road.
• Reckless Driving — Under California Vehicle Code § 23103, reckless driving is defined as driving “a vehicle upon a highway in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.”
• Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of Alcohol or Drugs — Drunk or drugged driving offenses often result in arrests and criminal charges. You need to know that a driver’s guilt has to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, but proving civil reliability only requires a preponderance of the evidence, a far lower burden.
• Medical Emergency — A driver could suddenly be the victim of some kind of medical episode that renders them incapable of controlling their vehicle.
• Failure to Maintain Vehicle — When a vehicle owner does not adequately care for their vehicle, it could cause a number of possible problems that affect the way the vehicle functions.
• Overcompensation — Overcompensation usually refers to excess force being placed on a steering wheel in accidents, usually leading to rollover crashes.
• Defective Parts — Motor vehicle involve hundreds of different parts that need to be working seamlessly, but a malfunctioning part can easily cause issues that lead to crashes.
• Following Too Closely (Tailgating) — The great risk of following another vehicle too closely is that a person will not allow themselves enough stopping distance in the event of sudden emergencies.
• Defective Highways — A governmental entity may be liable for failure to adequately care for a public road when it does not correct a condition that contributed to or directly caused a collision.
• Improper or Illegal Turns — Drivers who perform certain turns that violate the rules of the road are at greater risk of causing accidents with other drivers not expecting such maneuvers.
• Inclement Weather — Even though the weather is generally pretty favorable in Long Beach, certain conditions can impact driving and all drivers maintain responsibility for exercising due care in such conditions.
• Construction Zone Violations — Areas of roads where construction workers are present always provide some additional driving concerns that all drivers need to adhere to so accidents can be avoided.
• Other Traffic Violations — It is possible for many other kinds of less common traffic violations to also cause certain accidents.

No matter what kind of accident you are involved in, do not be surprised when the other party’s insurance company very likely implies you were somehow at fault for your accidents. This is the technique taken by many insurers in the immediate effort to deny liability for any damages.

You are going to want to make sure you are working with an experienced lawyer so you can have the best chance of recovering all of the compensation you are entitled to. Never assume any lump sum settlement offered by an insurance company represents your only chance at recovery, as such offers are usually far short of what victims are actually entitled to.