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Motorcycle

Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Sally Morin Offers Experienced Representation to Victims of Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents can involve life changing injuries and are often tricky to fairly adjudicate. San Francisco personal injury attorney Sally Morin, a former motorcycle enthusiast herself, has dealt with hundreds of these cases and understands exactly what you are going through as an injured party. Sally offers up sound advice on what and what not to do when you’re involved in a motorcycle accident.

A motorcycle accident typically results in more severe injuries than an automobile accident, and motorcycle accidents often involve difficult liability issues.  In order to protect your interests, it is important to work with a San Francisco personal injury attorney who understands the unique issues created by motorcycle accidents.

As a formerly avid motorcyclist (rural and urban) for over 15 years, San Francisco personal injury attorney Sally Morin intimately understands the need for extra protection and representation for this vulnerable community when it comes to accidents and injuries. She has worked diligently with many victims of San Francisco motorcycle accidents (even some very close friends) to defend their right to ride safely.

Motorcycle Accident Statistics

According to the 2007 statistics from the NHTSA, about one half of the country’s fatal motorcycle accidents that occurred in 2007 involved a collision between a motorcycle and another type of motor vehicle.  In crashes that involved two vehicles, more than two thirds of the motorcycles involved in the fatal crashes were struck in the front and only 5 percent were struck from behind.  In 2007, there were 2,332 two-vehicle fatal crashes involving a motorcycle and another type of vehicle. In 40 percent (939) of these crashes the other vehicle was turning left while the motorcycle was going straight, passing, or overtaking the vehicle. Both vehicles were going straight in 632 crashes (27%).

 Collisions with fixed objects (such as walls, buildings and guardrails) are also common.  In 2007, one quarter of fatal motorcycle accidents involved a collision with a fixed object.

Also in 2007, 36 percent of all motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes were speeding according to the NHTSA definition.  That rate was significantly higher than the percentage of crashes that were speed related for cars and trucks. NHTSA considers a crash to be speeding-related if the driver was charged with a speeding-related offense or if an officer indicated that racing, driving too fast for conditions, or exceeding the posted speed limit was a contributing factor in the crash.

How to Avoid Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycles are often “invisible” to other motorists on the road. However, whether you are driving in rural California or in the city of San Francisco, a motorcycle accident can often be avoided by taking a few important precautions. It is important that motorcycle riders wear highly visible clothing and always use their headlight so that they can easily be seen by other motorists, motorcyclists, like all other motorists, should obey the rules of the road including the speed limit and helmet laws and keeping a longer distance between vehicles should also be exercised. 

What to Do if You are in a Motorcycle Accident

After immediate medical concerns have been addressed, it is important to gather as much information as you can from the scene of the motorcycle accident.  You should get the names and addresses of anyone who witnessed the accident.  You should also get the insurance, driver’s license and vehicle information from any other drivers involved in the collision. Try not to move your motorcycle, unless you are in danger by keeping it where it is (and you are physically capable of moving it). Make sure the police are called to the scene, as they can take important measurements and interview witnesses that will be important to your case. If possible, take photos of the accident scene (cell phones are good for this purpose), and later of your injuries and the damage to your motorcycle.

After you have sought the immediate medical treatment you need, you should contact a San Francisco personal injury attorney like Sally Morin who is knowledgeable about motorcycle accidents.

 

What NOT to Do if You are in a Motorcycle Accident

There seems to be an unfair presumption that all motorcyclists are dangerous drivers.  This prejudice and misconception can prevent motorcyclists from being treated fairly when there is an accident.  Other drivers and even some police officers, attorneys and judges might assume that because a motorcycle was involved in an accident that the motorcycle driver is at fault.  Therefore, it is very important that you, as a motorcycle driver or passenger, do not get adversarial or argumentative with anyone at the accident scene, including the driver who caused the accident or the police. Further, you should not speak with any investigator or insurance company personnel until you speak with your motorcycle accident attorney.

After the accident, it is important that you do not get your bike fixed without first consulting with your attorney who might want to take pictures of the bike for evidence or negotiate repair payments before you fix the bike. It is often difficult to wait for repairs, as this may be your only mode of transportation. Attorney Morin is very sensitive to this, and therefore works diligently and quickly to get the property damage portion of your motorcycle accident case resolved right away.

You should not settle for representation by just any personal injury attorney, but should seek out a motorcycle accident attorney, like Ms. Morin, who can help you with your case from the point of view of an experienced motorcyclist. 

One motorcyclist said:

“It all started the night I was struck by a car while riding my motorcycle in San Francisco.  I was sent to the hospital with a broken humorous and various other bumps and bruises.  A couple of days after the accident I spoke with a couple of attorney friends of mine and they recommended that I call Sally.  

Sally was easily reachable, very forthcoming about her experience with cases like mine, and very flexible with her schedule.  She made a house call to get the case started and explained the contract point-by-point before we moved forward.

Over the course of the next few months Sally kept me updated on her progress and made sure my expectations were in line with the many possible outcomes.  She worked hard to build the best case for me and in the end the outcome was exactly what we expected.

I always felt at the top of her list regardless of how many clients she had and was very responsive to all of my calls and emails.  I would recommend Sally to anyone who needs an advocate in their corner, regardless of their own experience with serious events like this."

— Tom O. San Francisco, CA

Submit Your Case

San Francisco personal injury attorneys talk about how much your case is worth
http://www.san-francisco-personal-injury-lawyer.org/resources/how-much-is-your-personal-injury-case-worth/

San Francisco personal injury lawyers discuss motorcycle accidents
http://www.san-francisco-personal-injury-lawyer.org/resources/motorcycle-accident-cases-overcoming-jury-perceptions/

San Francisco motorcycle injury attorney explains what to do when the insurance company calls.
http://www.san-francisco-personal-injury-lawyer.org/resources/motorcycle-accident-when-an-insurer-calls-you/

When should you hire a San Francisco personal injury attorney?
http://www.san-francisco-personal-injury-lawyer.org/resources/when-to-hire-a-personal-injury-attorney/