California Motorcycle Accident Statistics

The California Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) is a database that collects and processes data from an accident site. The system may be used to determine California motorcycle accident statistics. If you were injured while riding a motorcycle in Southern California, you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit. Often, there is a bias against motorcyclists, making it especially important to retain an experienced Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer who can persuasively tell your side of the story. At Sharifi Firm, we can do just that.

According to SWITRS, 484 motorcycle riders were involved in fatal collisions in 2013. In 11,784 injury-causing accidents, motorcyclists were involved. Of these accidents, only about half involved motorcyclists who were at fault. The primary factors contributing to motorcycle crashes when the crash was the motorcyclist's fault were speeding, alcohol use, failure to yield, improper turning, and riding on the wrong side of the road. However, based on statistics from across the nation, the most common reason for a collision between a motorcycle and a car is a car driver's decision to make a left turn in front of an oncoming motorcyclist who is driving straight. In this situation, the driver is supposed to yield to the motorcyclist but fails to do so.

Some juries incorrectly assume that motorcyclists are at fault most of the time. There is a bias against motorcyclists of which insurers are aware. Therefore, if you were injured or a loved one was killed in a motorcycle accident in California, you should be sure to retain an experienced attorney to prove the other party's negligence by a preponderance of the evidence.

Negligence may be proven by showing that it is more likely than not that the defendant owed you a duty of care, did not live up to that duty, and caused your injuries and damages. You must have suffered actual damages to recover compensation, but in most motorcycle accident cases, there are serious injuries to a motorcyclist, who has fewer protections than a driver inside a car or truck. In a left turn accident case, for example, you will need to show that the defendant owed you a duty to yield because you were driving straight but failed to do so, and as a result, your motorcycle hit the car. The reasons why drivers may fail to yield in this situation vary, but they include distracted driving, drunk driving, or simply being too inexperienced to judge how fast the motorcyclist was approaching.

California follows the doctrine of comparative negligence. This means that if a defendant claims that you were at fault, which happens often, the jury will evaluate both your behavior and the defendant's behavior preceding the accident. For example, they may look at such issues as whether you were wearing a helmet or whether you were lane splitting to determine whether you have any responsibility for your injuries. While a helmet would be irrelevant to a broken bone, it might be relevant if the injuries that you suffered involved concussions or a traumatic brain injury.

The damages that you may be able to recover include medical bills, loss of earning capacity, lost wages, household services, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment. The amount and nature of the damages varies depending on the individual plaintiff and the degree of injuries suffered. For example, if you are a young woman who suffers serious scarring on your face as a result of a left turn accident, the jury is likely to assume that you would be significantly affected by those injuries.

California motorcycle accident statistics show that it is important for motorcyclists to drive defensively. Even when you do drive defensively, however, you may be hurt by a careless driver. At Sharifi Firm, APC, our Los Angeles lawyers may be able to help you recover compensation. Contact us online or call us at (866) 422-7222 for a free appointment with a motor vehicle collision attorney. We also represent victims in Temecula, Riverside, Rancho Cucamonga, Glendale, Covina, and San Bernardino, among other cities.