Common Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents

After motorcycle accidents, drivers of larger vehicles often claim that they did not see the motorcyclist. Since motorcycles are small, it is easy for a distracted driver not to notice them, even when they are stopped at stop signs and traffic lights. If you suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident caused by a driver's negligence, you may be able to bring a personal injury lawsuit against the driver. The Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorneys at Sharifi Firm are familiar with common injuries in motorcycle accidents and can advocate for you throughout the legal process.

If you are able to establish that another person's negligence caused your injuries, you likely can recover a broad range of compensatory damages. Among the economic damages that may be available to motorcyclists with debilitating head, neck, or leg injuries are lost wages, lost earning capacity, vocational rehabilitation, and medical expenses. In California, economic damages are subject to the rule of joint and several liability. This means that if there were multiple people at fault for an accident, the victim may hold any one of them fully liable for the economic damages sustained, even if that person was only responsible to a small degree.

Noneconomic damages that may be available to an injured motorcyclist include pain and suffering, lost enjoyment of life and activities, mental anguish, and loss of consortium. Each defendant is only responsible for a plaintiff's noneconomic damages up to his or her degree of fault for an accident, since the rule of joint and several liability does not apply to these types of damages.

When a motorcyclist gets into an accident, there is no metal structure to protect them from the force of the collision. This means that in many cases, motorcycle accident injuries are severe and debilitating. While the driver of a car or truck may walk away from a motorcycle accident unscathed, the motorcyclist may suffer broken bones, paralysis, or even death. According to the Centers for Disease Control, some of the most common injuries in a motorcycle accident are head and neck injuries or leg and feet injuries.

One of the worst head and neck injuries is a traumatic brain injury, which has a broad range of symptoms and can be extremely disabling. People who suffer traumatic brain injuries sometimes experience mild symptoms involving temporary difficulties for the brain cells, but more serious traumatic brain injuries may result in cognitive or personality changes, bleeding, long-term complications, torn tissues, and bruising. Someone with a traumatic brain injury may need long-term care and may no longer be able to work in his or her chosen profession.

Bone fractures are among the most common injuries in motorcycle accidents. Fractures may take a long time to heal, and without being able to use their legs or feet, a motorcyclist may need to be out of work for an extended period of recovery. In some cases, a bone fracture changes an accident victim's mobility for the rest of their life.

At Sharifi Firm, APC, our experienced Los Angeles lawyers may be able to help you recover compensation for your injuries. We understand the challenges that accident victims may face, and we work hard to assert their rights. Contact us at (866) 422-7222 or via our online form to set up a free consultation. Our firm also represents people who need a motor vehicle collision attorney in Temecula, Rancho Cucamonga, Riverside, Glendale, Covina, and San Bernardino, among other Southern California cities.