Motorcycle Crashes Near Driveways

Generally, a collision between two vehicles may cause quite a bit of harm to both people. However, motorcyclists are always at a disadvantage when they are hit by a car. Often, these accidents take place near driveways. It does not take much for a careless driver leaving their home or backing into their driveway to cause serious harm to a motorcyclist. Although a motorcyclist may be wearing a helmet and protective gear, there is little to protect them from the force of the collision. If you are injured in a motorcycle crash near a driveway, the Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorneys at Sharifi Firm may be able to help you recover damages.

Many people fail to check for traffic before pulling onto the street or misinterpret how much time they have to get in front of a motorcyclist. Even when a driver is traveling at low speeds, the collision's force may be enough to throw the motorcyclist from their bike and onto the ground. While the driver may walk away unscratched, the motorcyclist may suffer catastrophic injuries like brain trauma, broken bones, paralysis, or even death.

All drivers are required to use reasonable care when entering a roadway from a driveway. They may not realize this because they treat the road in front of their house as an extension of their home, but a motorcyclist traveling straight down the road has the right of way. A failure to yield is likely to be considered negligence by a jury. To establish negligence, you will need to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the driver owed a duty of care and breached it, thereby causing your injuries.

There are some instances in which a motorcyclist may be partially to blame for their injuries. For example, if it is night, and the motorcyclist's headlights are not on, a driver may be unable to see them and may plow into them. California follows a rule of comparative negligence. The defendant may raise comparative negligence, and then the jury will determine your total damages as well as assigning a percentage of fault to the defendant and you. Your total damages will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

In some cases, a motorcycle crash near a driveway is a result of a badly designed road or untrimmed bush. It may be possible to hold a property owner responsible for its negligence in designing and maintaining its property. For example, if there is a huge bush that should be trimmed, and it belongs to the driver's neighbor, that person may have some responsibility for an accident if they knew or should have known that the untrimmed bush was a hazard that might result in an accident.

At Sharifi Firm, PLC, our experienced motor vehicle collision lawyers may be able to help you seek compensation if you were injured in a motorcycle crash near a driveway. Motorcycle crashes may involve serious injuries, and it is crucial to retain a Los Angeles attorney who understands motorcycle culture and can explain what happened to a jury. Contact us online or call (866) 422-7222 to set up a free appointment. Our firm also represents victims in San Bernardino, Temecula, Rancho Cucamonga, Glendale, Covina, and Riverside, among other Southern California cities.