Motorcycle Accidents

More than 5,200 motorcycle riders were killed and nearly 100,000 more were injured on U.S. roadways last year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Motorcycle crashes accounted for approximately 14 percent of all traffic accidents in 2009.

Motorcycle riders who crash face damages such as physical injuries, property damage, lost wages and emotional pain and suffering. The experienced, compassionate and skilled personal injury attorneys at Lombardi & Perry, LLP are here to support victims in these difficult times by helping them seek a financial recovery. If you or a loved one has been victimized by a motorcycle accident in California, contact Lombardi & Perry, LLP for a free evaluation of your case.

Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

While some motorcycle wrecks are caused by unforeseen and unpreventable factors, such as bad weather or animals in the road, in most cases, motorcycle accidents result from some type of negligence or human error. In fact, NHTSA and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) conducted a study finding that human error plays a role in nearly 90 percent of all traffic accidents. Human error is the sole cause of more than 57 percent of all traffic accidents.

Examples of human error that may lead to motorcycles crashes include:

  • Driver distraction
  • Driver fatigue
  • Driver inexperience
  • Driver intoxication
  • Failure to follow traffic laws
  • Reckless driving
  • Vehicle equipment failure (In these cases, the human error lies with the equipment or vehicle manufacturer)

Effects of Motorcycle Accidents

Due to their size, weight and lack of metal framework surrounding the driver, it is no surprise that motorcycle accidents are far more likely to cause injury and death to the biker, rather than the drivers or occupants of involved motor vehicles or trucks. In fact, drivers of motorcycles are 37 times more likely to die, and 9 times more likely to be injured, than drivers of other passenger vehicles. In the event of a motorcycle crash, should drivers survive, they may suffer any number of injuries, including (not limited to):

  • Bone fracture
  • Burns
  • Disfigurement
  • Lacerations and severe bruising
  • Loss of limb
  • Neck or spinal cord injuries
  • Paraplegia or quadriplegia
  • Permanent disability
  • Traumatic brain injury

If you or someone you love has been injured in a California motorcycle accident, contact Lombardi & Perry, LLP for free and private legal counsel. We will evaluate the details of your case to determine if you qualify to file a personal injury lawsuit.