San Luis Obispo Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Providing Aggressive Legal Representation to Help Injured Motorcyclists Receive the Justice They Deserve

Injury victims needing a motorcycle accident attorney in San Luis Obispo trust James McKiernan Lawyers to provide sound legal advice and high-quality professional representation. Our overall goal is to help motorcycle accident victims recover maximum compensation for their injuries caused by a careless, reckless, or negligent driver.

Sadly, many injured motorcyclists suffer severe injuries that leave them permanently disabled.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle crash, contact our San Luis Obispo law firm immediately to schedule a free consultation. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer will professionally evaluate your case and determine what legal options suit your needs.

Why Do I Need to Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, you probably have sustained severe injuries that are preventing you from returning to work. Even a minor accident could result in expensive medical bills that can be challenging to pay.

A motorcycle accident lawyer can provide skilled legal guidance to help you successfully navigate the claims process. Some of the legal advantages of hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer provides to clients include:

Assistance with filling out confusing legal paperwork
Gather critical evidence that will substantiate the personal injury claim
Assess and determine liability issues
Act as a legal advocate and negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company
Take the case to trial if the insurance company is unwilling to negotiate a settlement that adequately meets your needs

The legal team of James McKiernan Lawyers has in-depth knowledge and years of experience helping injured motorcyclists obtain maximum compensation for the harm they have suffered due to someone else’s negligence.

Contact our law office to learn more about the benefits of hiring a San Luis Obispo motorcycle accident attorney and how we can help.

What Kind of Compensation Can Your Law Firm Obtain for Motorcycle Accident Victims?

Our San Luis Obispo Motorcycle accident lawyers will work with you and help maximize your settlement by demanding compensation for economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages are awarded to reimburse accident victims for out-of-pocket expenses incurred due to injury and may include:

Future and past medical bills
Lost wages
Loss of earning potential
Motorcycle repair

Non-economic damages are awarded to compensate victims for intangible losses they have suffered that cannot be quantified in monetary terms and often include:

Pain and suffering
Loss of enjoyment of life
Emotional distress
Permanent disfigurement and scarring

Why are Motorcycle Accidents so Dangerous?

Motorcycle riders involved in a collision with an automobile, bus, or truck are at risk of serious injury or wrongful death. Studies conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have found that motorcyclists are nine times more likely to be injured in an accident than the occupant of an automobile and 37 times more likely to be killed than a person in a car in the same crash.

One of the most significant factors that cause motorcycle accidents to be so dangerous is the lack of basic protections that individuals in enclosed vehicles enjoy. Additionally, protective clothing offers little protection to riders in a serious accident.

When motorcycles collide with larger vehicles such as cars and trucks, riders are often violently thrown and slide across the asphalt, causing road rash or burns that can quickly become infected.

Catastrophic injuries, including spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries, severe burns, and amputations, typically result in the injured victim needing lifelong medical care that can quickly become cost-prohibitive for families.

If you have been hurt in an accident, you need the assistance of our skilled injury lawyers in San Luis Obispo. We understand the unique issues that must be addressed in accidents involving motorcycles or serious injuries and what we must do to seek justice for clients.

What Causes Motorcycle Accidents?

The number one cause of most motorcycle accidents is automobile drivers’ carelessness or negligence. Every motorist has a duty to drive with reasonable care, which includes being aware of their surroundings, including other motorists on the road, and driving in a way that does not endanger them.

Unfortunately, many drivers make sudden lane changes and other maneuvers without checking their mirrors or looking over their shoulder. When drivers of larger motor vehicles fail to use caution, they often do not see a motorcyclist before it is too late.

Other factors that contribute to motorcycle accidents include:

Speeding/reckless driving
Failure to obey traffic laws
Driving under the influence
Tailgating
Poor road conditions, including loose gravel, uneven lanes, and potholes
Adverse weather conditions

Other drivers misjudge the speed at which a motorcycle is traveling, leading to potentially life-threatening injuries. The San Luis Obispo motorcycle accident attorneys at James McKiernan Lawyers are fully committed to holding these drivers accountable for their actions.

What Legal Responsibilities Do Motorcyclists Have When Driving on California Roads?

Motorcycle riders must operate their vehicles carefully and obey all local and state traffic laws, just like any other motorist. California motorcycle laws allow for lane splitting/lane sharing, so motorcyclists have a distinct advantage in getting through traffic. However, riding visibly and predictably and with respect to road and traffic conditions are essential elements of riding safely.

Some other legal responsibilities that motorcycle riders must adhere to include:

Wearing helmets and protective gear
Not engaging in reckless or dangerous activities while driving
Maintaining a safe following distance between their motorcycle and other vehicles in front of them

If you were following all the rules of the road and were still injured in a San Luis Obispo motorcycle accident, contact James McKiernan Lawyers as soon as possible. Motorcycle riders often face a tough challenge in court. Many people have a natural bias against motorcycles, and juries may quickly judge the rider as being at least partially at fault for causing an accident. As motorcycle accident attorneys, we understand the importance of overcoming this bias to ensure the rider is not unfairly assessed with blame for an accident caused by a negligent driver.

A qualified legal team member will gladly assess your personal injury case and help you seek compensation for your injuries.

Why are James McKiernan Lawyers the Best Choice to Help Me With My Motorcycle Accident Claim?

Our personal injury attorneys in San Luis Obispo understand the thrill of riding a motorcycle along California’s scenic Central Coast. However, our accident attorneys also recognize the many dangers riders experience during heavy weekend traffic while traveling on Highway 1 and 101.

Sadly, in many motorcycle accident cases, insurance companies try to blame injured victims so they can avoid paying fair compensation. Our San Luis Obispo County law firm has been helping victims recover compensation for accident claims for 50+ years and knows what it takes to get results.

When you come to us for help, we will work to maximize your claim so you can obtain compensation that will cover current and future medical costs and hold the at-fault driver accountable for their actions.

Allow our San Luis Obispo motorcycle accident attorneys to help you obtain the compensation you need to pay your bills and support your family while you recover from your injuries. Contact James McKiernan Lawyers by calling 805-476-4304 today to schedule a free initial consultation so that we may assess your legal needs.