Quirk Accident and Injury Attorneys has a skilled team of motorcycle accident lawyers in Thousand Oaks. We know how to deal with these situations and will work hard to get you the financial support you should need for your injuries. If you or someone you care about has been in a left-turn accident, contact us today for a free consultation.
What You Need to Do After A Left-Turn Accident
If you spend any amount of time on the road in Thousand Oaks, you’ve come into contact with a motorcycle. Moreover, if you have a motorcycle, you’re probably pretty aware of the potential for accidents. Still, these situations can be scary, particularly a “left-turn” accident. These accidents happen when:
- A driver turns left in front of an oncoming motorcycle, either because they don’t see the motorcycle or underestimate its speed.
While these can be particularly damaging, it’s important to take certain actions after the accident to protect your health and potential claim:
- Take care of your health – This is the most important step. Check yourself for injuries and move to a safe place. Then, seek immediate medical care to assess your injuries and start the healing process.
- Exchange insurance and contact information – Ideally, the other driver involved will stay and exchange contact and insurance details with you. If possible, do this. If the driver leaves, call the police to report the hit-and-run.
- Report the accident to police – Make sure to call the Thousand Oaks Police Department about the accident so they can respond and document the scene. While their report may not be admissible as evidence in court, it’s crucial for your insurance claim.
- Collect evidence – If you’re able, gather evidence at the scene. Take photos or videos with your phone if it’s working. This visual evidence can be essential for your claim.
Do You Need Our Lawyers?
Although most left-turn accidents are pretty severe in terms of the damage, it’s not necessarily true that you need our lawyers to help you after your accident. This is because every accident is unique, meaning that if you had only minor injuries or a slight collision, you probably don’t need to worry about taking legal action.
However, you always have the right to file an injury claim against responsible parties in a left turn or any other motorcycle accident. Handling the claims process alone, especially when seriously injured, is tough. This is where our team can come in and be a huge help by:
- Identifying who’s responsible for your accident.
- Gathering and assessing important evidence for your case.
- Interviewing witnesses and experts for valuable insights.
- Managing tasks and communication with the at-fault party’s insurance company for you.
- Officially representing you in your claim, negotiating your damages if needed.
Any motorcycle accident is often going to result in injuries, which will mean medical appointments, surgeries, and therapy. Balancing these needs with dealing with your claim can be overwhelming. Our team takes on the claims process so you can focus on recovery.
Liability and Damages in an Injury Claim
There’s two major components to the claims process when you’re injured in a left-turn motorcycle accident: figuring out liability and assessing your damages.
Liability
Regardless of the specific cause, establishing liability is crucial because it’s going to largely determine your path forward. To prove liability in a left-turn motorcycle accident, you must show that the driver who hit you was negligent:
- The responsible party had a duty to operate their vehicle safely.
- They breached this duty.
- The breach caused the accident.
- There’s a causal link between the accident and your injuries.
In most left-turn accidents, the driver of another vehicle is negligent and thus liable for your injuries. However, depending on the circumstances, other parties may also be liable:
- Another motorcyclist or pedestrian
- The government agency responsible for road maintenance
- A passenger
- Third parties, like the vehicle or part manufacturers
Damages
In terms of the actual legal process, you generally have two options for filing your injury claim – filing a lawsuit or filing an insurance claim. This is why liability is crucial – the person or party that’s responsible for the accident will be legally responsible for providing you the financial support for your “damages.”
Regardless of which legal option you decide on, you can potentially recover:
- Medical bills and expenses – These damages cover current and future medical bills resulting from the accident.
- Lost wages or earning potential – This category is for wages lost due to the accident and potential future earnings you lost.
- Pain and suffering – This category of damages is for both physical and emotional distress caused by the accident.
- Permanent disability – These damages apply if there are lasting changes in appearance or your ability due to the accident.
- Loss of enjoyment of life – These damages cover any reduction in the ability to enjoy life as before the accident.
- Funeral expenses – These damages are applicable in a fatal accident, like funeral or burial expenses. It can be extended to lost benefits or earnings.
Remember, your damages are contingent on a few different things, like the extent of your injuries and how liable the different parties are. Also, how much negligence you contribute to the accident will also factor in. This is known as “comparative negligence.” So, if you were riding recklessly or trying to split lanes, your damages will be reduced.
Causes and Injuries in These Accidents
Because the circumstances of a left-turn accident are so important to the overall claims process, it’s important to look at how these accidents happen and the injuries that can result. As you might expect, these accidents happen because of a driver:
- Not yielding to oncoming traffic, often due to misjudging speed or being distracted.
- Underestimating the space between their vehicle and an oncoming motorcycle, leading to a sudden collision.
- Not paying attention to the road, often due to distractions like phones or music, can cause left-turn accidents.
- Driving drunk or on drugs.
- Driving at excessive speeds.
- Is driving in conditions like rain or sun glare, making it hard for them to see oncoming traffic.
Regardless of the specific cause, it’s also not surprising that you, the motorcycle rider, will likely experience serious injuries like:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Fractures and broken bones
- Road rash
- Internal injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Psychological trauma
Experienced Thousand Oaks Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Being in a left-turn motorcycle accident can turn your life upside down. Whether you’re dealing with injuries, damage to your belongings, or just can’t enjoy riding your motorcycle in Thousand Oaks anymore, the effects of a motorcycle accident can last a long time. At Quirk Accident and Injury Attorneys, we understand how tough this situation can be for you and your family. We’re here to offer our clients experience and support during this challenging time.
If you or someone you care about has been hurt in a left-turn motorcycle accident, don’t hesitate to contact us today to set up a free consultation to talk about your case.