Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Riding a motorcycle can be an enjoyable and practical way to travel through West Sacramento and the surrounding Sacramento region. Unfortunately, motorcyclists face risks that drivers of passenger vehicles do not. A motorcycle offers far less protection in a collision, meaning a crash that might result in minor vehicle damage for a car occupant can cause devastating injuries to a rider.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in West Sacramento, the circumstances surrounding the crash deserve careful attention. At the Law Office of Brian P. Azemika, we help injured people understand their legal options after serious accidents. With more than 20 years of experience in personal injury law, founding attorney Brian P. Azemika brings extensive experience to cases involving physical injuries and the financial and emotional challenges that can follow them.

Motorcycle Accidents Can Happen in an Instant

A motorcycle accident does not always involve reckless driving or excessive speed. A rider can be traveling normally and still be placed in danger by another driver's actions.

A driver may fail to notice a motorcycle approaching in an adjacent lane, turn left across a rider's path, change lanes without checking properly, or follow a motorcycle too closely. Road hazards can also create serious problems for motorcyclists. Potholes, uneven pavement, debris, poor roadway design, and other conditions that might be manageable for a larger vehicle can be much more dangerous on two wheels.

Because motorcycles are smaller than passenger vehicles, other drivers may have a harder time seeing them. This makes awareness and careful driving especially important around motorcyclists.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Understanding how a motorcycle accident occurred can be an important part of investigating an injury claim. While every collision is different, some common circumstances include:

• Drivers failing to yield the right of way
• Left-turn collisions at intersections
• Unsafe lane changes
• Distracted driving
• Drivers following motorcycles too closely
• Speeding or unsafe driving
• Drivers opening vehicle doors into a rider's path
• Poor roadway conditions
• Vehicle defects or mechanical problems
• Debris in the roadway
• Dangerous intersections or inadequate road design
• Impaired driving

In some accidents, more than one factor may have contributed to the collision. Determining what happened may require reviewing photographs, witness statements, traffic-camera footage, vehicle damage, roadway conditions, and other evidence.

Left-Turn Motorcycle Accidents

One particularly dangerous type of motorcycle collision occurs when a vehicle turns left in front of an approaching motorcycle. The driver may claim they did not see the motorcycle or believed they had enough time to complete the turn.

For the motorcyclist, there may be very little time to react. Even if a rider attempts to brake or maneuver around the vehicle, the distance may be too short to avoid the crash.

These accidents can occur at intersections throughout West Sacramento and the surrounding Sacramento area. When investigating a collision, factors such as the traffic signal, lane configuration, visibility, vehicle positions, lighting conditions, and statements from witnesses may help establish what occurred.

Motorcycle Helmets and Protective Equipment

After a motorcycle accident, questions about helmets and protective equipment may arise. A helmet and appropriate riding gear can provide important protection, but wearing protective equipment does not mean another person cannot be responsible for causing a collision.

It is important not to assume that the circumstances of an accident are determined solely by whether a rider was wearing a helmet or other protective gear. The facts of the collision still need to be examined, including what the other driver did, the roadway conditions, and the evidence available from the scene.

If you were injured while riding a motorcycle, an attorney can review the circumstances of your accident and explain how California law may apply to your situation.

Motorcycle Accidents and Roadway Conditions

Motorcyclists can be particularly vulnerable to hazardous road conditions. A pothole or uneven surface that a passenger vehicle crosses without much difficulty can cause a motorcycle to lose stability. Loose gravel, construction debris, damaged pavement, standing water, inadequate signage, or other roadway hazards may also contribute to a crash.

If roadway conditions played a role in your West Sacramento motorcycle accident, documenting the scene can be especially important. Road conditions can change quickly after an accident because debris may be removed, repairs may be made, or weather may alter the appearance of the roadway.

Photographs taken as soon as reasonably possible can help preserve information about what the road looked like when the accident occurred.

What Evidence Can Help

A motorcycle accident investigation may require putting together information from several different sources. The motorcycle itself can provide important physical evidence through its damage and condition.

Other potentially useful evidence can include:

• Photographs of the accident scene
• Photographs of the motorcycle and other vehicles
• Traffic or surveillance video
• Statements from people who witnessed the collision
• Police reports
• Accident-scene measurements
• Roadway and weather conditions
• Medical records
• Motorcycle maintenance records
• Information from electronic devices or other available data

The sooner relevant evidence is identified and preserved, the less likely it is that important information will be lost.

Don't Let the Stigma Define Your Case

Motorcyclists can sometimes face assumptions about how an accident happened simply because they were riding a motorcycle. A motorcycle accident should be evaluated based on evidence and the actual circumstances of the collision.

If another driver failed to see a motorcycle, failed to yield, made an unsafe maneuver, or otherwise contributed to a collision, those facts deserve to be examined. Our approach is to listen to your account, review the circumstances, and help you understand your legal options based on the facts of your individual case.

Contact Brian Azemika Today

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in West Sacramento, contact the Law Office of Brian P. Azemika to discuss what happened. Whether your collision occurred at an intersection, on a busy roadway, or because of hazardous road conditions, understanding your legal options can help you determine what to do next.

Call us today to schedule your free, fully confidential case evaluation. We will listen to your concerns, discuss the circumstances of your motorcycle accident, and help you understand the options that may be available to you.