Both Nevada and California are home to scenic views that motorcycle riders love. Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents carry a high risk of serious injury that can turn a day cruising on your bike into a tragedy.
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, you need knowledgeable legal representation and hands-on support. REA Law will pursue full compensation for the injuries you’ve sustained. Start building your case by calling 775-300-7594 (NV) or 916-800-6090 (CA) for a free consultation with REA Law. We serve clients in and around Reno - Sparks and throughout Nevada. REA Law also has offices in Sacramento servicing California.
For more information about motorcycle accidents, please read the following sections:
- Common injuries in motorcycle crashes
- Common causes of motorcycle accidents
- Safety issues: Lane splitting
- Safety issues: Helmet laws
- Compensation in your motorcycle accident case
- Steps to take after a motorcycle accident
- Contact REA Law for a complimentary case review
Common Injuries in Motorcycle Crashes
Any type of motor vehicle accident has the potential to result in severe injury or, in the worst-case scenario, death. However, motorcyclists are especially at risk of traumatic injury and fatality due to the minimal safety features of these vehicles.
Riders may suffer the following catastrophic injuries in motorcycle accidents:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Injury to the back and neck
- Spinal cord trauma
- Severe abrasions to the skin (road rash)
- Burn injuries
- Broken bones
These and other injuries can require emergency medical care, surgery, and lengthy recovery and rehabilitation. Some accident victims may experience permanent disability that limits their ability to earn a living and enjoy life.
REA Law pursues the full compensation you deserve for injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. And, if your family member was killed in a motorcycle crash, we can pursue a wrongful death claim that compensates you for the financial burdens you and your loved ones face as a result of the loss.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Most motorcyclists understand the risks when they ride. Responsible motorists, likewise, understand how to share the road with motorcyclists.
Unfortunately, reckless driving is a leading cause of accidents nationwide. Motorcycle riders are not exempt from being injured in crashes caused by careless driving, with frequent causes of these collisions including:
- Texting, talking on the phone, and other forms of distracted driving
- Drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs
- Not checking blind spots during lane changes
- Tailgating
- Failure to account for a motorcycle in an intersection
It’s impossible to control other drivers, but motorcyclists can take steps to mitigate the risk of an accident. This includes wearing a helmet and protective gear, being aware of the weather forecast and road conditions, and ensuring that your bike is well-maintained.
Safety Issues: Lane Splitting
You can lower your risk of injury by not engaging in risky behavior on the road. One controversial question in motorcycle safety is whether or not riders should be allowed to travel between lanes of traffic, a practice known as “lane splitting.”
Lane splitting laws vary state by state. In Nevada, lane splitting is illegal. However, in California, the law was silent on the subject until 2016, when newly passed legislation tacitly permitted lane splitting by directing state agencies to educate the public on the practice.
Regardless of where your motorcycle accident occurred and the legality of lane splitting, riding between rows of cars is inherently risky. Drivers may change lanes without looking, fail to stay within the lane, or even open their door into traffic, all of which can cause serious accident injuries.
Safety Issues: Helmet Laws
Mandatory helmet laws are designed to alleviate the risk of serious brain injuries and death as a result of head trauma in the event of a motorcycle accident. In both Nevada and California, motorcyclists are legally required to wear a helmet.
Following helmet laws isn’t just a smart choice for your safety. With these laws in place, motorcycle accident clients in Nevada and California who don’t wear a helmet may see a reduction in their recovery, should the court determine that failure to use a helmet partially contributed to the nature or severity of your injuries.
Compensation in Your Motorcycle Accident Case
The damages you may be able to receive in a verdict or settlement for your motorcycle accident claim will depend on multiple factors. After your complimentary consultation, attorney Raymond Areshenko will investigate all aspects of your case and discuss the potential amount of your recovery.
To determine how much you may be able to receive, Mr. Areshenko will assess the following:
- The medical expenses you’ve incurred as a result of the accident
- Additional medical bills and rehabilitation costs you may incur in the future
- The income you’ve lost as a result of the motorcycle accident, as well as future lost wages as a result of disability that makes you unable to work or perform the job you had before the crash
- Property damage to your motorcycle
- Other ways in which the accident has affected your life, such as chronic pain, lost quality of life, etc.
Depending on the details of your case, REA Law will pursue all of the damages to which you are entitled, including:
- Medical bills for emergency treatment, surgeries, and ongoing care
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capability
- Pain and suffering
- Repair or replacement of your motorcycle and other damaged property
- Punitive damages, if applicable
In the event of a wrongful death lawsuit stemming from a motorcycle accident, you and your family may be able to recover compensation for:
- Medical costs for care your loved one received prior to passing
- Loss of anticipated wages and benefits
- Your loved one’s pain and suffering
- Expenses for funeral and burial proceedings
- Loss of consortium, or compensation for the lost love and care the spouses and children would have otherwise enjoyed
At REA Law, attorney Ray Areshenko makes it his priority to understand the challenges you face and the losses you’ve sustained as a result of a motorcycle accident. If you were hurt or a loved one was killed, please contact REA Law today for a complimentary case review.
Steps to Take after a Motorcycle Accident
You can start protecting your rights and gathering information that will help your case right at the scene of the accident, immediately after it happens. Follow these steps to get a head start:
- Seek medical attention: Your first priority is checking yourself for injuries. If you are seriously hurt, don’t move. Wait for help to arrive. You might require treatment at the scene and/or need to be transported to the hospital.
If, however, you have sustained only minor injuries, proceed with the following: - Get a police officer on the scene: If you dial 911, ask for emergency medical personnel and the police. The responding officer will document the scene and speak to witnesses; the police report will provide a record of these and other crucial facts that you and your attorney can reference while building your case.
- Exchange information with the other driver: Look at the driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance, noting the name, contact information for the driver, vehicle make and model, model year, registration number, and insurance carrier. If possible, take pictures with your smartphone so you can refer to digital copies of the documents later.
- Speak to nearby witnesses: Ask people at the scene what they saw. Take notes or, if possible, record them with your phone or other device.
When speaking with other drivers involved in the crash, don’t admit fault. Insurance companies may seize upon this language to assert that you were at least partially at fault for the accident, which could limit the compensation you receive or even undermine the viability of your claim.
As a former lawyer for insurance companies, Ray Areshenko knows how these corporations try to minimize payouts and protect their bottom line. As a result, it’s best to hire an attorney before you speak to a representative for any insurance agency.
Sometimes, motorcycle accidents are single-vehicle crashes that are caused by the actions or inactions of another driver. Even if no direct collision occurred, you still want to call for help, document the scene, and ideally gather information from the responsible driver. If another party is liable for your accident, REA Law will pursue all of the compensation you deserve.
Contact REA Law for a Complimentary Case Review
It’s an unfair reality that people tend to assume motorcycle riders bear more responsibility for an accident than drivers injured in other types of vehicle accidents. Attorney Raymond E. Areshenko knows that this isn’t the case. At REA Law, we provide hands-on assistance for injury victims in motorcycle accidents and other cases.
Start building your case by calling 775-300-7594 (NV) or 916-800-6090 (CA) for a free consultation with REA Law. We serve clients in and around Reno - Sparks and throughout Nevada. REA Law also has offices in Sacramento servicing California.
