Long Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

The city of Long Beach has over 11 miles of beaches for residents and visitors to enjoy. Its great weather and an ideal location overlooking the Pacific Ocean make motorcycles a common sight here. But the downside is that millions of trucks and cars compete for the same roads with these motorcycles. That makes motorcycle accidents in Long Beach inevitable.

Unlike car and truck drivers, riders injured in motorcycle accidents usually suffer serious injuries or even death. Some of these injuries can end up being permanent and completely alter a rider’s life. Between the medical costs involved, rehabilitation, mental health care, possible long-term care, and home modifications, a motorcycle accident can end up costing the rider over a million dollars.

Given how incredibly high the cost of a motorcycle accident is, a lowball settlement offer from the insurance company just won’t cut it. If you or a loved one were injured or killed in a motorcycle accident in Long Beach, the experienced Long Beach personal injury attorneys at The Dominguez Firm can help. We will fight to get you and your family the maximum compensation you are entitled to under the law. Call us for a free consultation at 800-818-1818 today. Read on for more information about what to do and how we can help if you are involved in a motorcycle accident in Long Beach.

Why does Long Beach have so many motorcycle accidents?

There are several reasons why Long Beach has so many motorcycle accidents. First, Long Beach is home to over 467,000 people. That makes it the second most populated city in Los Angeles County and the seventh-largest by population in California. And the average Long Beach household has 2 cars. So, when you do the math, that’s over 900,000 vehicles for residents alone.

Of course, other parts of Southern California and the Los Angeles area are densely populated too. What distinguishes Long Beach is that it is also home to one of the busiest commercial ports in the world, the Port of Long Beach. This accounts for thousands of trucks and other vehicles entering and leaving Long Beach every day. This concentration of commercial trucks also poses a grave danger to motorcycle riders in Long Beach.

And finally, Long Beach has increased in popularity as a tourist destination over the last few years. Many cruise ships dock here. The downtown area has been revitalized and local attractions include the Queen Mary and the Aquarium of the Pacific.

As proof of the dangers of riding your motorcycle in Long Beach, 141 motorcycle riders were injured or killed in accidents there in 2017, the last year for which accident statistics were kept. That made it the 3^rd most dangerous large city for motorcycle riders in all of California.

What are the most common motorcycle accident injuries?

A motorcycle rider doesn’t have the luxury of relying on airbags when they get into an accident. So, when riders do get into an accident, they often result in catastrophic injuries. Among the most common motorcycle accident injuries are:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Broken bones
• Spinal cord injuries
• Partial and total paralysis
• Road rash burns, which can be severe and lead to infection
• Whiplash

The majority of the injuries listed above are catastrophic. Even an injury that doesn’t seem as serious, such as whiplash can lead to chronic pain and long-term headaches. Any motorcycle rider who’s been involved in an accident should seek immediate medical attention, even if they think they’re just shaken up. The sudden burst of adrenaline after an accident could mask a serious injury or there may be internal injuries that aren’t immediately noticeable.

What can I do to lower my chances of being injured in a motorcycle accident?

The best thing you can do to lower your chances of being seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in Long Beach is to wear a helmet. Not only is it the law in California, but it could also very well save your life.

You can also take a motorcycle safety course. CHP offers California Motorcyclist Safety Programs. One is a 15-hour course that is mandatory for riders under 21 although those over 21 are also welcome to take part. In addition, there is an extended course for those seeking additional training. Not only can these courses help you stay safe, they usually give you a break on your motorcycle insurance to boot.

What compensation could I be entitled to if I’m injured in a motorcycle accident?

If you or a loved one were injured in a motorcycle accident in Long Beach you may be entitled to economic and non-economic damages. If the person who caused the accident acted in a particularly malicious manner, you may be entitled to punitive damages as well.

Economic damages are easy to calculate. It’s as simple as adding up the following expenses:

• All of your medical bills directly related to your accident injuries.
• The cost of repairing or replacing your motorcycle.
• For more serious injuries, the cost of future medical treatment, physical therapy and rehabilitation.
• Again, for more serious injuries, home health care and sometimes modifications to the home.
• Lost income now and in the future.

You can’t use a paper trail to add up non-economic damages. Even though they may be more difficult to calculate, they can make up the largest part of motorcycle accident claims, settlements, or verdicts. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer at The Dominguez Firm can compare your Long Beach motorcycle accident claim to similar cases they’ve handled in the past and the factors involved.

Non-economic damages can include:

• Any extreme pain and emotional suffering due to your motorcycle crash.
• Loss of consortium, which is the loss of a spouse and the potential impact that has on a family.
• Another example of non-economic damages is loss of enjoyment of life. If the victim can no longer participate in activities that brought them joy before their motorcycle crash, they may be entitled to damages for loss of enjoyment of life. Examples include not being able to go surfing or something as simple as not being able to play with your children

In rare instances, a court may reward punitive damages to the motorcycle accident victim. This is done more to punish the person who caused the accident rather than to award the victim additional damages. The idea is that additionally punishing the defendant may set an example and stop similar behavior in the future.

How long will my Long Beach motorcycle accident case take?

It depends. We know that no one likes to hear this answer, but the truth is, every case really is different. Several factors will determine the possible length of your case, including:

• The extent of your injuries – If your injuries are serious, the time it will take you to reach maximum recovery may not be immediately known. It can take months or even longer. Your attorney will need to wait until that point is reached to figure out how much compensation to ask for.

• The potential settlement amount – If your potential settlement is large, the insurance company involved may attempt to drag out the process. Fortunately, California requires insurance companies make a decision regarding a motorcycle accident claim within 40 days.

Going to court costs money. Because of this, most insurance companies are open to negotiating a settlement. However, if the motorcycle accident attorneys at The Dominguez Firm don’t feel the settlement offer is fair, they will advise you against taking it. We will always fight to try and obtain the maximum compensation allowed for you by law. If the insurance company makes a low offer, we have the resources and experience to go to trial on your behalf.

All of that being said, a case can settle at any time. Sometimes the insurance companies make lowball offers but return with a fair settlement offer when they see we are prepared to go to court for you.

Can I do anything if a loved one was killed in a motorcycle accident in Long Beach?

If you are the next of kin of someone who was killed in a motorcycle crash in Long Beach, you have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the person responsible. While no amount of money can make up for your loss, obtaining monetary compensation can help. This is especially true if the deceased were the main provider for their family.

Why should I choose The Dominguez Firm for my Long Beach motorcycle accident claim?

The Dominguez Firm is a real law firm with real lawyers. We are not a referral service, nor do we refer out larger motorcycle accident cases. When you hire The Dominguez Firm you get a personal injury law firm that has been serving Los Angeles and all of Southern California for over 30 years. In that time, we have helped many motorcycle accident victims and their families obtain the compensation they are entitled to.

If you’re concerned about the cost of hiring a motorcycle accident attorney for your Long Beach accident, you shouldn’t be. That’s because we work on a contingency basis. You have no upfront costs or hidden fees to deal with. At the end of your case, we receive a percentage of your final settlement or verdict amount. That percentage will be clearly stated in the client representation agreement you sign with us.

Call an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer at The Dominguez Firm today for your free and confidential consultation at 800-818-1818. And in the unlikely event that we are unable to obtain compensation for you, you owe us nothing. If we don’t win, you don’t’ pay! So, call us today.