Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speed was a factor in 26 percent of all traffic fatalities in the U.S. in 2019. NHTSA estimates that 9,478 road deaths in 2019 were related to speeding. There are many reasons why speeding is so dangerous: first, it increases the stopping distance you need at the exact moment you have less time to react. Second, speeding increases the amount of force generated in a collision. Protective equipment is less effective at high speeds. This fact is why injuries are more likely to be fatal in accidents involving speeding.

Lane splitting is the practice of riding a motorcycle between two lanes of stopped (or slowed) traffic. California is the only state in the U.S. to allow lane splitting. It being legal does not mean it’s safe. In fact, lane splitting can be highly dangerous. Drivers rarely expect to find a motorcycle riding next to them in between lanes, which can lead to accidents. Additionally, motorcyclists often lane split during a risky time: in heavy traffic, cars are slowing and moving and stopping frequently. These conditions make it difficult for motorcycle riders to predict other drivers’ moves.

Parking lots and garages are other examples of places where drivers may not be expecting motorcycles. Often, a driver is concentrating on backing up and not watching the area around their vehicle. As a result, they may have difficulties spotting motorcycles (especially in a poorly lit parking garage). Riders should be especially careful in lots and garages. Use your horn or lights as necessary to make your presence known to other drivers.

For years, researchers have known that being drunk impairs the ability to safely operate a vehicle. This information has even resulted in action: all fifty states prohibit drunk driving, and there can be severe criminal penalties for engaging in it. There have been decades of constant public awareness campaigns about the problem.

And now, with the wide availability of rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, it is easier than ever to avoid drunk driving. Yet, despite all this, it still happens way too often. NHTSA reports that 29 percent of all motorcycle operators killed in 2019 were legally impaired at the time of their death (i.e., had a blood-alcohol level of .08 or higher).

And among all vehicle types, motorcycles had the highest rate of drivers impaired by alcohol at the time they were involved in a fatal collision. One in four drivers, or 25 percent, were legally drunk at the time of the accident.

Motorcycle riders, like all other road users, have a legal obligation not to operate a motor vehicle while they are impaired by alcohol. There are many ways to avoid drunk driving:

• Call a cab
• Call a friend
• Use a rideshare service, like Uber or Lyft
• Walk
• Designate a sober driver for the evening

Whatever you spend on a cab or Uber, it will be nothing compared to the costs of an accident or criminal charges. It could also prevent a lifetime of guilt over injuring someone else – or even killing them. Drunk drivers must be held accountable for their actions to deter other drunk drivers in the future. Our top-notch law firm fights hard to protect the rights of injury victims who have been harmed by drunk drivers.

Alcohol is not the only substance that can impair a driver’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. Street drugs, prescription medications, and household substances (like spray paint) can all be used to get high. California law prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle by anyone who is impaired “to the slightest degree.”

This means that a rider could face criminal charges, civil liability, and even a driver’s license suspension if they took even the smallest amount of any of these substances before driving. Impaired driving has been a particular problem during the country’s opioid epidemic.

Motorcycles are difficult to see in the roadway because they are smaller and less well-lit than passenger vehicles. If a driver is impaired, it could be even more difficult for them to see a motorcycle rider, and serious injuries are likely to result. It is important to hold these drivers accountable for their actions.

Even if the driver just took a prescription medication as directed, it might not be safe for them to drive. This is why these medications come with warnings. Our Sacramento motorcycle accident lawyers know how to prove all types of impairment. 

Distracted driving has become a major problem in recent years. NHTSA estimates that over three thousand victims were killed by distracted drivers across the United States in 2019. Drivers have always been distracted by the radio, eating and drinking, pets and children, and their cargo.

But now, vehicles are equipped with built-in navigation programs, calling features, and entertainment systems. Drivers have a legal obligation not to allow themselves to become distracted by these features. If they do, and a motorcycle rider is injured, the driver is legally responsible for paying for all of the rider’s injuries and losses.

Motorcycle riders are entitled to ride a bike that is safe. If a bike is sold with dangerous defects, the manufacturer can be held liable for any injuries in an accident caused by the defective motorcycle. This is the reason why manufacturers will voluntarily pay for costly recalls: it is less expensive to recall the part than to pay hundreds of personal injury claims and possibly even wrongful death lawsuits.

There are hundreds of individual parts and systems within a motorcycle. Our experienced Sacramento motorcycle accident lawyers know how to prove what went wrong and how the motorcycle was defective. We work with experts to resolve the technical issues involved in motorcycle cases to be sure that you get the compensation you are owed.

Uneven road surfaces can cause a driver to lose control of any vehicle. This is particularly problematic for motorcycle riders: unlike passenger vehicles, a motorcycle has no stability systems, and a rider must maintain physical control of the bike at all times. Potholes, trenches, salt damage, and poor construction work can all leave a roadway in a dangerous condition.

Motorcyclists who are injured by poor roadway surfaces have the right to obtain compensation from the party who was responsible for the roadway. This could include a construction company, a city or municipal entity, a state highway agency, or other government entities.

Heavy traffic can lead to accidents for all kinds of reasons. Some drivers simply become impatient and engage in road rage behaviors. Tailgating, honking, speeding, and other forms of aggressive driving can cause accidents, and motorcycle riders are most vulnerable to road rage crashes. Heavy traffic also often involves a lot of stop-and-go (or slow-and-go) driving with frequent braking.

Some drivers stop paying attention after a long drive stuck in traffic. Rear-end collisions are common in these situations. Motorcycle riders can prevent these accidents by avoiding heavy traffic wherever possible. Check the traffic on your navigation program before leaving to see if there are any hot spots you should avoid.

If you consistently have traffic problems on your commute, try a different route to see if the traffic is any better. And most importantly: do not lose your cool when you are stuck in traffic! Road rage, inattention, and speeding are all common in heavy traffic, but they can all lead to preventable deaths.