We understand the unique risks motorcyclists face on the road and the life-altering impact a serious crash can have. At Caputo & Van Der Walde, our San Jose motorcycle accident lawyers are here to support you through every step of your recovery and fight for the compensation you need. Contact us today for a free consultation.
San Jose and the surrounding areas are great places to ride a motorcycle, but the unfortunate reality is that motorcycles are at a greater risk of a motorcycle accident when compared to passenger vehicles – indeed, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, they are 28x more likely. This is due to a variety of factors, but the most obvious is the significant size difference between a motorcycle and a car. This makes it easy for the rider to get lost in a blind spot or be overlooked when a driver looks for oncoming traffic before turning onto a road or passing through an intersection. This elevated risk highlights the urgency for riders to understand their legal recourse in the event of a motorcycle accident, particularly in cases involving wrongful death claims, and severe injuries.
With motorcycle riders at a much higher risk of suffering serious or fatal injuries, the top San Jose motorcycle lawyer is key for superb legal representation.
Roughly 20% of passenger vehicle crashes result in an injury or death, while 80% of motorcycle accidents result in an injury or death. Between a 28x higher chance of being involved in a crash and a 4x higher chance of lost wages, a brain injury, and being hurt or killed, motorcycle riders need to know their legal options in the event of an accident. Working with a San Jose personal injury attorney is an important step in navigating an insurance claim or lawsuit successfully while also focusing on recovering from serious injuries after a motorcycle crash.
Our law firm offers a free consultation to San Jose motorcycle accident victims and their families. We understand that the aftermath of a serious motorcycle accident will have widespread impacts that the victim and their family must navigate while also focusing on medical care and the recovery process. All of these impacts will have significant financial repercussions, as well. While an insurance claim is designed to help a victim recover compensation, the reality is that the insurer is focused on settling motorcycle accident claims as quickly and inexpensively as possible. During our free consultation, you will be able to discuss your unique situation with our motorcycle accident lawyers who will provide you with specific advice and be able to answer your questions about what comes next. The legal process can be bewildering for those unfamiliar with it, and this is even more true when trying to juggle the consequences involving motorcycles at the same time. Motorcycle accident attorneys can help with this process significantly.
Read more below to get a better sense of the legal process that follows a motorcycle accident and the important support that a personal injury attorney can provide during this difficult time. Contact Caputo & Van Der Walde – Injury and Accident Attorneys right away to request your free consultation and get on the road toward getting the compensation you deserve.
The following examples of motorcycle accident causes are just a few of the most common, but remember that whether or not you see your motorcycle accident cause below, the motorcycle accident attorneys at Caputo & Van Der Walde – Injury and Accident Attorneys are here to help you make sense of your unique situation. If someone else caused your accident through negligence, recklessness, or malice, whether the at-fault party is an individual or a company, we will help you fight for the compensation you deserve with a fair settlement.
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, there were a total of 39 injuries and deaths (combined) in San Jose in 2020, the most recent year of reporting at the time of publishing this page. This puts San Jose 13th out of 15 “Group A” cities (cities with a population over 250,000) in the state in terms of motorcycle accidents — an encouraging statistic for motorcycle enthusiasts.
However, the 39 people involved in crashes in 2020 in San Jose almost certainly found no comfort in the fact that this city was relatively safe after their accident occurred. Working with a skilled attorney is one of the best ways to ensure that you aren’t just another number while trying to work through the process of pursuing compensation.
No two San Jose motorcycle accidents are alike, and the injuries sustained vary just as much. A seemingly identical injury on two different victims may have vastly different impacts on their lives depending on all sorts of factors. Whether or not you see your injuries mentioned below, our team of motorcycle accident attorneys will be able to discuss your motorcycle crash claims in detail during your initial free consultation. We will work to communicate the gravity of your injuries as we calculate the compensation you are owed with your personal injury claim.
Whiplash is a common injury in all types of impact accidents. It is caused by the head being jerked rapidly until it snaps back — making an “S” motion and tearing muscles, ligaments, and tissues as it happens. Depending on the severity, injured victims may recover on their own by keeping the neck stable. However, more serious instances may require surgery to repair tears and give the victim a good chance of a complete recovery, limiting future medical treatment.
A bone will fracture and break when it is subjected to a force greater than its own tensile strength, which is common in motorcycle accidents. Riders often suffer an initial collision — often with another vehicle or obstacle — that can cause initial injuries, at which point they are thrown from the bike and strike the ground. They may even hit further obstacles depending on the speed they are traveling. Each of these impacts is likely to cause trauma, often in the form of broken bones.
When motorcycle accidents occur, the body may be subjected to high impacts that can cause internal organs and tissues to rupture or be damaged. Hitting the handlebars, being struck directly by a vehicle, landing on the ground, or making contact with anything else can generate enough force to cause significant damage to internal organs like the spleen, liver, lungs, or other essential organs.
A TBI happens when the brain experiences significant force during an impact. A rider can sustain a serious, life-threatening TBI, even if there is no sign of major trauma. Brain injuries can range from a mild concussion to serious, lasting injuries that can have permanent impacts on cognitive function. Wearing a helmet saves roughly 1,800 lives each year, according to the CDC, and even surviving a crash without a helmet can lead to lifelong complications and extensive medical costs.
Road rash is an abrasion injury that happens when a rider’s skin scrapes against the ground after an accident and can resemble burn injuries. Depending on a multitude of factors like whether or not the rider was wearing appropriate riding clothing (leather jacket, pants, helmet, gloves, and boots) and how fast they were going, road rash can be a minor scrape that heals on its own, or be a severe injury that requires medical attention to treat or prevent infections.
When a rider is thrown from a motorcycle and experiences the force of an impact, it can cause their spine to twist or break, leading to serious spinal cord injuries. The spinal cord carries signals between the brain and the rest of the body, and disruption to this essential bundle of nerves can cause paralysis and other long-term disabilities and medical expenses.
When a person on a motorcycle is hit by a car, several factors can contribute to the severity of injuries and, tragically, even result in death. In accidents involving a motorcycle and a car, head injuries are a major concern. If the rider was not wearing a helmet or the impact is severe, it can lead to traumatic brain injuries, which can be fatal. The impact can also cause internal injuries, such as organ damage or internal bleeding, which may be life-threatening. Riders can sustain injuries to the chest and abdomen due to direct impact or being thrown onto the car’s hood or windshield. As well, a rider may be hit by the car and then struck by other objects or the pavement, leading to additional injuries that can be critical.
As members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum® and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum®, we have proven our ability to negotiate and litigate on behalf of our clients successfully. Retain us to put our tactical strategies to work for you. These skills are what make our legal team such a formidable opponent in any courtroom or negotiation setting.