Costa Mesa Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Costa Mesa Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Many people enjoy riding motorcycles in Costa Mesa and the surrounding areas of California. However, accidents can happen in various ways, from high-speed crashes on the I-405 or the Costa Mesa Freeway to distracted driving accidents on busy downtown streets. If you have been hurt in such an accident, you need to speak with a Costa Mesa motorcycle accident lawyer at your first opportunity.

Experienced Legal Counsel for Motorcycle Accident Claims in Costa Mesa, CA

The team at Duque & Price has extensive experience representing injured clients in Costa Mesa and the surrounding areas in all types of vehicle accident cases. Motorcycle accidents often happen for the same reasons as other accidents, but the risk of severe or fatal injury is much greater. The legal aftermath of such an accident can be confusing to navigate, so you need to hire a motorcycle accident lawyer with proven experience handling cases like yours.

When you choose our firm to represent you, we can immediately begin investigating the accident, gathering evidence to support your case. We can assess the scope of the damages you suffered and help you determine the total compensation you are eligible to claim from the at-fault driver. If any disputes of liability arise, trust our team to resolve these issues for you, ensuring accountability for the party responsible for causing your accident.

Do not assume that you can handle your personal injury case unassisted, even if the fault for your accident seems obvious. The actual legal process of ensuring accountability for an at-fault driver is likely to be more difficult than you expect, and it is possible for you to encounter a host of unexpected complications you will not be able to resolve on your own. With our help, you can approach your legal proceedings with confidence and peace of mind.

Proving Fault for Your Motorcycle Accident in Costa Mesa

The National Safety Council reported that in 2023, there were 82,564 injuries and 6,335 fatalities from motorcycle accidents throughout the United States. While motorcycles only accounted for about 3% of registered vehicles in the United States that year, motorcyclists accounted for almost 16% of traffic accident fatalities. The risk of catastrophic or fatal injury is much greater for a motorcyclist than for other drivers.

The California Office of Traffic Safety recorded a total of 32 motorcyclists injured or killed in accidents in Costa Mesa in 2022. In California, all vehicle accidents involving multiple parties are resolved based on fault. When you believe another driver is responsible for causing your recent motorcycle accident, you will need to prove fault before you can claim compensation for your damages. Some of the most common kinds of motorcycle accidents in Costa Mesa include: 

• Speeding, which is not only a leading cause of all vehicle accidents in California but also a major contributing factor to fatal accidents throughout the United States. Vehicle computer data may show the speed at which a vehicle was traveling just before an impact.
• Distracted driving, such as texting while driving. This is a commonly cited cause of accidents throughout the United States. Your attorney may be able to obtain the other driver’s cell phone records to prove they were using their phone in the moments before the accident.
• Moving violations, such as running red lights or stop signs, performing illegal turns, or failure to yield the right-of-way. When these accidents happen at intersections, traffic camera footage and eyewitness statements can be invaluable for proving fault.
• Intoxicated driving. This is illegal in California, and any driver who causes an accident this way is likely to face criminal prosecution alongside their civil liability for damages caused to others. The criminal penalties they face will escalate dramatically if they cause severe bodily harm or death.

These are just a few of the most commonly reported causes of motorcycle accidents throughout the Costa Mesa area each year. Whether you remember exactly how your accident happened or you have no memory of the incident due to your injuries, a skilled attorney can gather the evidence needed to identify the at-fault driver and prove how they caused your accident. Your attorney can then assist you with claiming compensation for your damages.

Recovering Compensation for Your Motorcycle Accident in Costa Mesa

Motorcycle accidents have a very high risk of resulting in serious injuries, even if they happen at relatively low speeds. This is because a motorcycle provides very little physical protection in a crash, and even high-quality safety gear can only mitigate some injuries, not prevent them entirely. A rider may suffer severe injuries from the impact with another vehicle, followed by the impact of hitting the ground.

Once you have proven fault for your accident, you can then pursue compensation for the damages you suffered due to the other driver’s negligence or misconduct. This process usually begins with filing an auto insurance claim. California law requires all drivers to have auto insurance that includes bodily injury and property damage liability coverage.

When a driver causes an accident, their insurance policy can pay for the resulting damages up to the coverage limits of the policy. However, filing your claim will be more challenging than you might expect. Insurance companies will almost always push back against claims for compensation in whatever way they can, looking for ways to justify denying or devaluing the claim.

When you have an experienced Costa Mesa motorcycle accident lawyer helping you, they can ensure you are treated fairly and negotiate a suitable settlement with the insurance company. If any disputes arise, your attorney will know how to resolve them for you.

If you must file a personal injury claim to recover your damages, success with the case could yield compensation for the economic damages you suffered, which may include: 

• Vehicle repair or replacement costs and any other property damage the defendant caused.
• Medical bills. Motorcycle accidents often cause severe injuries, and a victim may require extensive ongoing care to reach maximum medical improvement. Your attorney can assess the full scope of the immediate and future medical expenses you are likely to face from your accident and add these as economic damages in your personal injury case.
• Lost wages. You might not be able to work for an extended period of time while you recover, and if so, the defendant is responsible for any income you are unable to earn during this time.
• Lost earning power. There is a high risk of a motorcyclist suffering a permanently disabling injury from their accident, and they may not be able to return to work. If this has happened to you, your Costa Mesa motorcycle accident lawyer may be able to help you claim compensation for your lost earning capacity.

You may be surprised to learn that you are eligible to claim more compensation than you initially expected, and beyond your economic losses, you also have the right to claim pain and emotional suffering compensation. In California, there is no specific formula you must use to calculate pain and emotional suffering in a personal injury case; your lawyer can help you figure out a suitable figure that reflects the scope and severity of your damages.

Other factors may also influence your total compensation. For example, if the at-fault driver broke the law in causing the accident, they may be forced to pay punitive damages. On the other hand, if you share responsibility for the accident, it could diminish your recovery under California’s pure comparative fault statute. Your attorney can identify all variables that might influence the outcome of your case.

What You Can Expect From a Costa Mesa Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

The right attorney can have a profound effect on the outcome of your motorcycle accident case in Costa Mesa. It’s important to choose a legal team with proven experience handling cases similar to yours and with strong ties to the local community. Duque & Price has extensive experience guiding clients through the Orange County Superior Court in all types of injury cases, and we are ready to apply this experience to your motorcycle accident case.

As soon as you hire our firm, we can begin investigating your accident and gathering the evidence you need to prove fault for your damages. Trust us to resolve any disputes of liability and ensure your case is filed on time. We can make sure you meet the deadlines for filing your auto insurance claim and/or personal injury case, preserving your ability to recover your losses.

We know the tactics that insurance companies often use against injured claimants and how to ensure our clients receive appropriate settlement offers. When we build personal injury cases for our clients, we prepare the case for trial to ensure the strongest possible negotiating position. We can attempt to settle your case outside of court if possible, to save time, but we are fully prepared to litigate for you if necessary.

Ultimately, your motorcycle accident may have been a life-changing experience, and you are likely to have many difficult legal questions you cannot answer for yourself. Our team is prepared to guide you through the difficult legal proceedings ahead and pursue accountability and compensation for your damages. Reach out to Duque & Price at your first opportunity so we can start building your case.

FAQs

How Do You Prove Liability for a Motorcycle Accident in Costa Mesa?

Proving liability for a motorcycle accident in Costa Mesa may require various types of physical and digital evidence, such as police reports, vehicle computer data, drivers’ cell phone records, traffic camera recordings, if available, and photos of the scene of the crash. Your attorney can also secure testimony from eyewitnesses who saw the accident happen, and their statements could be crucial to your case.

What Happens if I Partially Caused My Accident?

If you partially caused your accident, you will be assigned a fault percentage under California’s pure comparative fault rule. You can still seek compensation for your damages with a personal injury case, but any compensation you receive will be reduced by your fault percentage to account for your shared liability. If you are concerned about partial liability for your accident, hire a motorcycle accident lawyer right away.

What Is My Motorcycle Accident Claim Worth in Costa Mesa?

The value of your motorcycle accident claim in Costa Mesa depends on the severity of the injuries the defendant caused. You have the right to seek full repayment of any economic damages you suffered from the accident, and you also have the right to claim compensation for your pain and emotional suffering. Consult a Costa Mesa motorcycle accident lawyer right away after the accident so they can accurately assess the full extent of the damages you can claim.

Why Should I Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?

You should hire a motorcycle accident lawyer to maximize your chance of success with the recovery efforts you attempt after your accident. The right attorney can help you firmly establish liability for the accident, accurately calculate your total damages, guide you through the insurance claim filing process, and build a personal injury case for you. You are more likely to reach a positive conclusion to your case with an attorney’s help.

What Will It Cost Me to Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Costa Mesa?

The cost to hire a motorcycle accident lawyer in Costa Mesa depends on the lawyer you hire. At Duque & Price, we take personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning we will only charge our client a portion of the compensation we recover for them when we win their case. We do not charge any upfront fees, and you pay nothing if we are unable to obtain compensation for your damages for any reason.

Reach Out to a Costa Mesa Motorcycle Accident Attorney

The attorneys at Duque & Price provide compassionate and results-driven legal counsel to injured clients in Costa Mesa and the surrounding areas. If you are struggling in the aftermath of a motorcycle accident someone else caused, we can help you make sense of your legal options and pursue compensation for your damages. Contact us today and schedule your free consultation with an experienced Costa Mesa motorcycle accident lawyer.

Costa Mesa, CA Motorcycle Accident Resources

• California Motorcycle Accident Statistics
• Average Motorcycle Accident Settlement in California