Have you been hurt in a motorcycle crash in Hollywood, CA? If the collision was caused by negligence, you might be eligible to recover damages. This may include compensation for your medical bills, property damage, and lost wages.
A Hollywood motorcycle accident lawyer can help you file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers has been helping clients assert their legal rights since 2013. During that time, our team has recovered over $400 million for injured people, including those in Hollywood.
There are a lot of personal injury lawyers out there, but you don’t want to risk choosing the wrong one. This can result in losing your opportunity to get compensated.
If you want to learn more about how M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers can help, give us a call at (877) 300-4535 to set up a free consultation. There’s no pressure or hidden agenda, just a conversation with an experienced attorney in Hollywood, California who wants to help.
How Can M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers Help Me After a Motorcycle Accident in Hollywood, CA?
M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers is a well-recognized law firm in Southern California. We have received numerous accolades, including being named the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the country by National Trial Lawyers, Rising Stars by Super Lawyers Magazine, and members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Perhaps our most cherished recognition is the Avvo Client’s Choice Award for excellent client service. We pride ourselves on putting clients before profits and offering a holistic approach to legal services. That means we look at each client and case as unique and give it the attention it deserves.
When you hire our Hollywood personal injury lawyers to represent you, we will:
- Investigate the cause of the motorcycle crash
- Provide our unbiased legal opinion
- File insurance claims
- Negotiate with insurance companies
- Consult leading expert witnesses
- Review medical records
- File a personal injury lawsuit and go to trial if necessary
M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers will stick with you until the case is resolved. That means getting a full and fair settlement or jury award. With us, you don’t have to worry about the details of your legal case. Contact us to schedule a free consultation and learn more about our practice.
What Causes Most Motorcycle Crashes in Hollywood, CA?
There’s no singular cause of motorcycle crashes in Hollywood, CA. Instead, they happen for many different reasons. However, in our experience, some specific situations and behaviors are more likely to result in a motorcycle accident.
Essentially, there are two different types of motorcycle crashes. The first happens when a motorcycle collides with a car, truck, pedestrian, or bicyclist. The second occurs when a motorcycle crashes because of a specific road condition.
When a motorcycle crashes with another vehicle or person, it is often caused by:
- Speeding
- Unsafe lane changes
- Failure to yield
- Road rage
- Blind spots
- Lane splitting
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Drowsy driving
When a motorcycle crash doesn’t involve another vehicle, it usually happens because of:
- Potholes
- Debris in the road
- Improper signage
- Improper maintenance or a defect in the motorcycle
- Poor weather conditions
In general, it takes less for a motorcycle to crash than a car. That’s because they only have two wheels. No matter the cause, motorcycle crashes are very dangerous.
Common Injuries After a Motorcycle Accident in Hollywood, CA
Since motorcycle accidents are so dangerous, we see many serious and catastrophic injuries as a result.
The most common types of injuries include:
- Brain injuries
- Head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Nerve damage
- Amputation
- Broken bones
- Severe burns and lacerations
- Neck and back injuries
Our lawyers will consult your doctors to learn more about your specific injury and the treatment required for your recovery. Even though we’ve likely seen similar injuries, it doesn’t mean that each case is the same. In fact, many of our clients have multiple complex injuries.
We always take the time to learn more about the physical impact of the accident in your specific case so that we can effectively advocate on your behalf.
What Damages Are Available After a Motorcycle Accident in Hollywood, California?
Damages in a motorcycle accident case are divided into different categories. The categories include economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.
Economic and Non-Economic Damages
Economic damages are actual financial losses. These losses happen because of an accident or resulting injury. Economic damages may include past, present, and future monetary losses. This means you are entitled to money for what you have paid, are paying, and what you will pay going forward.
In motorcycle crash cases, usually, economic damages include compensation for:
- Doctors visits
- Follow-up appointments
- Emergency medical treatment
- In-home care
- Personal and domestic services
- Transportation to and from medical appointments
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Cost of prescription and non-prescription medicine
- Mental health treatment
Non-economic damages are non-financial losses. These losses are usually categorized as emotional or psychological. Money for non-economic damages doesn’t go toward a specific bill but instead compensates you for the overall impact of the accident on your life.
Non-economic damages often include:
- Pain and suffering (physical and emotional)
- Emotional anguish
- Mental illness
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
A Hollywood personal injury attorney will help you calculate your economic and non-economic damages. You will need to prove these damages with evidence. Evidence may include receipts, bills, pay stubs, or testimony from friends, family, and mental health providers.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are an entirely different form of damages. Unlike economic or non-economic damages, punitive damages are meant to punish the defendant for particularly bad behavior. By awarding extra money to the plaintiff, the court hopes to deter the same behavior in the future.
Because of this, punitive damages are less common than the other types of damages. It is also harder to prove punitive damages. To prove punitive damages in Hollywood, CA, you must show by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant was guilty of oppression, malice, or fraud.
This means that the defendant consciously disregarded the safety and rights of others. It can happen either through intentional misrepresentation (fraud), cruel and unjust hardship (oppression), or intentional conduct (malice).
This conduct is worse than pure negligence. In negligence cases, the defendant may not have intended to hurt someone and cause an accident. Instead, they made a terrible mistake. In punitive damage cases, the defendant took some intentional action that they knew was likely to cause harm.
Can I Still Get Compensation If I Am Blamed For a Motorcycle Accident or My Injuries in California?
The short answer is yes. You can still recover compensation after a motorcycle collision in Hollywood, even if you are partially responsible for it. It’s common for plaintiffs to share some blame in an accident. You don’t have to worry that this is the end of your case.
California applies pure comparative negligence law. Under this theory, your settlement or jury award is reduced by your percentage of fault.
For example, if you are 30% responsible for causing a motorcycle crash, you can recover 70% of your damages. Put another way, your damages are reduced by 30%.
At M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers, our goal is always to protect you from unfair blame and reduce your percentage of responsibility. That means thoroughly investigating the case and vigorously arguing on your behalf in court. However, we know that just because you are getting blamed doesn’t mean you don’t have options.
What Is the Statute of Limitations For Motorcycle Accident Cases in Hollywood, California?
The statute of limitations is the time you have to file a motorcycle accident case in court. If you miss the deadline, you will lose your right to ask for compensation.
When it comes to Hollywood motorcycle accident cases, you only have two years to file your lawsuit. Unfortunately, many people miss this deadline, especially when they don’t have a lawyer to keep track of it.
That’s because you are usually busy recovering from your medical issues and figuring out your new normal in the first two years after an accident. By the time you see the financial impact on your life, it’s too late.
For this reason, it’s best to consult a Hollywood motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible. Even if you aren’t sure you need one, a lawyer will at least get the ball rolling so that you don’t miss your opportunity in the future.
Set Up a Free Consultation With Our Experienced Hollywood Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
If you’re ready to seek legal help after a motorcycle collision, call a Hollywood motorcycle accident lawyer at M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers today. Our team is available to schedule a free consultation.
During that time, we will give you legal advice and evaluate your case. A free consultation is a low-pressure opportunity for you to learn more about your legal options while also getting to know our team.
