Malibu Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Malibu Canyon is considered a relatively easy motorcycle ride, but that doesn’t make it that much less satisfying. You’ve ridden more challenging routes (such as Mulholland Dr.) but Malibu is where you go for a mellow afternoon, usually followed by a beer at the beach. You rarely wear your leathers, since you’re not doing anything too hardcore, but that turned out to be a big mistake one day. You were cruising along, right at the speed limit, when the car behind you began tailgating you and honking his horn. Eventually, when you slowed down to let him pass, he ran into the back of your Harley, tossing you into the air.

Wearing just your jeans and a t-shirt, you slid across the pavement and suffered severe road rash. The driver thankfully stopped and helped you, but now you’re laid up and unable to do much of anything. The driver’s insurance company calls with a settlement offer, but you decline it and call a Malibu motorcycle accident lawyer at Walch Law instead because you know our stellar reputation in getting clients the most!

When someone else’s carelessness or recklessness causes an accident that leaves you injured, you have the right to seek monetary compensation. We’ll cover the basics of motorcycle liability and claims below.

Road rash can actually be quite serious, sometimes resulting in permanent disfigurement or nerve damage. In some instances, you may even need skin grafts. Most motorcycle injuries are quite severe, which is why helmets are required and body protection is advised. Still, you were following the rules of the road and only became injured because of another motorist’s careless driving.

In most cases, you won’t take your claim to court but will settle with the other party. But in order to build a rocket solid claim, you’ll need to prove the following elements of a negligence case:

1. The defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff (to leave a safe following distance)
2. The defendant breached that duty (did something or failed to do something)
3. The plaintiff’s injuries were in fact caused by this breach
4. The defendant’s actions were the proximate cause of the injury (if not for the careless driver, you would be sipping beer at the beach instead of lying on a hospital bed)
5. The plaintiff suffered actual damages, such as bodily injury

As with other injury claims, it’s always best to get the help of a skilled attorney. Your Malibu motorcycle accident lawyer will know how to put together a solid claim and get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries. For instance, they often work with specialists who know how to analyze tire marks and other data to show how the accident happened. They also know how to work with the various parties involved.

Why not just take the early settlement offer? Because it is extremely low and if you take it you don’t get another chance at more money. At Walch Law, we pride ourselves on our reputation and will give you a very honest assessment of the worth of a settlement offer and if it the rare time when it is fair we will let you know to take it (free of charge, of course).

You’d much rather go back in time and avoid this injury altogether, but civil claims are limited to just monetary compensation for injuries. While no amount of money can erase the pain you’ve been suffering, a skilled lawyer will be able to fully assess the extent of your injuries. Monetary claims for injuries and related setbacks stemming from the other party’s negligence are referred to as damages. You know you’ve racked up considerable medical bills and ongoing treatment for your wounds. But you’re also concerned about any long-term damage you may have suffered.

In addition to medical expenses and lost wages, other damages may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Disfigurement or permanent disability
• Pain and suffering
• Diminished future earning potential
• Loss of consortium (intimacy and affection)

Also, make sure you don’t accept any early settlement offers from the insurance company. They’re motivated to keep payouts low and close cases as soon as possible, so they may not offer the full value of your claim. Your attorney will be able to help you get a full assessment of your injuries, since they often have a way of affecting seemingly unrelated areas of your life. Also, not all injuries are obvious at first (especially those affecting the head and neck).

Motorcycles leave their riders vulnerable to accidents with automobiles, exposing them to potentially life-threatening injuries. If you’re involved in a motorcycle accident and have been injured, an experienced injury attorney will be able to guide you along the way to a fair settlement. Don’t work with just any lawyer, call the legal experts at the Law Offices of Gary K. Walch, a Law Corporation to get some peace of mind. We have over 45 years of experience helping motorcycle accident victims and will work hard to get you the same great results we have gotten thousands of clients before.