California is home to the largest number of motorbikes in America. There are over 800,000 motorcycles registered in the state of California, with more than 20% of motorcycle riders residing in Los Angeles. That's over 160,000 motorcycles across Los Angeles!

Getting into a motorcycle accident can be a traumatic experience for the accident victim. We know the risks of riding a motorcycle and how dangerous it can be, as we frequently handle motorcycle crash cases, helping motorcycle riders get the compensation they deserve. Here at Sogomonyan Law Group, we know what it takes to get our clients the maximum settlement amount.

Even just one bad accident could be life-changing for a motorcycle rider, since injury and fatalities are much more common when on a motorcycle compared to a normal vehicle. In 2020, motorcycle accidents accounted for 14% of all traffic fatalities in the U.S., although only 3% of the registered vehicles across the country are motorcycles. If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, you’re entitled to financial compensation. Insurance companies are ready to take advantage of misinformed riders who don’t know what their case is worth. At Sogomonyan Law Group, we’ve negotiated and litigated hundreds of cases with all major insurance companies, so we have experience on how to get our clients the best settlements possible. Our number one priority is ensuring our clients get the compensation they deserve.

What To Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Los Angeles

Finding a trustworthy attorney to handle your case from the beginning of the claim till the end is much better than adding an attorney to the case midway. Insurance companies try to pay out the least amount possible, and they’ll ask questions in hopes to find a reason to deny your claim. If you choose to not retain legal counsel from the start, you may say or do something that can harm your claims settlement amount. If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident, here’s some steps you could follow:

• Get to a safe location. Move over to the side of the road or any other safe location, preferably at or near the scene of the accident.
• Check for injuries. Check yourself and others who were involved in the accident for any injuries.
• Call 911. If the accident has caused injury, more than $1,000 of property damage, or a fatality, you need to call 911. Having a police report describing the scene with the other driver at fault will be helpful to your claim.
• Do not admit fault. Under any circumstance, do not admit that the accident was your fault.
• Take photos of the accident scene. Make sure to take photos of the collision as well as any injuries you sustained due to the accident. The more pictures, the better.
• Get any witness information. If there are any witnesses, get their information and ask them if they’d be willing to provide a statement if necessary.
• Exchange information. Do not leave the scene without getting the other driver’s personal information. You should get a photo of their driver’s license and insurance card.
• Go to a hospital. When you leave the scene, visit a hospital. Even if you don’t think you have any injuries, you should still visit a hospital.
• Contact a motorcycle accident attorney. Contact a motorcycle accident attorney to help you with your case. It’s best to have a professional on your side so you can avoid speaking to any insurance company.

With any type of insurance claim, insurance companies always want to pay out the least amount of money possible. With motor vehicle accidents, especially motorcycle accidents, insurance companies take advantage of unaware motorcycle riders by offering them lowball settlements for their motorcycle accident claims. When an insurance company sees you’re not being represented by a law firm, they know that they’re at an advantage. At Sogomonyan Law Group, our experienced team knows what a claim is worth, and never lets insurance companies get away with lowball settlements.

How Can a Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorney Help?

Getting into a motorcycle accident can be a horrific experience for the rider, as the risk of injury or death is likely. If you’ve ever been in a motorcycle accident, you know how severe the injuries can be. As a victim of a motorcycle accident, you shouldn’t let an insurance company convince you to accept any settlement offered to you without first getting your case reviewed by an attorney. Insurance companies are not your friend, and a lot of times their goal is to take the least amount of liability by paying you the least amount of money possible. At Sogomonyan Law Group, we negotiate with insurance companies every day, so we know how to get our clients the best settlement possible. If the insurance company doesn’t want to offer a fair settlement, we take them to court and litigate your case.

What Compensation Can a Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Get Me?

Getting proper compensation for your motorcycle accident claim is very important as an accident victim. Dealing with an insurance company by yourself can be a recipe for disaster. Having an experienced accident attorney on your side handling your claim can make a world of difference. Every claim is different, so your situation may vary, but here are some of the types of compensation that you may be entitled to as a result of a motorcycle accident:

• Reimbursement for medical bills. Visits to the doctor, chiropractor, physical therapist, and any other medical treatments will be covered.
• Property Damage. Reimbursement for your vehicle that was damaged during the accident.
• Personal injuries. Motorcycle accidents can result in a wide variety of injuries, from minor bruises to broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and in some of the worst instances, fatalities.
• Lost wages. Compensation for lost wages due the accident.
• Emotional trauma. Being involved in an accident can cause significant emotional damage, like anxiety and depression.
• Pain & Suffering. As an accident victim, you’re entitled to compensation for the mental anguish and pain that was suffered during the injury.
• Rental Car Coverage. If you had to rent a rental car due to your motorcycle loss, you’ll be eligible for reimbursement.

Not everyone is entitled to all of these forms of compensation, but it’s likely that you’ll qualify for at least a few. Generally, motorcycle accidents involving serious injuries will result in higher settlements than those without. Each and every car accident case is different, so if you want to know what your case is worth, it’s best to speak with a member of our team for a free consultation.

Why Choose Us For Your Motorcycle Accident Claim?

At Sogomonyan Law Group, we frequently represent clients in motorcycle accident cases. We know what it takes to get our clients the best settlement possible. Having dealt with so many motorcycle accidents, we know the intricacies and peculiarities that make us more successful in settling these types of cases.

Our number one priority is ensuring our clients get the maximum compensation possible in each and every case we handle. We work on a contingency fee, which means that our clients don’t pay anything out of pocket unless we win their case. Insurance companies try to offer lowball settlements hoping uninformed clients will accept. With the team at Sogomonyan Law Group handling your case, there are no lowball settlements. We fight to get our clients what they deserve.

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim For My Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident?

If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident in the state of California, you have 2 years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit. This is due to the statute of limitations allowing the people of California 2 years from the date of an accident to file a lawsuit. However, that 2 year time frame can vary depending on some circumstances, like who was involved in the accident.

For example, when you sue a government agency, you have to first file a special claim, called an “administrative claim” with the government office or agency before you file anything in court. The administrative claim must be filed within 6 months of the date of injury, with a few exceptions. You can find the exceptions here and here, or speak to a motorcycle accident attorney for advice. The statute of limitations is also different for minors. Minors have two years from the date they turn 18 to file a lawsuit.

If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident, it’s best to speak to a motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible.

Why Should I Get An Attorney Before I Speak to an Insurance Company?

When speaking to an insurance company, they will do their best to ask questions that will lead to a problematic response. Even if you are completely in the right, the representatives from the insurance company will ask you questions in incriminating ways, hoping you slip up and say something that would ruin your claim. Accidents are not common, so no one’s expecting you to be an expert. It’s better to speak with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney who is an expert and will provide you guidance on the appropriate steps to take.

How Long Can a Motorcycle Accident Claim or Lawsuit Take?

A motorcycle accident claim can take just a few months or several years to resolve. The time length of a claim varies on the severity of the claim and how many parties were involved in the accident.

The first step in getting compensation for your motorcycle accident is filing a claim with the responsible parties insurance company. The claim can take months or up to a few years to settle, depending on the accident details. Sometimes, insurance companies don’t present fair offers or the responsible party doesn’t have enough coverage, which leads to a lawsuit.

The lawsuit process is separate from the claims process, and usually takes a few years to resolve.

If you have a simple claim without many parties involved, no severe injuries, and insignificant amounts of property damage, it’s possible your claim can be resolved within a few months. If there are significant amounts of property damage and serious injuries, the claim process can take years. The lawsuit process, entirely separate from the claim process, can take up to 1-3 years as well. Sometimes, an insurance company will become more reasonable with their offers once a lawsuit is filed, which is just another reason why it’s important to be represented by an attorney when dealing with insurance companies.

How Do Most Motorcycle Accidents in California Occur?

When riding a motorcycle, it’s good to be well prepared for any emergencies and to be knowledgeable about what you can and can’t do while on the road. Motorcycle riders should wear proper safety gear, take safety classes, and stay up to date on all motorcycle laws. Another way to stay accident free is to learn about the most common types of motorcycle accidents, so you can know what to avoid. Here are a few of the most common motorcycle accident scenarios we see as a motorcycle accident attorney in California.

• Vehicles coming in and out of driveways
• Speeding
• Intoxication
• Opening of doors
• Road debris
• Left turns
• Disregarding traffic signals
• Unsafe lane changes

Sometimes accidents are unavoidable, which is why it’s important to wear motorcycle gear and to have good insurance coverage. If someone hits you and flees the scene or has the state minimum limits of coverage, and you don’t have Underinsured or Uninsured Motorist Coverage, you are not going to be entitled to large amounts of compensation.

What Type of Insurance Coverage Should I Have As a Motorcycle Rider in Los Angeles?

If you’re riding a motorcycle in Los Angeles, it’s important you get the proper coverage so that you can be covered in the case of a motorcycle accident. In California, the state required minimum for insurance is $15,000 for injury or death to one person and $30,000 for injury or death to more than one person.

This means that if you’ve been involved in an accident, the person who caused the accident only has to have $15,000 of coverage to treat any injuries you may have suffered. If your damages are more than the $15,000 you may sue them to recover any additional damages. Suing the person who caused your accident is problematic for a few reasons. If the person who caused the accident doesn’t have any assets for you to take, you’ll be getting your money paid out in increments over a long period of time. Aside from taking forever to get paid, a lawsuit is likely going to result in your attorney taking a larger percentage of the settlement, as the scope of work for an attorney will increase tremendously during a lawsuit.

If you’re going to be riding a motorcycle, it’s important you get Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist Coverage. This type of insurance is what will kick in if the other party doesn’t have enough insurance or even if they flee the scene. There are multiple coverage options for uninsured or underinsured motorist policies, and it’s recommended to get at least $100,000 of coverage. If you have a bigger budget and want to feel more safe, you could go with a $250,000 or $500,000 policy. Having an underinsured or uninsured motorist policy will be a lifesaver if you’re in a hit and run accident or hit by someone who has low coverage.

What Happens If Someone Does a Hit and Run in Los Angeles?

If you’re the victim of a hit and run accident, you still have options to get compensation for the accident. If you have any dashcam footage, try reviewing it for a clear image of the hit-and-run driver’s license plate. You can also ask nearby businesses if they’d be willing to review their surveillance footage to see if there is any supporting evidence.

If you’re unable to identify the driver who’s liable for the accident, you can go through your own insurance if you have an uninsured motorist policy. Nowadays, it’s more important than ever to cover yourself with an uninsured motorist policy, as there are so many people driving around with the state required minimums or even no insurance at all. Driving a motorcycle in Los Angeles without having your own coverage can be problematic, as you never know when you may be the victim of an accident.

Sogomonyan Law Group Can Help You

If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident, it’s best to speak with an attorney about your case. Insurance companies want to payout the least amount of money possible, and without a professional on your side, it’s hard to get the maximum settlement amount possible.

Let the experienced team at Sogomonyan Law Group handle your case and get you the compensation you deserve. Give us a call at 818.436.0220 to speak to a motorcycle accident attorney and for a free case evaluation.