Rohnert Park Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Rohnert Park Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Who Are by Your Side after an Accident

California’s beautiful roads and year-round delicious temperatures bring thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts to our state each year, and Rohnert Park is no exception. Our city buzzes with the sound of motorcycles enjoying our breathtaking scenery and winding roads nearly all year long. With 800,000 registered motorcycles, California is first in the nation when it comes to the sheer volume of motorcycles on the road. But unfortunately, good always seems to come with a bit of bad. In other words, with more motorcycles comes more motorcycle accidents, so it is important to always remain diligent when riding, and know your rights if you get into an accident. If you’ve been injured in a Rohnert Park motorcycle accident, contact us today to speak with a Henderson Law attorney.

Rider Demographics

Gone are the days that motorcycle groups were made up predominantly of criminals and other nefarious individuals. And even though there are some traditionally criminal clubs around like the Hells Angels, there are more and more groups like the Christian Motorcyclists Association, Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA), and The Iron Order Motorcycle Club that consists entirely of law enforcement officers. Yes, most riders you will come in contact with today are businessmen, teachers, health care workers, and yes, even attorneys.

Biases against Motorcycle Riders

Despite the fact that there are many responsible professionals who embrace riding, there still appears to be a lingering perception that bikers are outside of the norm. The fact is that most riders are greater risk-takers than the average suburbanite or they wouldn’t hop onto a hog in the first place. So some in our society may believe that they “get what they deserve” if they decide to assume the risk of riding and get into an accident. Some police officers, judges, jurors, and other motorists may still feel this way. But how do these perceptions potentially affect a motorcycle accident personal injury lawsuit? Here are a few examples:

1. Simply based on the biker stereotype and the assumption that all bikers are reckless, police officers may treat a rider differently and even shade the official accident report in favor of the motorist driving an automobile.
2. The insurance adjuster who is in charge of making a settlement offer may hold negative feelings towards bikers who “brought this on themselves” by daring to ride. If an adjuster is unable to curtail their prejudice, they may make lower offers to bikers than to a car driver suffering the same injuries or the same type of accident.
3. If the case goes to trial, judges and jurors may be predisposed to think of bikers as reckless or dangerous. This is especially the case if a rider appears in court with visible tattoos. Because of this bias, they are more likely to reduce the damages the rider is awarded.

Helping to Remove the Stigma

The best thing you can do to alleviate these biases is to establish yourself as a responsible and caring motorcycle rider. Here are some steps you can take to improve overall societal perceptions surrounding bikers, and possibly even help your case after an accident.

Show yourself as a kind and respectful person – Many car drivers think that if they get into a wreck with a biker that they need to be afraid. The image of the “big, bad biker” coming after them with a tire iron may pop into mind in the immediate aftermath of a crash. So be sure to dispel that image immediately. Even if you are angry because the driver caused the accident, keep your cool. Don’t make accusations or threaten the driver in any way, but don’t be “too nice” either. Apologizing or making any sort of admission of fault can kill your compensation case, so be kind, but keep the chit-chat to a minimum.

Drive safely – There will likely be witnesses to the accident. If you can show that you were driving safely and courteously (not speeding or weaving in and out of traffic), then it will be tough for someone to prove that you were the cause of the accident.

Always put on a helmet – Not only is it California law, but it also demonstrates that you are concerned for your safety and are following the rules of motorcycling.

Obtain witness information – If possible, look for witnesses to the accident, even if they were not directly involved. Get their information if you can and give it to the police.

Be sure to document the scene – Again, if it’s safe to do so, use your phone to take pictures of the road conditions, weather, road signs, the damage to your bike and any other vehicles, and physical injuries.

Speak with an Experienced Rohnert Park Motorcycle Accident Attorney

At Henderson Law, we love standing up for bikers. We have decades of experience doing just that, and we want to help you. So give us a call or contact us online today. Our Rohnert Park motorcycle accident lawyers look forward to helping you move forward and heal.

Our trusted legal team also handles a variety of personal injury claims, including semi-truck accidents, auto vehicle accidents, and bicycle crash accidents. Call us today!