Santa Barbara Motorcycle Accident Injury Lawyer

Winning compensation under the California comparative fault law

The sweeping coastal roads of California, including those between Santa Barbara and Ventura, are a magnet for motorcyclists. Unfortunately, they are also the scene of many serious accidents. If you have been in an accident, talk to a Santa Barbara motorcycle accident injury attorney immediately. At Patterson Law, we understand just how quick law enforcement, insurance agencies and juries can be to blame the motorcyclist. Drawing on more than 35 years of trial experience, we fight to protect your rights.

We will make sure the insurance company treats you fairly

In most cases, injured motorcyclists seeking compensation rely on a fair settlement from an insurance company. Unfortunately, insurers are more interested in their company’s bottom line than they are in your injuries. If you attempt to represent yourself, you run the risk that the insurer will make a low settlement offer and delay processing your claim.

Hiring an attorney changes the situation by sending a strong signal that you intend to enforce your rights. As your legal representative, we will:

• Take over correspondence with the insurance adjuster — We will send a detailed demand letter to the insurance adjuster and then take control of all negotiations.
• Estimate a fair settlement amount — We determine the appropriate amount expected for a settlement, based on analysis of medical and financial evidence.
• Help you avoid critical mistakes — A common layman’s error is settling for present medical bills without factoring in future need. Another is failure to project future losses of income.
• Prepare for trial — We are ready to go to trial if necessary to winning you the compensation you deserve.

When you have an experienced advocate on your side, you improve your chances of maximizing your compensation.

Your compensation depends on proving you are not at fault

California is a “comparative fault” state. That means each driver involved in an accident is liable for damages based on his or her percentage of negligence. If a jury finds you bear 60 percent of the blame, then your compensation will be reduced by that amount. That is why it is so important to talk immediately to an experienced motorcycle accident injury attorney in Santa Barbara who has the investigative and advocacy skills to establish your right to maximum recovery.

How California’s helmet law can affect your case

California law requires that all riders and passengers wear approved safety helmets. If you were not wearing a helmet at the time of your crash, that may affect the amount of your recovery, since a jury could find that going without a helmet made certain injuries worse. If you’re claiming a broken leg, a helmet law violation is irrelevant. But if you’re claiming a concussion or traumatic brain injury, a violation could reduce your damage award substantially.

Determining fault in a California motorcycle accident

In court, defense counsel often tries to paint motorcyclists as reckless risk-takers who at least contributed to the crash. Your attorney must not only prove the driver who hit you was negligent, but that you bear no responsibility for the crash. This often requires intensive investigation, defendant and eyewitness interviews, and accident reconstruction by certified experts. For this reason, you should hire an attorney immediately to start preserving evidence necessary to win your case.

Many cases turn on defendant driver behavior, such as abrupt lane changes, failing to yield the right of way, or turning into the path of an oncoming bike. Defendants will often say they never saw the bike coming. It is your attorney’s job to frame that kind of statement as an admission of inattentiveness.

In rare cases, an equipment defect or poor road conditions can cause a crash. We investigate these circumstances to determine if manufacturers or government entities in charge of the roads might be at fault.

Helping you recover the full compensation you deserve

California personal injury attorney Robert Patterson has a history of success winning compensation for the injured and the loved ones of those killed. The compensation we fight for includes:

• Property damage
• Medical care
• Rehabilitative care
• Loss of a loved one
• Loss of a limb
• Lost income
• Reduced earnings capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Disfigurement

We consult with medical experts to ensure the damage award we demand is sufficient for the full extent of your injuries.

Contact an experienced motorcycle accident injury attorney in Santa Barbara

Patterson Law in Santa Barbara represents victims of motorcycle accidents from Los Angeles and San Francisco. We take cases on a contingency fee basis, so initial consultations are free, and you pay nothing until you recover compensation through a settlement or verdict. Call us at 888-479-4589 or contact us online to schedule your appointment.