Frequent Questions Asked About Motorcycle Accidents

Q. How is the settlement amount arrived at for an accident?

A. When a case is decided some of the recovery

can include the payment of medical bills, this can include the past medical bills and future ones that will be incurred.

• What medical costs might be covered in a settlement for a motorcycle accident

• Some of these might be bills for being hospitalized, surgeries both past and future, ongoing medical care that will be needed as well as counseling. Cosmetic surgery and both physical and occupational therapies can also be included in a settlement amount.

• Financial recoveries that might be included in a settlement

• This will also include the loss of income as well as income that might have been earned in the future and the possibility of recovery costs of being retrained for an occupation.
  

• A part of a settlement will may include a recovery for pain and suffering as a result of the accident and future pain and suffering. If there was a death that resulted from the accident the family cannot include pain and suffering as part of their case. In many states the family will also not be able to recover damages for pre death pain and suffering either. They can however receive what is termed loss of aid, comfort and society as well as diminution of
  the estate; this means that the future earnings of the deceased are taken into account.

• There maybe an entitlement for recovery for disability, disfigurement and loss of consortium

This can include a mental impairment, or a physical disability, including burns that resulted from the motorcycle accident. In the loss of consortium the spouse might receive compensation when the spouses injuries are severe and hinders marital relations. There are many courts that will award a settlement to a spouse for several reasons including loss of support, society, companionship, love and sexual relations. This type of claim will be a separate case from the injured victim as it is separate damages to the uninjured party

Q. What does it mean to receive compensatory damages?

A. This means that the injured party is compensated for loss or damage, however when a motorcycle injury attorney is talking to the jury they are not permitted to ask the jury to award a settlement based on if they were in this position.

Q. What does it mean to receive punitive damages?

A. This is an award of damages that is used in some cases to penalize or make an example of the defendant in the case. This type of damage is only recovered in certain cases, usually when the defendant has acted in a reckless manner or with
disrespect for the rights of others.

This type of award is unusual and many times appellate courts will either reduce the amount of the punitive damages or dismiss them completely. However, the risk

of this type of award will often make the defense offer a larger settlement.

http://www.ehlinelaw.com/pages/3655/keep-passenger-safe.htm

Q. Accident victims or their family often question if they should sue another person.

A. This is something that the person who has been involved in an accident and injured can answer or the family that has lost someone to a motorcycle accident.

In some cases the injured victim or the family fear presenting their claim to an attorney because they might feel in some respect they might be partly at fault for their injuries and the accident. In this type of case even when some fault is the motorcyclists there might be other parties responsible for the accident also and
partial damages can still be awarded. This can often be a substantial recovery on the part of the injured client.

The reason there is civil law it to compensate accident victims for their injury or their loss that have been caused by the negligence of someone else. This can also include defective manufactured products or the failure to act.

Even in a case where an accident victim is unsure if they should file a case or feel they may be partially at fault discussing the accident with motorcycle accident law firm of attorney Michael P.Ehiline the information to give a well thought out decision about filing a suite will not only be easier but this experienced attorney can guide the injured victim making the decision that is proper for them.

If your motorcycle accident involved a tractor-trailer please visit our Los Angeles and Orange County Truck Accident site. Ehline Law Firm serves all of California that includes Orange County, Los Angeles, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage, Burbank, Marina Del Rey, Playa del Rey, Redondo Beach, Malibu Beach, Venice Beach and
Newport Beach as California motorcycle accident attorneys.

Frequently Asked Questions About Los Angeles, California Motorcycle Accidents

http://www.ehlinelaw.com/pages/3685/improving-motor-cycle-safety.htm

Q. How can I choose the right motorcycle accident attorney?

A. There are many ways to find the right motorcycle accident attorney and some of these present themselves such as the rehabilitation professionals that may recommend an attorney, support groups for accident victims, medical professionals, and other community referrals. This can help locate a motorcycle accident lawyer but it is important to choose an attorney who has a proven record of trying severe motorcycle accident cases.

http://www.ehlinelaw.com/pages/3687/california-motorcycle-accident-law-firm.htm

Q: Is it possible to hire the wrong motorcycle accident attorney?

A: What should be looked for in a Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorney is experience, a proven record of successful cases and they also need to understand how a motorcycle case should be put together.

The attorney with experience in motorcycle accidents will understand what experts will be needed, these experts will be able to relate in court what the extent of the injuries are, what the future outlook might be because of these injuries and some of these experts will also be able to put the accident to the court so that they understand how it occurred.

The attorney also will be able to explain each detail of the case to the client in a way that they can completely understand what course their case is taking.

What the out come of the motorcycle accident case will do when presented properly

The case when presented properly is to give the client a large enough settlement after the lawyers fees to not only pay for any medical costs but also to live a normal life while the injuries heal or as productive a life with injuries that will not heal.

Not having the right attorney could mean the difference of being able to live well with the injuries or receiving a settlement that will not cover all of the medical bills incurred. This could mean having no funds to live on while healing or while getting used to living life differently.

Get it right the first time

It is of the utmost importance for the victim to have the right lawyer and to look to the future, what might seem like a large amount of money in reality might not be. There is only one chance when receiving a settlement to obtain the amount that will ensure
future medical bills and other costs are included in the settlement.

A fair settlement can be too small

A settlement can be to small for the financial needs of the client and in some cases a structured settlement that includes payments for life that includes tax planning is better suited for the client. This type of settlement takes the expertise of an attorney with experience in serious personal injury cases to present the case properly.

The insurance carrier

There are facts that will need to be weighed such as the ability of the insurance company to make structured settlement payments by an expert to ensure that the company will be solvent for the lifetime settlement payments. Inflation should also be added into this type of settlement due to the length of the settlement payments.

http://www.ehlinelaw.com/pages/3687/california-motorcycle-accident-law-firm.htm

Q. What type of legal practice is needed to represent a motorcycle accident?

A. It is important that the type of firm is

all-inclusive, as the attorney needs to understand the clients' needs and the extent of medical care that will be needed. The motorcycle accident in California is far different than any other type of accident and there will be a lot of time involved in
assessing the needs of the client and also what their needs will be in the future. This means that the attorney who represents a motorcycle accident case must be dedicated to the case because there is much more required of the lawyer.

The law firm of Michael P. Ehline has extensive experience in motorcycle accident cases as well as personal injury cases that number in the thousands. This is a law firm that understands the importance of winning the proper settlement for the accident victim as well as providing other resources like medical and community
resources that can assist the client.

It is only with the experience of attorney Michael P. Ehline that the client is guided to these other services, supported and it is without a doubt that this accident has changed every part of the clients' life. The monetary settlement alone is not all there is in representing a motorcycle injury accident because the client does need guidance and support also for what was an unexpected injury that has changed their life.

http://www.ehlinelaw.com/pages/3687/california-motorcycle-accident-law-firm.htm

Q. How critical is it that the attorney chosen has experience with major motorcycle accidents?

A. choosing the attorney with experience in accidents with major injuries helps to ensure that the client will get the settlement that they deserve because this attorney will be prepared to handle all the phases of the clients case. From using experts to preparing the best case possible with the evidence and the injuries and hiring an attorney with less experience could mean less settlement.

http://www.ehlinelaw.com/pages/3684/motorcycle-differences-between-autos.htm

Q. When the accident involves a motorcycle and an auto who do juries most often side with?

A. This is a multi faceted question, many jurors do not have any experience with motorcycles, and they do not understand the mechanics of them. This often includes the police investigators not understanding the mechanics and therefore may not come to the proper findings when investigating a motorcycle accident. Then there are those who have a dislike for motorcycles or witnesses and defendants who estimated the speed of the motorcycle as more than the rider was actually traveling. There are also many witnesses that swear a motorcycle came from nowhere and
many defendants also testify to this.

The attorney must successfully battle any preconceived notion that the jury has about motorcycles

In order to do this the attorney must relay to a jury what occurred in the accident, how the rider is also a licensed driver who was faced with decisions that needed to be made in split seconds if there was any choices that could have been made when the accident occurred.

How to make this point in court

The attorney must be objective, the must also be able to recreate the accident using physics and also the mechanical workings of a motorcycle. They must also be able to present the case using evidence that is available even if it is to correct mistakes that were made in the police report.

The experienced attorney will also be able to find errors in experts' testimony that testify for the defense.One of the things that might be broached by the attorney is the fact that motorcycles differ from autos in the way they stop and swerve to educate the jury. In doing this it can take the edge off of the preconception a jurist might have about motorcycles.

On the other side of this the defense may also have a difficult time with a jury because there are so many motorcyclists that there is also the chance that a rider, a family member or friend might be on the jury. This jurist has a more favorable outlook on motorcycles and their riders and will need less convincing about
how an accident occurred or the injuries that were sustained by the plaintiff.

http://www.ehlinelaw.com/pages/3684/motorcycle-differences-between-autos.htm

Q. Is there a statute of limitations on a motorcycle accident case?

A. This is the amount of time that a claim can legally be filed and this can be different from state to state and it also can be different if the victim is a child. This means that if a claim or a case is not started prior to the statue of limitations has expired or if it is not filed correctly this could cost the injured party the right to pursue a settlement for their injury.

With a serious or catastrophic injury an attorney should be retained as soon as possible as well as expert accident investigators, this will help to ensure that evidence will be preserved. This also allows for the identification of any witnesses
and the ability to get their statement as to the events of the accident.

This is general information for any type of accident case thatshould be public to inform accident injury victims of the importance of the early collection of evidence in their case.

http://www.ehlinelaw.com/pages/3672/how-long-to-settle-motorcycle-injury-claims.htm

Q. If I hire a motorcycle accident personal injury attorney how will I pay their fee?

A. Most personal injury attorneys will be paid from the recovered settlement of the client, this is a percentage of the recovered fee and known as a contingency fee. In the case that a settlement is not successfully recovered the personal injury
attorney will not be paid their contingency fee.

http://www.ehlinelaw.com/pages/3669/how-do-i-pay-medical-motorcycle.htm

Q. What happens when an injured motorcycle accident victim does not have medical coverage to pay for all their medical bills?

A. This can be a difficult situation and an experienced personal injury attorney like Michael P. Ehline can guide a client to the different ways that are available to them to help cover medical care. The law firm has experience dealing with insurance companies, as well as the defendant's attorney to obtain the funds needed for medical care. There are also HMO's that will require repayment from the recovered settlement as well as state run hospitals.

http://www.ehlinelaw.com/pages/3667/how-do-i-begin-my-motorcycle-accident-case.htm

Q. When a motorcycle accident occurs how is it decided who is at fault?

A. In most cases a motorcycle accident occurs due to another driver's negligence or choosing the proper actions that cause a motorcycle accident. Under the law each driver is to be in control of their vehicle at all times and when they do not observe these laws and an accident occurs they can be held responsible for damages and injuries.

It is important that the motorcycle be examined by experts to determine if there were mechanical reasons, which would contribute to the accident. These are experienced reconstruction experts that will use physical evidence and photographs along with their testimony. There will also be the testimony of eyewitnesses that will be used in a case presented to the jury or the insurance company. The defendant's attorney will also use experts and eyewitnesses to their advantage. This helps in deciding fault and what percentage each person in the accident was at fault.

http://www.ehlinelaw.com/pages/3678/motorcycle-accidents-and-injury.htm

Q. How is the settlement amount arrived at for an accident?

A. When a case is decided some of the recovery can include the payment of medical bills, this can include the past medical bills and future ones that will be incurred.

• What medical costs might be covered in a settlement for a
  motorcycle accident

• Some of these might be bills for being hospitalized, surgeries
  both past and future, ongoing medical care that will be needed as
  well as counseling. Cosmetic surgery and both physical and
  occupational therapies can also be included in a settlement
  amount.

• Financial recoveries that might be included in a
  settlement

• This will also include the loss of income as well as income that
  might have been earned in the future and the possibility of
  recovery costs of being retrained for an occupation.

• Possible Recoveries as a result of injuries

• A part of a settlement will may include a recovery for pain and suffering as a result of the accident and future pain and suffering. If there was a death that resulted from the accident the family cannot include pain and suffering as part of their case. In many states the family will also not be able to recover damages for pre death pain and suffering either. They can however receive what is termed loss of aid, comfort and society as well as diminution of
  the estate; this means that the future earnings of the deceased are
  taken into account.

• There maybe an entitlement for recovery for disability, disfigurement and loss of consortium

This can include a mental impairment, or a physical disability, including burns
that resulted from the motorcycle accident. In the loss of consortium the spouse might receive compensation when the spouses injuries are severe and hinders marital relations. There are many courts that will award a settlement to a spouse for several reasons including loss of support, society, companionship, love and sexual
relations. This type of claim will be a separate case from the injured victim as it is separate damages to the uninjured party.
http://www.ehlinelaw.com/pages/3142/Tutorial_Review/What-are-Negligence-Damages?.htm

Q. What does it mean to receive compensatory damages?

A. This means that the injured party is compensated for loss or damage, however when a  motorcycle injury attorney is talking to the jury they are not permitted to ask the jury to award a settlement based on if they were in this position.

Q. What does it mean to receive punitive damages?

A. This is an award of damages that is used in

some cases to penalize or make an example of the defendant in the case. This type of damage is only recovered in certain cases, usually when the defendant has acted in a reckless manner or with disrespect for the rights of others.

This type of award is unusual and many times appellate courts will either reduce the amount of the punitive damages or dismiss them completely. However, the risk
of this type of award will often make the defense offer a larger settlement.

http://www.ehlinelaw.com/pages/3655/keep-passenger-safe.htm

Q. Accident victims or their family often question if they should sue another person.

A. This is something that the person who has been involved in an accident and injured can answer or the family that has lost someone to a motorcycle accident.

In some cases the injured victim or the family fear presenting their claim to an attorney because they might feel in some respect they might be partly at fault for their injuries and the accident. In this type of case even when some fault is the motorcyclists there might be other parties responsible for the accident also and
partial damages can still be awarded. This can often be a substantial recovery on the part of the injured client.

The reason there is civil law it to compensate accident victims for their injury or their loss that have been caused by the negligence of someone else. This can also include defective manufactured products or the failure to act.

Even in a case where an accident victim is unsure if they should file a case or feel they may be partially at fault discussing the accident with motorcycle accident law firm of attorney Michael P. Ehiline the information to give a well thought out decision about filing a suite will not only be easier but this experienced attorney can guide the injured victim making the decision that is proper for them.

If your motorcycle accident involved a tractor-trailer please visit our Los Angeles and Orange County Truck Accident site.

Ehline Law Firm serves all of California that includes Orange County, Los Angeles, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage, Burbank, Marina Del Rey, Playa del Rey, Redondo Beach, Malibu Beach, Venice Beach and Newport Beach as California motorcycle accident attorneys and San Bernardino County Motorcycle Injury Attorneys.