How Is Fault or Liability Determined in Motorcycle Accidents in Sacramento?

Escaping a motorcycle accident without serious injury is sadly uncommon. Motorcycle riders typically sustain severe, even catastrophic or deadly, injuries when involved in an accident, and others involved can be equally hurt. 

Identifying who is liable for causing a motorcycle accident is crucial for victims seeking to hold that party accountable for compensation. Making this determination is not easy for those without legal background and experience with accident claims, and making a wrong determination can cost victims their settlement. The best way forward is to partner with Triumph Law. A Sacramento motorcycle accident lawyer from our team has the knowledge and experience needed to find fault and fight for fair compensation.

Potential At-Fault Parties for a Sacramento Motorcycle Accident

Figuring out who is at fault for a motorcycle accident requires a careful investigation. Triumph Law has the resources, experience, and knowledge needed to carry out this necessary deep dive. By looking at the details of the situation, your Sacramento motorcycle accident attorney will determine the cause of the accident and identify the at-fault party.

For the most recent full year of data collection, the California Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) shows Sacramento County as ranking sixth of California’s 58 counties for the highest number of motorcycle accidents involving fatalities and injuries. There are many possibilities for who could hold fault for the accident. Some are more likely than others.

The Motorcycle Operator

Like all other drivers on the road, motorcycle operators have to obey all traffic laws and practice safe driving behaviors. Motorcyclists who speed can easily lose control of their vehicles. If riders drive between lanes to escape heavy traffic, weave in and out of lanes, or ignore traffic signals, they can cause collisions.

Riders who operate while under the influence of alcohol or drugs also pose dangers to all others on the road.

Other Drivers

Motorcycles can be difficult for other drivers to see as they are lower and narrower than other vehicles, and crashes can easily occur if the motorcyclists gets lost in the other driver’s blind spot. Other times, drivers misread the speed of motorcyclists. According to the National Library of Health (NLH), these misjudgments and resulting accidents often occur when other vehicles make left turns in front of oncoming motorcycles. 

Accidental errors, driving while distracted, and any other reckless behaviors on another driver’s part raise the risk of accidents.

Vehicle Manufacturers

Sometimes, accidents happen because vehicles are defective. Cars, trucks, and motorcycles can become agents of danger when they malfunction. Failures in steering or braking functions, tire blowouts, and even “minor” defects, like a non-working brake light, can lead to crashes.

Drivers and everyone else on the road count on vehicle and vehicle-part manufacturers to produce safe, fully operational vehicles. 

Inspectors and Vehicle Maintenance Workers

Vehicles must be inspected and undergo maintenance if they are not operating properly. Inspectors who do not carry out thorough examinations or mechanics or perform inadequate repairs can contribute to a vehicle’s failure and result in accidents. 

Government Offices

Government offices are responsible for keeping roadways maintained, street lights in worker order, and traffic signals functional. Potholes and unattended debris are dangerous for all drivers, but especially for motorcyclists who can easily skid on loose gravel, lose a tire from hitting a deep pothole, or lose control of their vehicles to avoid debris or road obstacles. 

Broken traffic signals create opportunities for violent crashes, as do poorly lit streets and roads, whose threat may be greatest to pedestrians and cyclists who may go unseen by motorcyclists or other drivers.

Identifying the Liable Party in a Motorcycle Accident

With fast access to your case, your motorcycle accident attorney in Sacramento can get to work investigating the accident, identifying the at-fault party, and building evidence to prove that party’s negligence.

The at-fault party is not always the “apparent” culprit. You might think a driver’s error caused a motorcycle accident, but it could be a case of faulty brakes. To make the proper determination, your attorney will:

• Enlist the help of accident reconstructionists: experts in vehicle operation, engineering, crash forensics, and other relevant fields to “recreate” the series of events leading to the crash
• Gather video and/or photo evidence from nearby traffic or security cameras, witnesses’ dashboard cameras, or other recording devices
• Interview witnesses
• Consult with medical experts as to the cause of your injuries
• Collect physical evidence from the scene of the crash and the vehicles involved
• Acquire additional information from any other relevant source

Through this careful examination of information, your attorney will identify the at-fault party and compile evidence to support your claim and prove their negligence.

Proving the At-Fault Party’s Negligence

Accident victims receive a settlement if they can prove the at-fault party was negligent. Proving negligence requires showing:

• The at-fault party owed you, the victim, a legal obligation to keep you safe. Motorcyclists and all other drivers owe all others on the road a legal duty to observe traffic laws, perform safe driving behaviors, and refrain from unsafe driving practices.
• The at-fault party failed to fulfill this legal obligation. Perhaps they drove while distracted or drunk, drove over the speed limit, or ignored traffic signals.
• The at-fault party’s failure led to your accident. Your attorney will present evidence to show the at-fault party’s breach of their obligation, not any other factor, directly caused your accident.
• The accident cost you quantifiable damages. Your motorcycle accident lawyer in Sacramento will value your losses thoroughly, showing the extent of your losses.

It is not enough to “know” who caused your motorcycle accident. You need proof. An experienced, knowledgeable attorney from Triumph Law will find and present the proof your case needs. 

We Get Results for Motorcycle Accident Victims

For over 20 years, Triumph Law fought to help injury victims in the Sacramento area recover their losses, and we have a history of success. Reach out with a call or a message and schedule a free consultation with a dedicated Sacramento motorcycle accident lawyer who will fight tirelessly for your rights and your best interests. Contact us today. We look forward to adding your case to our history of triumphs.