Single-Vehicle Motorcycle Accidents Can Lead To Legal Liability
Many people assume that a motorcyclist must have collided with another vehicle to have a legal claim. Although most motorcycle accidents involve another car, someone else can also be to blame when the motorcycle loses control of their vehicle on their own as well. These crashes are commonly referred to as “no contact� accidents.
What Is A “no Contact” Accident? When a motorcyclist loses control for reasons that have nothing to do with anyone else, a legal claim likely isn’t an option. However, if the loss of control is due to something else, you need to talk to a San Francisco motorcycle accident attorney to determine your options. A “no contact” accident occurs when a motorcyclist loses control of his or her bike because of the actions (or omissions) of another person. The most common example is that a motorcyclist was maneuvering to avoid a collision with another vehicle. For instance, imagine that another driver does not see the motorcycle and attempts to merge into the lane that the bike is driving in. The cyclist may see this and swerve to avoid an accident with the car and runs into the ditch.
Swerving on a motorcycle is much more dangerous than in a car; the bike loses balance easily, which can result in a crash. In that situation, even though there was no collision with that car, the driver would still be at least partially liable for the damages that the motorcyclist incurred. The same can be said if a motorcyclist intentionally lays their bike down to avoid a collision as well.
Other Situations Where Legal Liability May Result
Motorcyclists are more prone to accidents when the road has defects as well. Potholes that would only be an annoyance to a car can be very dangerous to a motorcycle. In some situations, poor road maintenance can lead to legal liability. A construction company throws gravel or other debris onto the road. If the motorcyclist cannot see the gravel or does not anticipate it and loses control as a result, legal responsibility may be on the construction company. The best way to determine your legal rights after a motorcycle accident is to speak with the San Francisco motorcycle accident lawyers at Allegiance Law. They can help you decide what your next steps should be. Give them a call to set up an appointment today.
Contact ALLEGIANCE LAW Address:
871 Page Street San Francisco, CA, 94117 Phone:
415-404-6395 www.allegiancelaw.com/contact-us/