Fresno Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Motorcycle accidents in Fresno often result in serious or catastrophic injuries or even death. Injuries such as road rash, multiple bone fractures and traumatic brain injuries could affect every aspect of an injured victim's life. Some injured motorcyclists never fully heal and continually struggle to return to normalcy. It is crucial that these victims receive fair and full compensation for their losses.

Protecting Your Rights in Fresno

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in Fresno, you may be entitled to receive compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, pain and suffering and emotional distress. The experienced Fresno motorcycle accident lawyers at BISNAR CHASE have a long and successful track record of helping seriously injured clients obtain fair and full compensation for their losses. We work on a contingent fee basis, which means you don't have to pay any fees until we secure compensation for you. Please contact us at for a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation.

What Makes Motorcycling So Dangerous?

Motorcycles can be fun to ride, but they provide virtually no protection to riders and passengers. There are no seatbelts, steel frame or airbags to protect motorcyclists. In fact, the only items protecting riders are their clothes and accessories such as helmets, boots and jackets. Motorcyclists would be well advised to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts in addition to a leather jacket, boots and gloves, which will help minimize road rash and other serious injuries in the event of a crash.

Finding the Right Helmet

The most important "accessory" a motorcyclist must have is a Department of Transportation-approved helmet. However, novelty headgear that does not offer any real protection to the wearer's head, does not count as a helmet. Novelty helmets offer as much protection as if you were to wear a plastic salad bowl on your head. The helmet is not a fashion accessory. It is the motorcyclist's most important piece of safety equipment. Your helmet needs to give you full-face protection and fit snugly. The chinstrap should hold the helmet in proper position and not allow it to come off in the event of a collision.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Crashes in Fresno

Even if you take a training course and exercise safe riding habits, there is still a chance that you will be injured by the negligence of another driver. Many Fresno motorcycle crashes occur as the result of careless drivers. Motorists could cause serious injury motorcycle crashes by driving while impaired, speeding, making unsafe lane changes, running red lights, entering traffic without yielding the right-of-way and following too closely behind motorcycles on the highway.

Single-Vehicle Crashes

When a careless driver causes a motorcycle crash, he or she can be held financially liable for the incident and the victim's injuries and losses. During the claim process, the injured rider will need to prove that the negligence of the at-fault driver contributed to the accident. However, single-vehicle motorcycle accidents could occur due to no fault on the part of a motorcyclist. For example, when a crash occurs due to a defective motorcycle or faulty part, then, the manufacturer of the motorcycle or the maker of the defective part can be held liable for the injuries, damages or losses.

In some cases, dangerous or defective roadways can also cause serious injury motorcycle accidents. Examples of dangerous roadway conditions that could cause motorcycle crashes include potholes, uneven pavement and dangerous roadway design. When a motorcycle accident occurs due to a dangerous or defective roadway, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can be held liable. However, in such cases, any personal injury or wrongful death claim against a governmental entity must be filed within 180 days of the incident.

Debris that is spilled on the roadway can also cause catastrophic or fatal motorcycle accidents. For example, when a motorcyclist loses control by tripping on a pallet or mattress dropped on the roadway, then, the individual who dropped the debris and failed to pick it up could be held accountable. When the responsible individual or entity is not identified or found, the uninsured motorist clause in the victim's auto insurance policy can help compensate the victim.

Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Whether it is in a single-vehicle or a multi-vehicle crash, motorcycle accidents often result in debilitating injuries. Victims could sustain a variety of serious and even life-threatening injuries including:

• Head trauma: Motorcycle accidents often result in traumatic brain injuries. The severity of a brain injury depends on its nature and location. Often, traumatic brain injuries result in lifelong disabilities and affect the victim's ability to earn a livelihood.
• Spinal cord injuries: When a motorcyclist falls off his or her bike, it could result in serious neck and back injuries. Spinal cord damage can result in permanent disabilities. A victim could become paralyzed or rendered quadriplegic or paraplegic depending on the nature and location of the trauma.
• Internal injuries: Internal organs such as the lungs, heart, spleen and intestines can get severely damaged in a traumatic accident.
• Broken bones: These are among the most common injuries that could occur in a motorcycle accident. Bone fractures often require extensive treatment and rehabilitation.
• Road rash: These are skin injuries caused by abrasion with road surfaces. This often occurs in motorcycle accidents especially those that occur at high speeds. Symptoms may include pain and heavy bleeding. Motorcyclists can reduce the risks of road rash by wearing protective equipment such as a full-face helmet, protective clothing, gloves and boots.

Motorcycle Accidents in Fresno County

According to the California Highway Patrol's 2011 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 15 deaths and 175 injuries were reported as a result of motorcycle accidents in Fresno County. In the city of Fresno, four fatalities and 69 injuries were reported due to motorcycle crashes during the same year. The CDC reports that between 2001 and 2008, more than 34,000 motorcyclists were killed and 1,222,000 people were treated in emergency rooms for a non-fatal motorcycle-related injury. The highest death and injury rates were among 20- to 24 year-olds, followed by 25- to 29-year-olds. More than half of all nonfatal injuries treated in EDs were to the leg/foot (30 percent) or head/neck (22 percent). Motorcyclist death rates increased 55 percent from 2001 to 2008, according to CDC reports.

A motorcycle accident can be one of the most tragic and costly types of vehicle accidents to occur anywhere. While receiving fast and thorough medical attention should always be the first course of action following a motorcycle accident, contacting an experienced Fresno motorcycle accident lawyer at our law firm should also be of vital importance. If you or someone you love has been involved in a motorcycle accident in the Fresno or Central Valley region contact the law offices of BISNAR CHASE immediately for a free consultation. With our Fresno motorcycle accident lawyers on your side you will have a dedicated team of professionals fighting for your rights. Our lawyers and staff have years of experience settling motorcycle accident claims in the Fresno area.