Motorcycle Accident Attorney Serving Vancouver, WA
Vancouver is one of the most beautiful parts of the country for motorcycle trips. The following are some of the best places in America for a scenic motorcycle ride:
- The Lewis and Clark Trail
- The Mount St. Helens area
- The Columbia River Gorge
- The Cascade Loop Scenic Byway
- The Pacific Coast Scenic Byway
- The area around Mount Hood
You couldn’t ask for more. And seeing all this on a motorcycle is so much better than from within a car.
Against this picturesque background, there’s one major problem: rain. The Vancouver area get 42 inches of rain per year. And it rains or snows on 164 days in the average year. Rain leads to slippery roads. Slippery roads often cause motorcycle accidents.
If you’re a motorcycle accident victim, you need to speak with one of the Vancouver motorcycle accident lawyers at Palace Law. We’ll fight hard for you to get the compensation you’re entitled to.
Working With You to Obtain Equitable Compensation After a Motorcycle Accident
Unfortunately, the defendant’s lawyer will try to take advantage of common stereotypes related to biker culture. They do this to prevent you from getting the compensation you deserve. Many people still believe motorcyclists are irresponsible and wild. However, most people who ride motorcycles do so for more practical reasons such as daily commuting and saving money on gas.
You need an experienced Vancouver motorcycle accident attorney who knows how to avoid these false impressions to secure an appropriate settlement for your injuries.
At Palace Law, our aim is to analyze the potential liability and use every available tool to show the accountability necessary to get you the compensation you’re entitled to. When you choose Palace Law, you’ll have a highly qualified advocate take a great load off your shoulders. Our law firm has four lawyers who have each tried over 200 cases in court.
We are available anytime you have questions and will even come to you if your injuries prevent you from traveling. We will evaluate the details of your motorcycle accident thoroughly, then plan a comprehensive strategy to get the settlement or jury award you need to move forward with your life.
What Are the Causes of Most Motorcycle Accidents?
In the many cases, drivers aren’t properly looking out for motorcyclists. This is likely the biggest reason for motorcycle accidents in Vancouver and across America. Because motorcycles are smaller than other vehicles, motorcyclists can be harder to detect because of obstructions, glare, and the driver’s lack of focus.
Intersections are hazardous for motorcyclists, especially when a car is making a left-hand turn and fails to see the motorcyclist or misjudge their speed. This type of left-hand turn is a common cause of motorcycle accidents. The potential damage from a motorcyclist hitting a car can be extreme, regardless of the speed.
Motorcycles are much more susceptible to dangerous conditions on the road compared to cars. Wet or icy surfaces, litter, bumps, potholes, and gravel can be devastating for a motorcyclist, while a vehicle may not even recognize the hazard.
A head-on accident between a bike and a car or truck almost always leads to life-threatening injuries or death for the biker. That’s because the motorcyclist may get crushed or flung into the air because of the high speed of the crash.
Lane splitting, when a motorcyclist drives between two lanes of cars, is another common reason for motorcycle incidents. Because the bike is so close to the other vehicles while lane splitting, a grave incident can easily occur.
Driving recklessly, being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, not paying attention to the road, and being overly tired are common grounds for motorcycle crashes.
Distracted driving is the main source of all kinds of vehicular accidents. The most common type of distraction is using a cell phone while driving. It’s hard for a driver to see a motorcycle if they’re staring at their smartphone.
With Americans getting inadequate sleep, fatigued driving is becoming increasingly prevalent. Impaired and reckless driving can also be to blame for motorbike crashes.
Sharp turns and curves are more probable to produce a motorcycle crash than for a car. It is more arduous to make amends or rectify when maneuvering a motorcycle around a sharp turn. Unfortunately, some of our most scenic roads in the Vancouver area have many curves.
How Do You Determine Negligence in a Motorcycle Accident?
In its most basic form, negligence is where a party has:
- A duty to exercise a standard of care
- They breached the duty by failing to act as a reasonable person would in a similar situation
- Their breach caused an injury to you
- You suffer damages such a personal injury or property loss because of their breach
The breach of the duty of care is key. Failing to follow traffic laws is a common breach of duty that leads to a negligence claim.
How Long Do I Have To File a Case?
You don’t have forever to file a case. In the State of Washington, §416.080 of the legal code gives you three years to file your case. But if your accident is across the river in Oregon, §12.110 of the Oregon Code applies and you’ll only have two years to sue. For these reasons, it’s critically important that you speak with one of our motorcycle accident lawyers soon after your crash.
How Palace Law Can Help
A well-qualified motorcycle accident lawyer from Palace Law in Vancouver will strive to ensure that you get a fair resolution that covers all your past, present, and future medical expenses. They’ll also work to get compensation for your lost wages along with pain and suffering.
Four of our lawyers have tried over 200 cases each, so experience is not a question – we have it. Our lawyers will come to you if necessary. We’re available 24/7 for you. That’s one reason we have over 1,500 positive reviews.
Call us today for your free consultation. Perhaps best of all, everything is at no cost to you if we don’t recover compensation for you. Contact a Palace Law motorcycle accident attorney today so we can protect your rights.