Other motorists often need the assistance of an auto accident attorney in Ontario CA after an encounter with a drunk motorcyclist.
Each summer, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration takes steps to raise awareness about motorcycle safety in advance of thousands of bikers hitting the roads for summer rides. This year, the theme of their public awareness campaign is “ride sober or get pulled over.” It is very important for motorcyclists and drivers to realize that alcohol severely affects key skills needed to ride a motorcycle namely balance and coordination. Bikers need to realize that drinking puts their life and the lives of others at risk, and drivers need to be aware that they need to look out for any bikers driving erratically and give them a wide berth.
Motorcycle Drunk Driving Statistics
- Despite being only 3 percent of the registered vehicles on the road, motorcycles are involved in a disproportionately high number of fatal traffic accidents.
- 15 percent of total traffic fatalities in 2012 were motorcyclists.
- 27 percent of those motorcyclists were over the legal limit of 0.08 BAC.
- In fatal crashes involving a motorcycle and a single vehicle in 2012, 43 three percent of bikers were under the influence of alcohol.
- When only weekend nights are counted, 64 percent of motorcyclists killed in accidents with a single vehicle were drunk.
What to Do After an Accident Involving a Motorcyclist
If you have been involved in an accident with a motorcyclist, the very first thing you must do is call 911 to get medical attention for anyone who needs it. Next, call the police. If you can, take pictures of the scene of the accident before moving any of the vehicles out of the roadway and into safe locations. Once everyone is safe, contact an auto accident attorney in Ontario CA.
How Your Attorney Can Help
There are several important ways that an experienced auto accident attorney in Ontario CA can help in the aftermath of a traffic accident:
Interacting with the Insurance Company: Your attorney can serve as your go between with your insurance company. This helps ensure you do not inadvertently admit fault for the accident or accept an inadequate settlement offer.
Establishing Liability for the Accident: Using resources like interviews with witnesses, police reports, and any photos you may have taken, your attorney can seek to establish fault and liability for the accident. If the motorcyclist was drunk at the time, it should be easy to establish that their reckless driving caused or at least contributed to the accident.
Establishing Extent and Cost of Your Injuries: Your attorney can help you to document your injuries and any scarring that may result, as well as calculate the total expected cost of those injuries. This may include lost wages or pain and suffering as well as past and future medical bills.
Representing Your Interests in Court or Negotiations: Finally, your auto accident attorney in Ontario CA will look out for your best interests in the pursuit of a settlement of your personal injury claim. It is very important to choose an experienced attorney like Fernando D. Vargas who knows what kinds of offers are reasonable and when to push for more compensation.
