Southern California Accident Blog

Single Most Important Factor in Surviving a Motorcycle Accident

A helmet can make the difference between life and death in a motorcycle accident. If you or someone you know has been injured in a Southern California motorcycle accident, contact Steinberg & Spencer Injury Lawyers today. You could be entitled to compensation.

Car Accident Deaths Down But Motorcycle Accident Deaths Up

The recent statistics regarding traffic fatalities came with both good and bad news.  The good news is that car accident fatalities have gone down.  The bad news is that motorcycle accident deaths have gone up.

In 2008 alone, over 5,000 people were killed in motorcycle accidents across the country.  This number accounts for 14 percent of all traffic related deaths last year.  What is especially unsettling is that the number of motorcycle accident fatalities has more than doubled since 1997.

Some experts have suggested that deaths caused by car accidents have decreased because people are travelling less due to the economic conditions.  Maybe so, but what about motorcycle crashes?

An Orange County motorcycle accident tends to result in more serious injuries for the motorcyclist than other types of collisions.  While a car acts as “an armor” of protection, a motorcycle offers little defense when hit by another vehicle.  Even though motorcycle helmets are required in California, which does cut down on fatalities, people are still seriously injured and even killed in motorcycle crashes.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in Orange County, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego or other area in California, you have legal rights and could be entitled to compensation.  Contact an Orange County motorcycle accident lawyer at Steinberg & Spencer Injury Lawyers at 800-350-8888 for more information.

What You Should Know About California Motorcycle Laws

Did you know that lane sharing is allowed in California, even though other states don’t allow this practice?  Another aspect of California motorcycle law that is different than other states is that you must wear a helmet if you are riding on a motorcycle.  These two areas of the law are meant to keep motorcyclists safe.

Believe it or not, lane sharing is considered to be safer than just sitting in traffic.  The chances of being involved in a motorcycle accident are higher when you are parked in traffic on the freeway.  Living in California, traffic is something you have to deal with often.  With lane sharing, you can drive in between vehicles that are in a lane.  However, it is highly recommended that you do this driving maneuver safely and prudently.

Motorcycle helmets are required by law.  While many motorcyclists are unhappy with this rule, helmets have been found to save lives in motorcycle collisions.  A study by the University of Southern California found that wearing a helmet was the single most crucial factor in surviving a motorcycle crash.  Another study showed that wearing a motorcycle helmet decreases your odds of sustaining a fatal injury by 37 percent.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, Ventura or San Bernardino, you need to contact an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer at Steinberg & Spencer at 1-800-350-8888.