Sideswipe motorcycle accidents happen when a vehicle drifts, merges, or changes lanes into a motorcycle’s path. Even minor contact can cause serious injuries when a motorcycle is forced into another lane or off the roadway.
Sideswipe crashes usually happen because drivers fail to account for a motorcycle’s presence during lane movements. Brief inattention can cause devastating consequences for a rider. Common causes include:
Because motorcycles occupy less visual space, drivers often overlook them until contact occurs.
Motorcyclists have zero structural protection. Even light contact can force a rider into another lane, into traffic, or onto the roadway. As a result, the injuries can be severe and life-altering. For example:
These injuries can lead to extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and time away from work, placing a heavy financial burden on injured riders.
When a collision does not leave major damage to a vehicle, insurers frequently assign lower values to the claim, even when a rider suffers serious injuries. Adjusters may scrutinize medical records more closely or require extensive documentation. Insurers also sometimes treat motorcyclists as inherently risky, basing evaluations on stereotypes rather than crash specifics. This bias can lead to lower offers that fail to account for future care needs, long-term disability, lost income, and pain and suffering unless your claim is thoroughly documented and aggressively presented.
Strong documentation helps establish what actually happened and prevents insurers from rewriting the facts. Helpful evidence may include:
An attorney steps in to take control of the claim and protect you from unfair blame. A Riverside Motorcycle Accident Attorney can help by:
With legal guidance, you avoid pressure tactics and protect your rights, giving you peace of mind to focus on your recovery.
Call Hanson & Mouri at (951) 688-0006 or message online today for a free consultation. A Riverside sideswipe motorcycle accident lawyer can help you move forward and pursue the compensation you deserve.