Motorcycle Accidents

San Diego, San Marcos, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, Escondido

Although the number of car accident fatalities has been steadily declining, and has reached the lowest number since recordkeeping began in the 1950s, motorcycle accident deaths have continued to increase in frequency and numbers since the mid 1990s.  In 2007, there were almost twice as many motorcyclist deaths per mile traveled as there were in 1994. The growing number of motorcyclists is only one cause for the increase. Other causes include greater distractions for drivers and changes in car design that can make drivers less aware of motorcycles.

If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident that was the fault of a negligent or reckless driver in San Diego and surrounding areas of San Marcos, Carlsbad, Escondido, Oceanside, and Vista, The motorcycle accident attorneys at the Rubinstein Law Group can help. Please call or email us today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Causes of Increasing Motorcycle Accidents

With increasing traffic congestion and high gas prices, motorcycles and scooters are becoming more and more popular as a practical, economical, and eco-friendly mode of transportation, especially in large, crowded urban areas like San Diego. Since 1992, the number of motorcycles registered has risen by 26 percent, rising to over 5 million. Unfortunately, during that same period, the number of motorcycle accident deaths has more than doubled.

The increasing number of motorcycle deaths can also be attributed to the escalation of distracted drivers. Cell phone usage rates continue to soar in this country, and a distracted driver is more likely to miss a motorcyclist than a full-size car. In addition, the rise in motorcycle deaths mirrors the rise in crashes involving SUVs, since drivers of high-profile vehicles may be less likely to see motorcyclists until it is too late.

Fighting for Your Rights after a Motorcycle Accident

But state and federal laws have been slow to follow the trend, and are not effective in protecting the rights of motorcyclists on the road. Many laws imply that motorcyclists ride at their own risk, and those who have been injured or killed by the negligence of other drivers are left with limited recourse. Insurance companies often deny compensation and care for injured motorcyclists, compensation that drivers of cars, SUVs, and other vehicles take for granted.

In one example of blatant discrimination, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 said that insurance companies could refuse to cover injuries based on their source, such as injuries occurring when riding a motorcycle.  In addition an insurance company did not have to tell you the injury would be excluded before it denied coverage. Efforts to overturn this statute only required insurance companies to tell the insured that their motorcycle injuries would be excluded. Fortunately, the Affordable Health Care for America Act has reversed this exclusion, but too late to help the thousands of motorcyclists who were denied coverage by their insurance companies.

We know that you deserve compensation for your injuries, and can help obtain benefits to pay your medical bills and other damages even when your insurance company rejects your claim. We defend your rights when another driver's negligence or road construction creates unsafe conditions and causes you to be injured.  We fight for you when a motorcycle or related equipment is manufactured with defects, causing an accident or injury.

No matter the cause of the accident, The Rubinstein Law Group is prepared to represent your right to compensation. Please call or email us today for a free initial consultation. We represent clients in San Diego and surrounding areas of San Marcos, Carlsbad, Escondido, Oceanside, and Vista, but if you need us, we can come to you.