Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

While cruising on your motorcycle, the last thing you probably imagined happening was getting pulled over and accused of a DUI. To make matters worse, if you were part of a car accident at the time of your arrest, you may be facing even more severe consequences. It may feel as though there is no hope, and everything is crashing down around you. During this time, it is highly recommended that you seek the assistance of a legal professional for guidance. Here we have gone over some useful information to help get you prepared for the legalities to come. In the event you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact an attorney, like a motorcycle accident lawyer in Chatsworth CA, can turn to, in order to assist to you with your case.

Being Served with a Lawsuit

The car driver in the accident may have decided to file a lawsuit against you for damages and injuries. You should have received notice of this lawsuit within 30 days of the petition or complaint being filed. A sheriff or process server is likely to be the one hand-delivering the paperwork to you. You will then have to fill out and return any necessary documents attached to your copy of the lawsuit within a certain period of time. Be on time, as you may have to deal with repercussions if you turn in this paperwork late. 

Time Period to File Lawsuit

Based on your state laws, the other driver may have anywhere from immediately after the accident, up to five years after the date of the collision to file a lawsuit. Being served can come as a huge surprise, especially when one day you have an officer or server at your doorstep years later. After an accident, many people may be falsely reassured when they do not hear anything from their insurance company. People may assume the event had been handled and there is nothing else to be done. 

Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries

In addition to dealing with a lawsuit, you may be recovering from your own injuries. Here we have listed the most common injuries a motorcyclist may suffer from after a being hit by a vehicle.

• Road rash
• Bone fractures
• Heavy bruising
• Internal bleeding
• Spinal cord injury
• Traumatic brain injury
• Muscle damage 
• Biker’s arm
• Skin cuts or deep lacerations
• Skull fracture
• Ankle sprain 
• Dislocation of shoulder

Contact Your Insurance Company

Call, email or leave a voicemail for your insurance agent letting him or her know about the lawsuit. Your insurance company should be notified of the lawsuit the same day you receive the documents. Some insurance companies even have a customer service number you can call after business hours to make a report. 

How an Attorney Can Provide Help

If you are convicted of a DUI while involved in a car accident, it does not automatically mean you are at-fault for the collision. There may be outside factors you were not aware of that contributed to the crash. Depending on exactly how the accident unfolded, you being under the influence at the time may not be the ultimate deciding factor for who was at-fault. An attorney can offer advice, representation, fight for your rights and speak up for you in court. 

Thank you to the experts at Barry P. Goldberg for their insight into motorcycle DUI.