Ventura Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Helping Injured Riders in Ventura Pursue Compensation

Ventura is among the most popular locations for riders to take to the road. Motorcyclists, local and out-of-towners, enjoy riding on the 33, the Ventura-Santa Barbara Loop, and the 150, to name just a few of their favorite routes.

A beautiful day for a ride can become a real-life nightmare when a rider encounters a negligent driver whose actions lead to a motorcycle accident. With little protection other than a helmet and leather gear, contact with a vehicle and the roadbed road can lead to serious, catastrophic, or fatal injuries. When this occurs, nothing is more important than ensuring you have the support of a talented, focused motorcycle accident lawyer you can trust to seek every possible form of compensation.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Ventura

Most riders know the dangers of sharing the road with cars, trucks, and other vehicles. Even the most careful motorcyclist can be severely injured when a negligent driver is nearby. Some of the most common types of driver negligence that leads to injuring an innocent rider include the following:

Distracted driving: The driver does not pay attention to the road ahead or the adjoining lane or see a rider who is legally lane-splitting. Eating, smoking, talking on the phone, texting, or other distractions can cause a driver to make a deadly error.
Drunk driving: While driving under the influence is illegal, many drivers continue to engage in this dangerous habit. The alcohol reduces awareness and reaction time and can lead to very dangerous driving behavior, including running red lights, unsafe left turns, and swerving from lane to lane, all of which can seriously injure an innocent rider.
Speeding: Driving faster than the posted speed limit could be almost a tradition in Southern California. Many drivers choose to drive too fast even when it is obviously dangerous to do so, whether in rainy conditions or in heavy traffic. Riders who are in the vicinity of one of these drivers can suffer serious or fatal injuries due to a driver who speeds and fails to see a motorcyclist or moves dangerously from lane to lane, hitting a rider who is legally sharing the road.

Types of Motorcycle Injuries

A motorcyclist who is hit by a moving vehicle is at serious risk of suffering severe or fatal injuries. The bike is knocked over, the rider thrown onto the roadway with force, and may be subject to secondary impacts from other moving vehicles, making matters worse. The types of injuries commonly sustained by riders include the following:

Broken bones: The impact on the road may lead to multiple fractures that will require extensive medical intervention to attempt to treat.
Traumatic brain injuries: A helmet provides some level of protection for riders. When the rider is thrown to the roadway with an impact on the head or neck, it may be impossible to avoid injuring the brain, which may be shaken inside the skull to the degree that severe damage is done to the brain structure. The types of injuries can include cognitive impairments, mobility issues, or, in the worst cases, a lasting vegetative state that may never resolve.
Spinal cord injuries: A rider, once hit by a vehicle, has no control over where the body will contact the road. When landing on the spinal cord, the damage done can be extreme, leaving the rider suffering nerve damage, paraplegia, or quadriplegia and facing a future forever changed.
Disfiguring injuries: Contact with the pavement as the rider skids along the roadway can lead to severe lacerations, road rash, or degloving. When the top layer of skin and tissue has been torn off the underlying muscle, bone, or connective tissue, it can lead to permanent disfigurement and require a long process of healing to attempt to resolve.
Hand and arm damage: It is a natural response to attempt to protect the body by using the arms in a fall. Sadly, this response to a motorcycle accident can cause severe damage to the hands, fingers, elbow, and arms that may require many months to resolve or, when irreparably crushed, require amputation.
Lower extremity injuries: Injuries to the feet, legs, ankles, and pelvis are, sadly, very common in motorcycle accidents. The impact on the road or the vehicle may cause multiple fractures or shattered bones, and in the worst cases, the legs are so damaged that the only medical solution is amputation.
Internal organ damage: The impact may lead to internal injuries that will require life-saving medical interventions to attempt to stop bleeding or repair damaged internal structures or organs.

How to Prove Negligence in a Motorcycle Accident Claim

It is necessary to prove the vehicle driver acted negligently to file a successful motorcycle accident injury claim. Evidence must be presented, including police reports, witness statements, dashcam video content, security video, or cell phone records, to prove the driver was texting, emailing, or having a phone conversation at the time of impact. It may be assumed that the rider was at fault. In fact, it is far more common to discover that the driver breached the “duty of care”—the expectation that the individual drives in a manner that will not unreasonably endanger others. At Skinner Law Corp, our personal injury attorney is dedicated, young, and energetic in his approach to resolving motorcycle accident claims.

What Damages Can Be Paid in a Motorcycle Accident?

At Skinner Law Corp, our approach is different. Every case we take on is given the full attention of your attorney. The full scope of the damages will be valued, and when a settlement is pursued, the amount will reflect all the damages, including:

Economic damages: The losses associated with medical bills, surgeries, estimated future costs of medical care, lost income from work, reduced earning capacity, and other actual, quantifiable losses.
Non-economic damages: The personal losses from the motorcycle accident, including pain and suffering, reduced quality of life, loss of consortium, and emotional anguish.
Punitive damages: In some limited cases, punitive damages may be awarded. These damages are sought when a driver’s conduct was oppressive, so despicable that it led to cruel and unjust hardships.

Motorcycle Accident FAQ – Ventura, CA Motorcycle Accident Claims and Lawsuits

What should I do immediately after a motorcycle accident in Ventura?

If you’re involved in a motorcycle accident, prioritize safety and follow these steps:

Call 911 to report the accident and request medical help if needed.
Move to a safe location if possible, but do not leave the scene until law enforcement arrives.
Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver(s).
Take photos and videos of the scene of the accident, vehicle damage, road conditions, and any visible injuries.
Do not admit fault. Let the investigation into the facts determine liability.
Seek medical attention immediately, even if you feel fine, as injuries may not be immediately apparent.
Contact an experienced Ventura motorcycle accident lawyer to protect your rights.

Who can be held liable for the injuries I suffered in a motorcycle accident?

Liability in a motorcycle accident depends on the circumstances. Potentially responsible parties include:

Other drivers (if they were speeding, distracted, intoxicated, or reckless).
Government agencies (if poor road conditions contributed to the accident).
Manufacturers (if a defect in the motorcycle or safety gear played a role).
Commercial trucking companies (if a truck driver was involved).

A skilled motorcycle accident attorney can investigate and determine who is liable for your damages.

What damages can I recover after a motorcycle accident in Ventura?

If another party was at fault, you may be entitled to compensation for:

Medical expenses (past, current, and future).
Lost wages if your injuries prevent you from working.
Pain and suffering for physical and emotional distress.
Property damage (repairs or replacement of your motorcycle).
Loss of enjoyment of life if your injuries affect your daily activities.
Wrongful death damages if you lost a loved one in a fatal motorcycle crash.

Our firm aggressively pursues maximum compensation for motorcyclists.

What if I was partially at fault for the accident?

California follows a comparative negligence rule. This rule allows you to seek damages even if you were partially at fault. Your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you. For example, if you were found to be 20 percent responsible, your settlement would be reduced by 20 percent of the total compensation. Having an experienced attorney can help minimize your liability and maximize your compensation.

How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident claim in California?

In California, the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident claims is two years from the date of the accident. If you fail to file within this timeframe, you may lose your right to seek compensation. Exceptions apply, so it’s best to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.

Do I need a lawyer for my motorcycle accident claim?

While you are not required to hire a lawyer, insurance companies often try to minimize payouts or deny a claim that should be paid. A motorcycle accident attorney can:

Investigate your case and gather crucial evidence.
Negotiate with insurance companies to secure a fair settlement.
Take your case to court if needed to pursue the compensation you deserve.

Our founding attorney, Troy Skinner, is an aggressive advocate for injured motorcyclists in Ventura.

How much does it cost to hire a motorcycle accident lawyer in Ventura?

At Skinner Law Corp., we work on a contingency fee basis—this means you pay nothing upfront, and we are only paid legal fees when we win for you.

What if the driver who hit me was uninsured or underinsured?

If the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance (or not enough coverage), you may still have options, including:

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM) through your own insurance.
A personal injury lawsuit against the driver.
Other sources of compensation (such as third-party liability claims).

A knowledgeable lawyer can review your policy and explore all possible compensation avenues.

Why Choose Skinner Law Corp for a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Ventura?

Personal injury lawyers, and all attorneys, vary widely in how they approach resolving an injury claim. Some attorneys focus on organizing the fastest settlement possible and may fail to evaluate the long-term impact of a motorcycle accident. At the larger personal injury law firms, the injured party may rarely, if ever, meet with their attorney—or have trouble getting any information about what is occurring, what to expect, or when the injury claim will be resolved. Call us at 310-356-0074 for personalized legal help.