Overcoming Bias & Prejudice Against Motorcycles

California, and particularly San Francisco, offer incredible scenery for motorcyclists who love to get out and ride. There are more registered motorcycles in California than any other state in the nation. Unfortunately, there is an inherent bias against motorcyclists, both from other drivers on the roadway as well as from insurance carriers in the aftermath of an accident. At Choulos, Choulos & Wyle, we want to discuss overcoming bias and prejudice against motorcyclists in these situations.

Why Choose Choulos, Choulos & Wyle For Your Case?

After a motorcycle accident crash, you need an attorney with extensive experience handling these cases. Choulos, Choulos & Wyle is here to help.

• As avid riders and cyclists, we are best positioned to help injured clients overcome bias and prejudice.
• We have more than two decades of experience helping clients who have suffered serious injuries due to motorcycle accidents.
• We take each San Francisco motorcycle accident case on a contingency fee basis, which means clients pay no upfront fees until we secure a favorable settlement or verdict on their behalf.

Why Is There A Bias Against Motorcyclists?

There are many different types of bias and prejudice against motorcyclists. Unfortunately, these biases affect roadway safety as well as insurance negotiation settlements. There are three common biases and prejudices that work against motorcyclists:

1. That motorcycles are difficult to see on the roadway
2. That motorcyclists always drive too fast
3. That motorcyclists are all young and unruly gang members

Unfortunately, these biases can be difficult to overcome without help from a skilled motorcycle accident lawyer in San Francisco. These biases and prejudices will become a factor when it comes to negotiating insurance settlements or taking a case to trial. However, all three of those biases can be overcome.

The “hard to see” bias typically arises because of the fact that motorcycles are smaller than passenger vehicles, and other drivers claim that the motorcyclist “came out of nowhere.” Overcoming this bias is going to require diagrams of the scene, photographs and video evidence, and careful measurements of sightlines and distances. Eyewitness statements can also be powerful tools in these instances.

The “driving too fast” bias usually arises due to the fact that motorcycles are louder vehicles. Many eyewitnesses to a crash often link noise with velocity. However, evidence such as vehicle damage, skid marks, and testimony related to the timing of events at the scene can help overcome assumptions about speed.
The bias about motorcyclists being unruly or “gang members” will require an attorney humanizing the motorcycle accident victim. Your attorney can use testimony from eyewitnesses, the motorcyclist’s friends and family, as well as doctors, to do this. We wish this step was not even necessary, but it will be important to separate a motorcycle accident victim from harmful and unfair stereotypes.

Do You Need An Attorney After A Motorcycle Crash?

If you or somebody you love has been injured in a motorcycle accident that was caused by somebody else’s careless or negligent actions, you need to seek legal assistance as soon as possible. At Choulos, Choulos & Wyle, our skilled and experienced team is ready to get to work on your case.

In any traffic crash, it is always advisable for injury victims to secure an attorney. This is even more true when it comes to motorcyclists who have been harmed. Overcoming bias and prejudice against motorcyclists is vital in these cases. Because our attorneys are also avid motorcyclists, we are best suited to walk you through every aspect of this case. When you need a San Francisco motorcycle accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling us at (415) 432-7290 or toll-free (877) 702-7800.