[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.habbaspilaw.com\/no-contact-motorcycle-accident\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.habbaspilaw.com\/no-contact-motorcycle-accident\/","headline":"Who is At-Fault in a \u201cNo-Contact\u201d Motorcycle Accident?","name":"Who is At-Fault in a \u201cNo-Contact\u201d Motorcycle Accident?","description":"Motorcyclists face many dangers when on the road. One significant threat to their safety is other drivers. Unfortunately, if you are riding a motorcycle, you do not even need to be in a collision with another car for another road user to cause you injuries. Even if you are a cautious, alert, and skilled rider, you might need to take extreme measures to avoid a wreck.","datePublished":"2021-07-30","dateModified":"2026-03-26","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.habbaspilaw.com\/author\/admin\/#Person","name":"Samer Habbas, Esq","url":"https:\/\/www.habbaspilaw.com\/author\/admin\/","identifier":1,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/328046d5a3bfc49c9999e96862d136a3f4bc810c33ae5a18d4d702bce2c20ecf?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/328046d5a3bfc49c9999e96862d136a3f4bc810c33ae5a18d4d702bce2c20ecf?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Samer Habbas & Associates","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.habbaspilaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/1241504_HabbasLogoUpdates_Logo1_Op1Black_060822-scaled.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.habbaspilaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/1241504_HabbasLogoUpdates_Logo1_Op1Black_060822-scaled.jpg","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.habbaspilaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/No-Contact-Motorcycle-Accident.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.habbaspilaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/No-Contact-Motorcycle-Accident.jpg","height":1067,"width":1600},"url":"https:\/\/www.habbaspilaw.com\/no-contact-motorcycle-accident\/","about":["Motorcycle Accident"],"wordCount":1352,"articleBody":"Motorcyclists face many dangers when on the road. One significant threat to their safety is other drivers. Unfortunately, if you are riding a motorcycle, you do not even need to be in a collision with another car for another road user to cause you injuries. Even if you are a cautious, alert, and skilled rider, you might need to take extreme measures to avoid a wreck.When you suffer injuries in a crash because of another driver, but you never actually make contact with that other vehicle, you might wonder whether there is any way to hold that other person liable for their injuries. Fortunately, you can file a claim against a driver who negligently causes a \u201cno contact\u201d collision. Contact an experienced California motorcycle crash attorney to discuss filing a claim against the driver who caused your injuries.\u00a0\u00a0What Happens in a \u201cNo-Contact\u201d Motorcycle Accident?Many different scenarios might lead to a \u201cno contact\u201d motorcycle crash. One example is if a car travels in the lane next to the motorcycle and changes lanes cutting off the biker. This type of crash is not uncommon because drivers frequently fail to notice motorcycles that might be in their blind spots.\u00a0As the motorcyclist, you would have two choices: crash with the car or swerve your bike, potentially losing control of the motorcycle, and crashing. If you take quick action to avoid the crash and lose control of the motorcycle, the driver is likely at fault for that accident, even if you never make contact with their car.\u00a0The same would be true if a car turned left in front of you while passing through an intersection. Left-turning vehicles are often at fault in these collisions because unless they have a green turn arrow, oncoming traffic will have the right-of-way. If a car cuts into your path while it is turning left, your options will be limited. You might even end up laying down your bike to avoid striking the side of the vehicle. As the motorcyclist, you might not be at fault, but you will be the most likely person to suffer injuries in this scenario.There are also cases where motorcyclists might be to blame for a \u201cno contact\u201d accident, such as if you failed to slow down while traveling behind a vehicle and then have to swerve to avoid striking the car from the rear.\u00a0When it comes to \u201cno contact\u201d crashes, the incidents leading up to these events are the same ones that cause crashes between two vehicles. Perhaps a driver is not paying attention, under the influence, speeding, or otherwise engaged in risky driving behaviors. If the vehicles do not contact one another, this will not prevent the injured person from recovering damages.Proving Liability in a Non-Contact Motorcycle CrashOne potential hurdle for the victim of a \u201cno contact\u201d crash is that the driver might leave the scene. The vehicle will not have any damage from the crash, and so it might be challenging to identify the motorist. Some drivers might not even see the motorcyclist even after the biker crashes.\u00a0If the driver leaves, and you can get information about the vehicle, take notes. Also, you will want to speak to anyone who might have witnessed the crash. If another driver has information about the person or vehicle that caused you to crash, get that person\u2019s contact information. Finally, you should call the police to report the incident. You might be able to find the liable party and hold them accountable.\u00a0If the driver stops, you will also want to contact the police and file a report. Of course, if you are injured, you should seek medical attention first and foremost, but remember also to take steps to gather information when possible. You might be able to hold the negligent driver liable for your injuries. In that case, that person or their insurance provider will have to cover any medical costs and other related expenses. Considering the incredible cost of treating accident-related injuries, this could be a vital way to provide you and your family some financial relief.What if You Cannot Locate the Driver After an Accident?You might never find the driver who caused your injuries. In this case, you are not entirely out of options for pursuing compensation for your injuries. You will want to reach out to your own insurance company and file an uninsured motorist claim. Uninsured motorist insurance helps compensate you if you are in a crash with a driver who does not carry car insurance or if the driver commits a hit-and-run.\u00a0Contact a personal injury lawyer about recovering from another driver or your insurer. When filing an uninsured motorist claim, you might need help from a lawyer who can negotiate with the insurance company. The insurer will want to minimize their payments, and therefore, will often try to argue that you are partly at fault for your injuries or that you are overestimating your damages.\u00a0Steps to Avoid a No Contact Motorcycle CrashIt will not always be feasible to avoid a crash if another driver behaves negligently. However, there are steps that you can take to improve your safety while riding. Wearing bright colors can minimize the risk of another motorist failing to notice you and cutting into your path. Always using a helmet is one of the best ways to prevent severe injuries.If you travel at safe speeds, you will give yourself more of an opportunity to respond in the event of an emergency. Speeding cuts the amount of time you have to react and leads to more severe collisions. You may also consider taking motorcycle skills courses to ensure that you are an expert in operating your vehicle. Riding is much more challenging than driving, and it is crucial to keep your skillset sharp so that you react to dangers in the best possible manner.\u00a0Recovering Damages After a No-Contact Motorcycle CrashIf you know who caused your injuries, you can file a claim against that driver. You can speak to a lawyer who will work with you to build a case strategy. Your lawyer might negotiate a settlement with the other driver\u2019s insurance provider and file a lawsuit if that insurer does not provide the appropriate compensation for your injuries.\u00a0You and your lawyer will need to prove that the other driver was negligent when they caused the \u201cno contact\u201d accident. If you can demonstrate that the driver changed lanes without warning and cut into your path, turned left in front of you, or ran through a stop sign, you would have strong evidence of negligence.\u00a0You will also have to prove your damages, which means showing the severity of your injuries. If successful, you can recover compensation for:Medical billsRehabilitationLost time at workFuture projected medical costsFuture lost income\u00a0Pain and sufferingThe total amount that you collect will depend on the facts unique to your case, so you should consult with a dedicated motorcycle crash attorney for a consultation. If you share fault for the crash because of your negligence, you might find that the court reduces your damages. Fortunately, in California, you can collect damages even if you are partly at fault for a crash. The court will assign a percentage of liability to each party and then reduce damages by your percent of the blame for the crash.\u00a0Call an Experience Orange County Motorcycle Accident AttorneyIf you sustained injuries in a \u201cno contact\u201d motorcycle crash, you might be able to recover damages. Never hesitate to speak to a personal injury lawyer about filing a claim. The Orange County motorcycle accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas & Associates can help. Consulting with an accident attorney sooner will make it easier for you to collect evidence and build your case.\u00a0With multiple offices located in Irvine, Los Angeles, El Segundo, San Diego, and Riverside, our personal injury attorneys represent motorcycle accident victims across Southern California. For more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our lawyers, please call 888-848-5084."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Who is At-Fault in a \u201cNo-Contact\u201d Motorcycle Accident?","item":"https:\/\/www.habbaspilaw.com\/no-contact-motorcycle-accident\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]