When to Hire a Lawyer After a Motorcycle Wreck
Motorcyclists are significantly more likely to be fatally injured in a crash than occupants of passenger vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data shows that motorcyclists are about 28 times more likely to die in a crash.
A concerning percentage of motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes have a BAC of 0.08% or higher. This percentage increases at night. The number of motorcycle fatalities now stands at 6,335 and the rate is 31.39 per 100 million vehicle miles.
This motorcycle mortality rate suggests a need for increased focus on motorcycle safety. Getting yourself caught up in these types of accidents could be overwhelming. It affects different aspects of your life, your physical health, taking time off work, and trying to fix your motorcycle, or worse, replace it.
But do you really need a lawyer? And when should you hire one?
Understanding the Severity of Your Injuries
Hazard determination and awareness are crucial relative to the next series of activities in a motorcycle crash.
Examine your body for any signs of pain, swelling, or restriction in movement. Seek medical attention, regardless of your conclusions as to less or more severe injury. They may sometimes not be visible, such as in the case of concussions or internal injuries.
Southfield motorcycle accident lawyer Lawrence Falzon says if you are able to get up and move around safely after an accident, taking photos of the scene of the crash immediately after it happened could be crucial to your success with a subsequent personal injury suit.
Keep a record of the symptoms you experience and get copies of all medical notes concerning your evaluation. This will help you in your recovery and any claims you may want to pursue. Follow up on appointments; they are important for observing your progress.
Understanding your injuries allows you to get the necessary treatment and decide on the next course of action to protect your rights and ensure that you receive healing.
Determining Liability and Fault
While you recover from an accident on a motorcycle, the other thing is to find out who caused it. To prove an accident, take photos, get witness statements, or obtain a police report that clears the incident.
Check for violations of traffic laws, as they could alter liability assignment. Could the other driver have been doing something wrong: speeding, distracted, or drunk?
It is also possible that other factors affected the accident, such as road conditions or seized brakes. As for liability, it will determine not only your avenues for recovery but also your potential compensation.
An attorney can assist you through this process.
Dealing with Insurance Claims
After establishing liability, dealing with insurance claims is next.
Be sure to gather all the relevant documents, the police report, medical records, and any evidence found from the accident scene.
Contact your insurer and report the incident immediately, but do not report many details. The adjusters will spend time trying to find a way to deny, reduce, or limit payment on your claim, so you must be prepared to fight for it.
Write everything down. Keep a record of all communications you have with the insurance company about the injury, including names, dates, and short summaries of the discussions.
If you begin to feel overwhelmed or find yourself having difficulties, seek an attorney to deal with the insurers so that you get what you deserve for your injury and damages.
Facing Complex Legal Issues
Complex legal issues after a motorcycle wreck demand specific knowledge about your rights and options. You’re faced with liability and responsibility issues, where multiple parties share blame, and this complicates your case.
Insurance policies can be some difficult-to-handle laws, and you will have to read the very fine print. Everything grows increasingly challenging if government entities or uninsured motorists are involved in the accident.
Should you face criminal charges related to the accident, you should immediately have an attorney. An attorney with knowledge and experience in those motorcycle accident cases will assist you through these complexities to make sound decisions for your protection.
The key point is to not overlook the importance of legal assistance at this time.
Seeking Fair Compensation for Damages
With so many challenges in the path of fair compensation for damages, the motorcycle crash would have quite a set of consequences for you.
There are the medical bills, loss of wages, and damages to your vehicle, in addition to the mental agony and suffering. Evidence collection is important in such cases: police reports, accident reports, medical records, etc.
They will also help you file insurance claims. They would do whatever it takes to make sure you receive proper compensation for your losses.