Personal injuries and damages caused by a motorcycle accident can be tricky to handle on your own. Not only will you have to handle insurance providers that can be extremely reluctant to accept motorcycle accident claims, but you are also likely to face challenges in gathering evidence and completing all the paperwork on time.
If you are a victim of an accident, an attorney can maximize your settlement claim and make the entire process less stressful for you. Here is some additional information about the accident claim process in Colorado and the common causes of car accidents. You are welcome to continue reading to learn more about how a motorcycle accident injury attorney can maximize your compensation in a motorcycle accident case.
Full and Fair Compensation for Serious Injuries and Damages
A motorcycle accident can result in serious injuries and damage. With serious injuries, some of which can be long-term, it can be challenging to calculate the real value of your settlement claim as different types of medical treatments might be required. This includes rehabilitation costs and emergency medical services.
Some of the most common injuries associated with motorcycle accidents include traumatic brain injuries, ruptured organs, fractured bones, whiplash, road rash, and concussions. All of these injuries have the potential to be severe and debilitating.
Property damage, loss of future income, pain and suffering, loss of household productivity, and other types of damages are also common in motorcycle accidents. An experienced attorney can make your life easier by offering expert advice on dealing with serious injuries and damages resulting from a motorcycle accident and increasing your chances of getting the maximum settlement claim.
As motorcycle riders are at higher risk of injury in an accident, the insurance providers typically offer high coverage compared to automobile insurance. An attorney can help you get the maximum benefits from insurance providers.
Collecting Evidence and Handling Paperwork
As motorcycles are smaller than cars, it can be challenging to gather evidence from a physical inspection of the motorcycle. In most cases, gathering evidence right after a motorcycle accident is not always the top priority of the individuals involved in the accident.
Almost half of motorcycle accidents involve alcohol, which means obtaining the toxicology report or drug test of the driver can be crucial to your case. An attorney who is experienced in motorcycle accident cases can help you gather evidence using their network of resources and professional guidance. They can also guide you on what type of evidence is admissible and will help strengthen your case.
Along with collecting evidence, an attorney can help you handle all the required paperwork. This includes all paperwork needed to file a court case, prepare for the trial, and handle all the paperwork requirements of the insurance companies. While the attorney can work on collecting evidence and handling all the paperwork, motorcycle accident victims can concentrate on fully recovering from the accident.
Motorcycle Accidents Are Often Complex
There are several factors that make motorcycle accidents more complex than automobile accidents. The severity of injuries, lack of evidence, the experience level of the motorcycle rider, road conditions, determination of who was at fault, special insurance policies for motorcycle accidents, societal biases against motorcyclists, and other factors can all contribute to the complexity of a motorcycle accident case.
Fortunately, experienced personal injury lawyers have the expertise to handle even the most complex motorcycle accident cases. They often have the resources to help build a strong case. This includes getting assistance from accident reconstructionists, insurance experts, and medical experts.
One of the top causes of motorcycle accidents is the lack of experience of the motorcycle rider. Any such vulnerability in the case can be exploited by the opposition party, especially if you don’t have a lawyer with you.
Communication with Insurance Companies
After experiencing the physical and mental trauma of a motorcycle accident, the last thing you want to worry about is handling all the communication and paperwork required by insurance companies. The insurance company representatives are trained and experienced in minimizing the payouts and costs for their company. You can benefit from having an experienced attorney on your side, who can guide you on communication, negotiations, sharing of information, paperwork, and other aspects of dealing with the insurance company.
Anything you say to the insurance company or any records that you share with them can weaken your case. They might even try aggressive negotiation tactics for you to accept their first offer, which is likely to be unfairly low. You can equip yourself with more knowledge about motorcycle insurance by learning more about common misconceptions about motorcycle insurance to understand the key differences between motorcycle and automobile insurance.
Another thing to keep in mind is that insurance adjusters can have a bias against motorcycle riders, because of a preconceived notion that motorcycle riders are reckless. You might even face a similar bias against motorcycle riders by the jury. A motorcycle accident attorney is aware of such biases, and can use their experience and skills to strengthen your case.
Maximize the Settlement Claim
One of the most important reasons to hire a motorcycle accident lawyer is to maximize your settlement claim. A lawyer will examine all the factors of your accident to guide you on the types of compensation you can get and the best legal strategy to strengthen your case. An experienced lawyer can also guide you on whether taking your case to trial is better or if you should settle with the opposition party.
A lawyer can guide you through the entire process, starting from gathering evidence to settlement negotiations. Without the guidance of an attorney, you might succumb to accepting a low offer as it can be tempting to accept any amount of money and get done with it. A lawyer can recognize an unreasonable offer and advise you of your chances of getting a larger settlement.
What is the Motorcycle Accident Claim Process?
As a first step, your attorney will investigate the accident to fully understand the case. This can include obtaining a police report, looking at videos or photos from the accident site, reviewing medical reports, interviewing witnesses, and gathering evidence to establish liability. In some cases, it can be tricky to establish liability, as both parties might be partly at fault. Once the liability has been established, your attorney can guide you on the best course of legal action.
After all the facts and evidence have been gathered, the lawyer will start building your case to devise the best course of action. This could be going to a trial or settling the case. If negotiating a settlement is the best option, your attorney can send a demand letter to the opposing party and negotiate a settlement offer. If you take the litigation route, it is a longer process; however, it can be more rewarding in terms of compensation for your suffering.
For more details about the legal proceedings for a motorcycle accident injury, you can contact an experienced attorney in your area. They should be able to guide you on the next steps and advise you on maximizing your settlement claim.
