A motorcycle accident can cause severe harm and property damage. Figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicate that 80 percent of reported motorcycle accidents cause injuries or fatalities. Victims are often left with astronomical medical costs and lost wages, hence deserve sufficient compensation to cover these losses.
But it can be challenging to file a successful claim against the responsible party. There are many legal considerations, and dealing with insurance companies isn’t a walk in the park. Fortunately, you can beat the numerous hurdles and have peace of mind as you recover from the incident when you involve a knowledgeable motorcycle accident lawyer.
How a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Help Your Case
Technically, it’s possible to file a successful motorcycle accident claim without legal counsel. But you’ll have better chances of winning your case if you involve a reputable motorcycle accident attorney.
So what does a motorcycle accident attorney do? Let’s jump in!
Obtaining Crucial Evidence
Motorcycle accident attorneys have handled numerous similar cases. They can analyze your claim comprehensively to determine the liable parties. Furthermore, they understand the right places to seek crucial evidence to prove fault and negligence, including:
- Traffic camera recordings
- Police reports
- Witness statements
- Pictures of the crash scene
- Insights of an accident reconstructionist
Explaining Your Rights
If it’s your first time in this position, it’ll be challenging to determine where to turn, and you’ll have many questions. It can be challenging to file a successful claim if you don’t know your rights and entitlements. Your motorcycle accident attorney can be the guiding light after the crash, ensuring you know your legal rights and understand the crucial elements of your case.
Conducting Independent, Accurate Investigations
In most motorcycle accident claims, several parties could be liable. Your attorney can investigate your case independently to ascertain what caused the accident and which parties can be responsible for compensating you for your losses and harm after the motorbike crash.
Such investigations may require expert witness testimonies regarding the accident and your injuries. An attorney can do their analysis with your best interests in mind.
Building a Solid Motorcycle Accident Claim
To file a successful motorcycle accident claim against the responsible party’s insurer, you need solid evidence to prove the following:
- The accident occurred, and you suffered injuries as a result
- The incident was a result of the responsible party’s negligence
- You suffered damages from the accident
An attorney knows the proper evidence to prove all the above elements of the case. They’ll also wait until you’ve attained maximum medical improvement, the level at which you’ve fully recovered with medical treatment. This will help them compute the total damages accurately and build a strong motorbike accident claim.
Handling Insurance Companies
It can be extremely stressful to handle the responsible driver’s insurance company after a motorcycle accident. Theoretically, it’s the responsibility of the at-fault party’s insurance company to make you “whole” again. So you’re entitled to adequate compensation to cover the accident-related expenses, injuries, and anguish.
But insurers are primarily businesses and will only prioritize their profitability. Most of them drag their heels when it’s time to offer adequate settlements to victims, while some provide lowball settlements to vulnerable victims. But your motorbike accident lawyer can deal with them appropriately to prevent exploitation.
Assessing Your Damages Comprehensively
You can’t recover a suitable settlement if you don’t know the worth of your claim. Your motorcycle accident attorney knows the damages to include in your case, including any anticipated future medical costs. Generally, the potential compensation after a motorcycle accident may include compensatory and punitive damages.
Compensatory damages
These are usually meant to cover the harm and property damage resulting from the motorcycle accident. They’re categorized into two:
- Economic damages – These are the victim’s financial losses linked to the motorcycle crash, including medical bills, lost wages, and repair replacement of damaged property.
- Non-economic damages – Unlike their economic counterparts, these don’t have a dollar value. They only comprise the subjective physical and emotional losses such as scarring, pain and suffering, disfigurement, and emotional trauma.
Punitive Damages
These are rare but possible. Your motorcycle accident attorney can fight for punitive damages if the at-fault party had malicious intentions or was extremely negligent. The court may award them as punishment and deterrence from such acts in the future.
Handling Negotiations
The law allows you to negotiate with an insurance provider for their settlement. However, you must be an excellent negotiator to get what you truly deserve. Fortunately, relying on a motorcycle accident lawyer will r your deserved compensation.
Moreover, you may have lenders and lienholders on your back, and it’s easy to be exploited and left without a cent. But your attorney knows how to deal with those negotiations to end up with a significant amount to cover your losses.
Representing You in Court
Most motorcycle accident claims resolve through insurance company negotiations, and you’ll recover the deserved compensation in just a few months. However, the insurer might refuse to compensate for the damages and harms after a crash. You’ll have to proceed to court for legal remedies in such circumstances, and it’ll not be easy if you’re not familiar with the process.
But the courts are your motorcycle attorney’s playground, and they understand the processes, loopholes, and possible outcomes. They can use their experience and knowledge of the law to ensure you get the deserved compensation. They can also file your claim according to the two-year deadline outlined in the Nevada statute of limitations.
Contact a Reputable Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today
You need solid legal representation to get the best outcome for your case, and fortunately, you don’t have to search long. Involving experienced lawyers from Pacific West Injury Law can make all the difference. You can consult with us for free, and we’ll only deduct the legal fees from the settlement check.
Reach out to claim your free case evaluation.
