Have you or someone you love suffered an injury in a motorcycle accident? Are you terrified of opening the mail and seeing those huge medical bills? Concerned about losing income because you had to take a month off during your recovery?
A motorcycle accident attorney can help. While not every accident requires an attorney’s assistance, many victims are best served by retaining a motorcycle accident attorney. After all, motorcyclists are exposed to crash forces during accidents, and injuries can be severe.
Keep reading to learn when to hire an attorney after a motorcycle accident.
If you have questions about a motorcycle accident case, contact an attorney in your area for more information. A local motorcycle accident lawyer is a source of critical legal and case information. You can request a free consultation to see if the attorney believes you have a case that can lead to compensation.
Why Do Motorcycle Wrecks Occur?
You may be a safe biker, but avoiding every motorcycle wreck is impossible. Other drivers may make mistakes and engage in negligent acts that injure you on your motorcycle. Some of the most common reasons for motorcycle accidents are listed below.
- Driver makes a left turn in front of you: It’s common for drivers to make a left turn in front of a motorcyclist going straight. The driver may not have seen you, but it doesn’t matter: Drivers are required to drive safely and look out for other motorists, including motorcyclists. The driver can also be distracted by a cell phone, car conversation, or being under the influence.
- Driver changes lanes into you: Motorcycles are smaller and harder to see, so drivers may not see you when they make a lane change. Drivers must always look for other motorists and check their blind spots, but blind spot accidents frequently involve motorcyclists.
- Driver rear-ends you: A rear-end crash into a bike can trigger severe injuries. The driver can be distracted for many reasons, but they may not have seen you on your motorcycle. Rear-end accidents involving motorcycles are common in traffic and at intersections.
- Driver hits you head-on: A negligent or distracted motorist may leave their lane and veer into oncoming traffic. This can cause a head-on crash with a motorcycle that is always serious and often fatal for the biker.
- Driver’s action makes you lose control: Some serious motorcycle wrecks happen because of a driver’s negligent actions, but no contact is made. For instance, a driver might not see you in their blind spot. They move into your lane, requiring you to drive onto the shoulder, where you lose control and have a serious crash. This no-contact crash still would be the driver’s fault.
There are also motorcycle wrecks that happen for other reasons. Some motorcycle accidents happen because of bike defects or poorly designed roads. Perhaps the brake pads on your motorcycle are defective, and you can’t stop in traffic. This would be a product liability claim.
Another possibility is that the road design causes large amounts of water to pool on the highway. You hit the water on your motorcycle and hydroplane and lose control. An attorney can also prove that the government’s road design or construction was at fault for the accident.
When You Should Hire A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Retaining an attorney after a motorcycle accident is usually advisable for the following reasons. Generally, you may not need a lawyer if the crash caused no injuries or property damage. However, a skilled lawyer should probably handle any motorcycle accident with even “minor” injuries.
Motorcycle Crashes Usually Cause Serious Injuries
Some car accident victims may only have minor injuries, such as cuts and bruises, that don’t require an attorney’s help. Handling the case alone is possible if the claim is only worth a few hundred dollars of medical bills plus property damage.
Such a rosy scenario is unlikely after a typical motorcycle accident. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IHHS) reports that motorcyclists are a staggering 28 times more likely to die as auto occupants for every mile traveled. Further, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports there were 5,932 fatal motorcycle wrecks in a single recent year.
Motorcycle crash victims seldom leave the accident scene unscathed. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety states that bikers are 28 times more likely as car occupants to be killed in a crash per mile traveled. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states there were 5,285 deadly motorcycle crashes in 2016 alone.
These grim statistics tell us that motorcycle crashes are often severe, and injury and death are more likely than not. A motorcycle attorney is a vital partner in a motorcycle accident claim with serious injuries. They will tirelessly represent your best interests and never allow the stingy insurance company to lowball you.
Building A Robust Case Takes Skill
You’re cruising down a rural highway on your bike. Suddenly, an SUV drifts into your lane and sideswipes you, breaking your arm and leg. It might seem clear that the other driver hit you and is at fault. Surely, proving fault in this ‘clear-cut’ case will be easy? Not necessarily.
You will probably be in pain, stressed, and upset after the accident. Obtaining the critical evidence to prove liability may take time and effort. Perhaps no one saw the other driver leave their lane and hit you. Maybe there is only your and the other party’s word. In this common scenario, it’s possible the other driver can even blame you! Their insurance company may do the same and not want to pay your damages.
Don’t worry. A motorcycle accident attorney has experience with proving who caused an accident. Your lawyer will compile all of the important evidence to show the other party hit and injured you. Vital evidence your attorney may gather can be physical evidence from the road and vehicles, expert testimony, the type and nature of your injuries, the police report, surveillance video, and more.
The Insurance Company May Try To Stick It To You
Let’s be clear: The at-fault driver’s insurance company isn’t your friend. They aren’t interested in your well-being or a full recovery. Their sole aims are to reduce the compensation you receive or even deny the claim outright if possible. It doesn’t matter if their client was at fault, the insurance company just wants to minimize what you are paid.
A motorcycle crash attorney in your city knows all the tricks and gimmicks insurance companies rely on to stick it to injury victims. Your attorney won’t allow the insurance company to jerk you around and shortchange you.
Medical Bills for Motorcycle Crashes Are Usually Sky High
A motorcycle crash is never a good thing for riders. You are exposed to the mass and force of a huge vehicle made from metal, glass, rubber, and plastic. That 4,000-pound object slamming into you at high speed can do horrific damage and cause steep medical bills.
Many bikers are left with nasty injuries and months or years of painful recovery. Some accident victims die or suffer permanent disability. Your motorcycle crash lawyer will assess what you are owed for your medical bills, both now and in the future. If you need physical therapy and rehabilitation after the crash, your attorney will also ensure you receive fair payment. Your lawyer also will assess the compensation you are owed for lost earnings and pain and suffering.
Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Are Tenacious Litigators
Your attorney will fight for fair compensation for your injuries. However, the liable insurance company may balk and refuse to pay a fair amount. An experienced attorney knows when insurance negotiations are over and it’s time to sue.
Your lawyer knows the local courts and laws if the case goes to trial. They know the rules of evidence and how the case can be best constructed in court.
With a skilled attorney fighting for you, there’s no concern about understanding the law or court procedure. You don’t need to do anything other than fulfill whatever requests your attorney makes of you. Your focus can be on overcoming your injuries and getting better.
Less Stress
Can you fathom being seriously injured and stuck in a hospital for months? Imagine, at the same time, being forced to negotiate with lawyers and insurance companies that want to pay you as little as they can. You don’t want to deal with the stress of your motorcycle accident injury, as well as the stress of insurance negotiations.
Your motorcycle accident attorney will lift this burden from your shoulders. They will speak to the insurance company lawyers and demand what you deserve. If the insurance company tries to lowball you, the attorney can take them to court and see how the jury feels about it.
Remember: Motorcycle Accidents Often Cause Catastrophic Injuries
We previously explained that hiring a motorcycle accident attorney after a crash is strongly recommended in many cases. It’s important to reiterate the most critical time to hire an attorney: when you have severe motorcycle crash injuries.
Motorcycle accidents can be severe, and the resulting injuries can be horrifying. When you have one or more of the following crash injuries, you should usually retain a motorcycle accident attorney:
- Broken bones: Fractures are one of the most common motorcycle crash injuries. Broken bones in these accidents can be in the hands, feet, arms, legs, ribs, and others. Some victims have multiple fractures and may need months of treatment.
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI): A TBI is a disruption in the brain’s function because of a blow, jolt, bump to the head, or penetrating injury. Many motorcycle accident victims hit their heads on the oncoming vehicle, the ground, or both. Wearing a helmet reduces the severity of some head injuries, but you still can have a serious head injury, anyway.
- Spinal injuries: Many accident victims suffer broken vertebrae that damage the spinal cord and paralysis results. You may suffer partial or full paralysis, requiring years of treatment and care. Some spinal cord injuries cause death.
- Joint dislocations: Many victims dislocate the knees, hips, ankles, wrists, or shoulders in motorcycle crashes.
- Road rash: This injury sounds minor, but it can be devastating. When you hit the ground after a crash, you may slide on the pavement and tear off skin and tissue all over your body. Road rash can cause many skin layers to rip off, causing great pain and disability. Infections are common, and skin grafts may be required over many months.
- Leg injuries: Lower leg injuries are common in motorcycle accidents, including fractures to the leg, ankles, and feet. It also is possible for the feet to be crushed by a heavy object during the accident. Most leg injuries don’t cause death, but there can be severe damage that affects your ability to walk.
These injuries can be debilitating, and medical care will be expensive. Attempting to negotiate a settlement for such severe injuries is a mistake. Insurance companies know that a severely injured motorcyclist isn’t knowledgeable in the law, medical care, or insurance negotiations. The insurance adjuster will almost certainly offer a fraction of your case’s value.
Only a skilled and seasoned motorcycle wreck lawyer can value your claim correctly. They have experience with insurance negotiations and litigation, so let an attorney handle your case when you suffer a severe injury. You can focus on improving, and your motorcycle accident attorney will take on the insurance and legal systems for the best case result.
Speak To A Motorcycle Accident Attorney Now
Did a recent motorcycle accident crush you with serious injuries and render you unable to work? If another person hits you on your bike, you should retain an experienced lawyer immediately. Only a motorcycle accident lawyer possesses the skills, training, resources, and legal knowledge to maximize your financial recovery. Your health and future are at stake: Contact a personal injury lawyer in Tupelo today. The legal consultation is free, and you will not be charged legal fees unless they win your case.
