How can a motorcycle accident lawyer help victims? Motorcycle accidents can be deadly and costly for those involved. Medical bills for motorcycle accident victims are often expensive. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) data shows that 80% of motorcycle accidents result in injury or death. Victims often leave with astronomical medical costs and lost wages, earning enough compensation to cover those losses.
Locals and visitors use Florida’s year-round sunshine to explore motorcycles’ roadways. Unfortunately, Florida ranks as one of the most dangerous places for motorcycle riders due to the high number of bikers in the state and heavy traffic.
If you were not at fault, you should not be liable for the cost of your injuries, which is where an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can help.
Working with an experienced St Petersburg motorcycle accident lawyer is essential to getting the financial compensation you need for an accident caused by someone else’s negligence or negligence.
But filing a successful lawsuit against the party responsible can be difficult. There are many legal considerations, and dealing with insurance companies is no picnic. Fortunately, by hiring an experienced motorcycle accident attorney, you can overcome many obstacles and recover from the incident with peace of mind.
Common injuries suffered in motorcycle accidents
You are significantly more likely to sustain serious, fatal, and catastrophic injuries in a motorcycle accident. These injuries can completely change the victim’s life by leaving them permanently disabled, suffering from ongoing agony, and drastically reducing their quality of life.
In most cases, victims will need numerous medical procedures, extensive hospital stays, and rehabilitation. Additionally, they could require ongoing assistance from caregivers or family members to meet their daily needs.
The most frequent wounds suffered in motorbike collisions are listed below.
- Head injuries, including tremors
- Facial injuries, including possible deformities or vision loss
- Broken jaw, including tooth loss
- Neck and back injuries, including possible paralysis
- Serious limb injuries, including possible amputation
- Broken bones
- Injuries to internal organs
- Severe cuts and bruises
- Street rash with risk of contagion
Motorcycle Accidents can Cause Permanent Injuries
You may have an injury that leaves you with a permanent disability. For example, you may be unable to walk after a motorcycle accident. It is also possible that you will not be able to continue the same job or time as before the accident, resulting in a loss of income that can leave your family in financial difficulties.
If someone else hits and causes your injuries, you have the right to pay for pain, suffering, medical bills, and lost wages.
What to do Immediately After a Motorcycle Accident? How can a motorcycle accident lawyer help victims?
First things first: make sure you’re okay. Then, when the road is calm, and there is no immediate danger, sit down, count your fingers, and see if you can move your arms. Then, if you can get around on your own, get up and go to a safer place than the middle of the road.
Steps to Follow After a Motorcycle Accident
Be safe
If possible, get on the road and sidewalk. If you can’t move, ask people around you for help so they can block traffic. Keep your body in a neutral position and limit your range of motion. Keep your physical safety above your vehicle.
Call the police
Call 911 so the police can get to the accident scene as soon as possible. If property damage (over $500) occurs, file a police report. If you or someone involved is injured, seek medical attention.
Police reports can be critical in your efforts to recover from damage to your bike, clothing, or bodily injury, which may not be apparent for many hours or even days after the accident! Therefore, it is essential to report the accident to the police to make a case. Officers will maintain their record of the incident, which can be referenced later.
Be sure to write down the names and ID numbers of the responding officers. This will help your attorney gather all the information needed for your claim.
Get medical help as soon as possible
Adrenaline can also hide the pain and injuries. After a few hours, you may feel pain in your neck, back, joints, and other damages. If you were not taken to the hospital at the scene of the accident, you must see a doctor as soon as possible. If you don’t, the other party can claim that you weren’t hurt in the accident.
Gather evidence
Whatever the accident, collecting evidence immediately afterward is always a good idea. That means taking your photos, taking notes, and getting a copy of the police report. Take pictures of the site, the vehicle, and the damage done to you and your vehicle. Also, note the time and contact details of the accident eyewitnesses.
Report any injuries and symptoms
Describe in as much detail as possible what happened to the paramedics. This information may include the area of impact, where you fell, how you landed, and which parts of your body received the most significant impact. In addition, describe everything you feel physically, be it pain or numbness. The more they know about your injury and its symptoms, the better they can provide you with the proper treatment.
Talk to a lawyer and your insurer
When is the best time to speak with a personal injury attorney? The sooner, the better! Hiring a qualified motorcycle accident attorney can make all the difference in your insurance billing. Most insurers offer the lowest possible amount, but an accident attorney can help you negotiate with insurers. Consulting a St Petersburg motorcycle accident lawyer before agreeing to any settlement is always a good idea. Your attorney will usually speak to your insurance company on your behalf, but regardless of who your insurance company contacts, you should always talk to them promptly.
Identification of possible witnesses
Often, the driver of the other car involved in an accident accepts responsibility at the scene of the accident but later denies fault. Worse yet, investigating law enforcement officers are not allowed to document any identifying information about witnesses. So, if you file a lawsuit, there will be no one to back your side of the story. In this situation, the outcome of the dispute may depend on which drive the jury creates.
Protecting the interests of the injured person
The injured person in a motorcycle accident has some legal rights. They are entitled to insurance claims for their treatment and recovery. However, the insurance companies usually don’t inform the person about those rights, nor are they obliged to do so. They want the injured person not to hire a lawyer, as doing so will make the wounded more likely to negotiate with the insurance company.
Insurance providers are not interested in settlement negotiations. They know their responsibility will decrease the faster a dispute is settled. Any further costs, such as medical bills or missed earnings, are no longer the insurance company’s responsibility if a motorcycle accident victim accepts a settlement offer. An attorney with experience knows when to claim for a client who has been hurt in a motorcycle accident. This is beneficial since it might lead to the sufferer receiving a better settlement.
What a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can do
Hiring a St Petersburg motorcycle accident lawyer can help the victim to fight their case and get compensation for their injuries. Here is why you should hire a lawyer when involved in a motorcycle accident.
Making a Strong Motorcycle Accident Claim
To make a successful motorcycle accident claim against the liable party’s insurer, you need strong evidence to prove that:
- An accident happened, and you were injured as a result
- The incident is the result of the negligence of the person responsible.
- You suffered a loss as a result of the accident.
A lawyer knows the correct evidence to prove all the above elements of the case. This helps them calculate the total loss accurately and make a complete motorcycle accident claim.
Determine the dollar amount of your loss
An experienced accident attorney understands the complexities of injuries associated with a motorcycle collision and how to calculate the maximum potential damage you can cause. The loss estimate is an important starting point for your claim or lawsuit.
Obtaining important evidence
Motorcycle accident attorneys have handled many similar cases. You can comprehensively review your complaint to identify the responsible party for the accident. Plus, they know the right places to look for vital evidence to prove errors and negligence, including:
- Traffic camera footage
- Police report
- A testimony
- Accident scene photos
- Perspectives of an Accident
Independent and accurate tests
In most motorcycle accidents, multiple parties can be held responsible. Your attorney can independently investigate your case to determine what caused the accident and which parties may be liable for your losses and damages following a motorcycle accident.
Coleman Law Group
Suppose a defective or poorly maintained motorcycle was to blame for your accident. In that case, a lawyer could also help you with the challenging process of trying to recover damages from the manufacturer. The Coleman Law Group can assist you in obtaining the most compensation for the injuries you sustained due to the other party’s negligence during the accident.
