Suffering injuries in a motorcycle accident can negatively impact your life in multiple ways. Recovering from the accident can be a slow, difficult, and frustrating process.
Insurance companies rarely provide motorcyclists the compensation they deserve after an accident. This is one of the most important reasons why you need a motorcycle accident lawyer on your side.
10 Ways a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Help You
A knowledgeable motorcycle accident lawyer will take on a number of different responsibilities in order to represent you effectively. These include:
1. Collecting Evidence of Liability
To recover fair compensation for a motorcycle accident, you first need to collect evidence of negligence or wrongdoing on the part of another party (usually the driver of a motor vehicle). When you hire a motorcycle accident lawyer, one of the first things your attorney will do is conduct an investigation focused on gathering all of the evidence that is available.
2. Determining Who Is at Fault
Based on the available evidence, your lawyer can determine what caused the motorcycle accident and who is responsible. Even if it seems fairly obvious that a negligent driver is to blame, this doesn’t necessarily mean that filing a claim under the driver’s auto insurance policy is your only option. Depending on the circumstances involved, you may have claims against one or more additional parties.
3. Understanding Your Motorcycle Accident Injuries
The most important thing to do after a motorcycle accident is to seek medical attention. Injuries in motorcycle accidents tend to be serious. Along with receiving immediate care, you need to ensure that the nature and extent of your injuries are fully documented.
A motorcycle accident lawyer will thoroughly review your medical records. Your attorney will also consult medical experts to understand the long-term impact of your injuries, including potential limitations, ongoing medical care, and more. Documentary evidence and expert testimony are both essential in order to account for the full impact of the motorcycle accident on your life.
Read More: What to Do After a Serious Motorcycle Accident
4. Calculating Your Immediate and Long-Term Costs
Damages in a motorcycle accident claim encompass both the costs you have incurred to date as well as any expenses you are expected to face in the future. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can calculate the full compensation you are due for economic losses such as medical expenses, lost earnings, and more.
5. Valuing Your Pain and Suffering
Recoverable damages for a motorcycle accident are not limited solely to financial losses. You may also be entitled to compensation for the pain and suffering you experience as a result of the motorcycle accident. These non-economic damages are difficult to calculate on your own, which is why it is important to consult a motorcycle accident lawyer promptly.
6. Filing a Claim (or Claims) on Your Behalf
You might not need to sue to recover compensation for a motorcycle accident. A motorcycle accident lawyer can make a claim or claims on your behalf against all liable parties and their insurers.
7. Negotiating for a Fair Settlement
Many motorcycle accident claims are resolved via settlement. After calculating your losses, your lawyer can attempt to negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf.
You are at a decided disadvantage if you try to settle the case on your own. It is in your best interest to hire a motorcycle accident lawyer who can draw on his or her experience to overcome the insurance companies’ defense tactics and show that it is in the best interests of all parties to settle.
8. Helping You Decide When (and If) to Settle
If you receive a settlement offer, you need to make an informed decision about whether to accept. Your lawyer can help you make this decision based on the value of the settlement offer, your long-term needs, and the likelihood that you will collect more if you take your case to court.
9. Filing a Lawsuit (If Necessary)
If accepting an offer to settle is not in your best interest, it may be necessary to file a lawsuit and – eventually – go to court. In this scenario, you will need an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer who is familiar with the facts and who can prepare your case for trial.
10. Going to Court (If Necessary)
Your motorcycle accident claim can be settled at any time before trial and even during court proceedings. However, it is crucial to have a motorcycle accident lawyer with trial experience who can represent you in court as necessary with the goal of maximizing your award.
A motorcyclist is highly likely to be seriously injured or even killed in the event of an accident. Insurance companies rarely play fair when riders and their families seek compensation.
If you were hurt in a motorcycle accident through no fault of your own or you lost a loved one in a crash caused by someone else, Patrick Daniel Law can help. We are Strategic, Meticulous, and Merciless, which means our team builds a strong claim on your behalf and aggressively pursues the optimal outcome in your case.
Please call Patrick Daniel Law at (713) 999-6666 today for a free case review. Our motorcycle accident lawyers serve clients throughout Houston and all of Texas.