(Newswire.net — June 6, 2021) — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that at least 80 percent of people involved in motorcycle accidents are injured or killed. Furthermore, many of the people who are killed or injured in motorcycle accidents are not even at fault. If you, or someone you care about, has been injured in a motorcycle accident due to the negligence of another party, it is important that you seek professional representation to protect your rights and recoup compensation for the damages you have suffered. As part of this process, there are several pieces of critical information you should be aware of when taking legal action following a motorcycle accident.
1. Steps to take following a motorcycle accident
Understanding what you should do immediately following a motorcycle accident is critical. Taking the right steps is critical to protecting your legal rights. Even a small misstep could put your personal injury claim in jeopardy. In addition, you run the risk of reducing the compensation you might otherwise be able to obtain.
The first step you should take is to contact emergency personnel while remaining as calm as possible. If you are not able to contact 911 on your own, try to get someone to do it for you. Immediately, seek medical attention. Even if you do not think you are injured, it’s still a good idea to seek medical attention. You should also speak to law enforcement personnel, but under no circumstances should you admit to any fault regarding the accident. When possible, gather whatever information you can from eyewitnesses to the accident as well as any available evidence. If you are able to do so, take photos of the accident scene as well as the damage to your motorcycle. Finally, contact your insurance company and an experienced personal injury attorney.
2. Understand the compensation that may be available in motorcycle accident cases
Following a motorcycle accident, you may be subjected to missed wages, medical bills, and many other expenses. Do not delay in filing a lawsuit to obtain the maximum amount of compensation you are due to help in paying for these expenses and damages. Possible damages you may be able to recover include missed wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and reduced earning potential. Certainly, no amount of money can make up for what happened to you, there is no reason why you should have to carry these expenses on your own after being injured due to the negligence of another person.
3. Should you accept a settlement offer?
When you are reeling from the trauma of a motorcycle accident, it can be tempting to accept the first offer an insurance company makes. This is particularly true if you are facing a mound of medical bills. Accepting the first offer made is a mistake, however. The goal of the insurance company is to save money. By accepting the first offer, you could miss out on the opportunity to pursue everything due to you.
4. What do I need to do to bring legal action if I’m involved in a motorcycle accident?
The first step you should take is to consult an attorney with experience in handling personal injury cases. Specifically, look for an attorney with experience in representing motorcycle accident cases and who has a track record of winning verdicts in the favor of their clients.