After a motorcycle accident, victims have lots of questions. The answers to some of the most common are listed here. For specifics in your case, contact us at (303) 815 1585 to discuss your case in detail.
What should I do if I’ve been in a motorcycle accident?
As soon as possible after your accident, take photographs of the accident scene. If you can’t do it yourself, ask someone you know to help. Vehicles will be moved, debris will be cleared, the scene will be cleaned up, and after enough time, traffic patterns and signals will be changed. Photographs of the scene as it was at the time of your accident may be crucial to your case. If the police investigate the accident, their report may also be useful to prove responsibility for the accident.
Don’t make any admissions or statements about what happened right before the accident, such as “I didn’t see you” or “I was probably going too fast,” to the other driver(s) or any insurance adjuster. Statements like that could be used to shift blame for the accident onto you. Similarly, don’t make any statements about the extent of your injuries, or apologize for the accident in any way.
Even if you do not believe you were badly injured in your accident, visit your primary care provider as soon as you can after the accident. Your physician might uncover injuries that you were unaware existed. Prompt treatment may be critical to establishing that any injuries were the result of the accident and not something else.
Finally, you should contact a motorcycle accident attorney as soon as practical to discuss your claim, your legal rights, and what kind of compensation you might be entitled.
Should I accept the settlement the other driver’s insurance company offered me?
Never accept a settlement from an insurance company without first speaking with an attorney. An attorney can tell you how much compensation you may be entitled to receive. The insurance companies are in business to make money, and they want to pay out little as possible to accident victims. An insurance company knows what your claim is worth, but they bank on the fact that you don’t and might be willing to take a lowball offer because you are under the pressure of mounting medical expenses, personal expenses, and lost income from missing work. The insurance companies hope that your need for cash will make you jump at the first settlement they offer. But an experienced motorcycle accident attorney can fight back against the insurance companies until they offer you a fair and reasonable settlement.
What kind of compensation am I entitled?
In a personal injury claim for a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to a variety of compensation, including:
- Past and future medical expenses — Medical expenses may include surgeries, hospital stays, doctor’s visits, chiropractic work, physical therapy, medication, durable medical equipment, and even costs to renovate your home to accommodate physical disabilities arising from your injuries.
- Past and future lost wages — This compensation not only covers lost income from missed work but also income you miss out on if you have to work a new job with fewer hours or at a lower rate of pay than before your injury.
- Property damage — The costs to repair or replace your motorcycle after a crash can be reimbursed.
- Pain and suffering — You are entitled to compensation for the pain from your injuries as well as the loss of quality of life (for example, if your injuries prevent you from participating in activities you used to do).
- Loss of consortium — Depending on your marital and family status, your family members may be entitled to claim the loss of your companionship and services to the family.
Other compensation may apply depending on the details of your case.
How long will it take to resolve my claim?
The motorcycle attorneys of Eddington Law aggressively pursue each claim. However, the time it takes to resolve a claim depends on many factors. If the other party accepts responsibility for your accident, settling your claim may simply be a straightforward method of calculating your damages. In other cases where the other party denies responsibility, it may be necessary to take your claim to court. If we file suit on your behalf, we work as quickly to resolve your case as the court system allows.
