Should I Get a Lawyer for a Motorcycle Accident?

Should I Get a Lawyer for a Motorcycle Accident?

If you want compensation for motorcycle accident injuries, call a motorcycle accident lawyer. The compensation you receive for your injuries depends on many factors. Without an experienced attorney, you could walk away with a far smaller payout than you deserve. After an accident, insurance companies work to minimize their payouts to injury victims. Meanwhile, the motorcyclist has to deal with an accident that turned their life upside down. Unfortunately, injury victims have to fight to get the financial resources they need.

A Motorcycle Crash Lawyer Will Fight for You

While tending to your injuries and stabilizing your life, you must deal with the other driver's insurance company. The adjuster owes a duty to the insurance company, which means your best interests are subordinate in the compensation calculation process. When you hire a motorcycle accident lawyer, you have someone to fight for you. An attorney will counter every action the insurance company takes to reduce or deny your claim. You can spend time recovering with the peace of mind that a seasoned professional is handling your case.

How a Motorcycle Lawyer Will Benefit Your Case?

Personal injury claims can be complex, but you don’t have to worry about this. Your motorcycle accident attorney will vigorously represent your interests at every stage of the process while you recover.

Give a Free Initial Consultation

First and foremost, a lawyer will sit down with you and review your case during an initial free consultation. At this stage, you will truly get an idea of the merits of your case and roughly how much compensation you could receive. Because the consultation is free, it is nothing but a benefit to request one.

Gather and Review Evidence

You need evidence to back up your damages and your version of the story. Your attorney will immediately gather and review witness testimony, police and medical reports, and traffic camera footage. A good attorney will hire expert witnesses to take a look at any available electronic data from the vehicles to establish fault. If necessary, they will hire accident reconstructionists to determine how the accident happened and who caused it.

Talk to Insurance Companies

Insurance adjusters look for any piece of evidence that will allow them to pay you less. A harmless phone call from an adjuster to an injury victim can lead to a denied claim. If you say something during the phone call that is indicative of your fault in your accident, the adjuster may lower or deny your claim. An experienced motorcycle crash lawyer will handle your interactions with the adjusters. Adjusters speak differently to attorneys than they do to injury victims. They know that a seasoned advocate is a formidable opponent who will fight to the end to get the compensation their client deserves.

Compensation for Motorcycle Accidents

Compensation for motorcycle accident injuries comes on a case-by-case basis. Each injury victim has a different set of damages. Given the high risk of catastrophic injury inherent in motorcycle riding, these damages are often significant and frequently life-changing. Typical motorcycle accident injuries include:

• Severe musculoskeletal damage
• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injury leading to paralysis
• Internal injuries and bleeding
• Facial and dental injuries
• Skin abrasions and burns

These injuries usually lead to expensive, time-consuming long-term medical treatment and rehabilitation. Injury victims need financial resources to cover their damages, which include:

• Mounting medical expenses
• Lost income from time off work
• Loss of future income-generating potential
• Expenses related to future medical care

As you can see, the damages listed above are economic. In Illinois, you can also seek compensation for non-economic damages, which include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of a normal life, disability or disfigurement, and even derivative claims for dependents or spouses for loss of consortium.

When to Speak with a Motorcycle Lawyer?

The sooner you speak to a motorcycle crash lawyer after an injury, the better. The passage of time can negatively impact your claim and, in some cases, nullify it. Speaking with a motorcycle attorney costs nothing and is worth your time. Even if you are unsure about the merits of your case, it makes sense to get a free professional opinion.

Before Talking to the Insurance Company

Insurance companies want to speak to you directly. Their phone calls are often fishing expeditions for any evidence that will let them pay you less. They also try to convince injury victims to take a quick and easy payout, knowing full well the payout is below what they deserve. If you talk to an attorney before taking a call from the insurance company, the adjuster never gets the opportunity to pressure you. They have to deal with your attorney, who will know a low-ball offer when they see one.

Before Statute of Limitations Lapses

Illinois has established time limits for filing injury claims. You have two years from the date of the injury to file your claim. If not, it becomes invalid, except under a few narrow circumstances. There is also a statute of limitations for property damage claims. If your motorcycle is damaged or totaled, Illinois law gives you five years from the date of the damage to file a claim. You won’t have to worry about time limits once you decide to employ a motorcycle accident lawyer. They will make sure your claim filing meets the appropriate deadline. If you’re outside of the deadlines, you may qualify for an exception to the time limits. An attorney can give you a free evaluation of your circumstances.

Handling an Inadequate or Denied Claim

If you have a denied claim or an insufficient offer from an insurance company, a motorcycle attorney may be able to help. When the claims process fails, you have the option of pursuing a personal injury lawsuit, which could lead to a trial. Although filing a lawsuit will mean getting compensation later, it may be your only chance to get the amount you deserve. Insurance companies know that injury victims face enormous financial pressures and hope these victims will settle for less. They also know that juries can award plaintiffs significant compensation. Should you get a lawyer for a motorcycle accident? The answer is yes if you want compensation for your injuries. Without one, you will face adjusters whose job is to save the insurance company money and pay you less.