Despite making up only a small percentage of total vehicle accidents, motorcycle accidents result in a disproportionately large number of total crash deaths. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reports that motorcyclists are 28 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a motor vehicle crash.
For those motorcyclists who survive such an accident, many sustain serious injuries, such as: paralysis, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), internal organ injuries, neck injuries, muscle and soft-tissue strains, facial lacerations, fractures, and more. In the vast majority of cases, they will miss a substantial amount of work time and accumulate huge medical bills.
Motorcyclists suffering injuries are often rushed to a hospital and are not available to participate in the police department’s accident report. Many such victims later find out that the car driver may have told the police that the motorcyclist was primarily responsible for causing the accident. The driver’s insurance company may soon thereafter contact the motorcyclist and try to pressure him/her into a small compensation settlement that won’t begin to cover medical bills and lost wages.
That’s why, if you’ve been the victim of such an accident, you should consider engaging legal representation, specifically an experienced motorcycle accident attorney. Completing all the paperwork requirements and understanding the confusing legal jargon can be particularly frustrating for those who do not have a legal background. Moreover, you can be assured that the driver’s insurance company will be well represented by a team of legal and insurance experts.
In order to secure the compensation you deserve, it will need to be proven that the auto driver was negligent. For example, was the driver changing lanes, driving while texting or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident? Your attorney can help build your case, reconstructing the accident scene, interviewing witnesses, and negotiating with insurance companies.
A few tips you may want to consider:
Get the medical help you need as soon as possible. Don’t try to be brave and refuse the help of first responders. Many injuries may not surface until a few days after the accident, so it’s important to visit medical professionals. Their medical report could be useful in securing your compensation.
Don’t sign anything – especially an offer by the other driver’s insurance company – without speaking first with an attorney.
Don’t agree to be recorded. An insurance company representative may ask to record the call when speaking with you. Your words could be used against you in court.
There are many options to consider when seeking compensation after a motorcycle accident, as a motorbike accident injury law firm in Las Vegas, NV at a firm like The Law Office of Eglet Adams, can explain.