If you have suffered an injury in a motorcycle accident, you may be eligible for compensation under state law. However, compensation only comes at the conclusion of what is often a lengthy and difficult legal process. The other driver’s insurance company will make your claim as difficult as possible to gain the upper hand over you in the legal process. If you do not have a McLean motorcycle accident lawyer on your side, you can end up leaving money on the table that you need to cover your expenses in the future. Read on to learn more about how an attorney can help you after a motorcycle wreck.
Your Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Begins to Work Immediately
A motorcycle accident lawyer can help you as early on as your initial consultation. Their first role will be to listen to you and learn the facts of your case before explaining your potential legal options for compensation. As soon as you hire a motorcycle accident lawyer, they will begin to investigate what happened intending to assemble the physical evidence you need to prove your case. Your r may speak to witnesses, obtain pictures or video from the scene, or get other evidence to support your claim.
Your Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Estimates the Value of Your Damages
Before you communicate with the insurance company, you need to know how much to seek in compensation. This is a detailed calculation that requires a lot of work and forethought. You have to justify and prove your damages to be paid for them. You can be compensated for both economic and non-economic costs associated with your injuries.
Before you communicate with the insurance company, you need to know how much to seek in compensation. This is a detailed calculation that requires a lot of work and forethought. You have to justify and prove your damages to be paid for them. You can be compensated for both economic and non-economic costs associated with your injuries.
An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer will meticulously evaluate every aspect of your case to ensure no potential damages are overlooked. They’ll consider obvious costs like medical bills and lost wages, but also factor in future expenses such as ongoing rehabilitation or reduced earning capacity.
Your attorney will also assess the full impact of non-economic damages, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. These intangible losses can be substantial in motorcycle accidents, where injuries are often severe and life-altering.
By conducting a thorough analysis, your lawyer will arrive at a comprehensive figure that truly reflects the full extent of your losses. This detailed estimate becomes a powerful tool in negotiations, helping to counter lowball offers from insurance companies and setting the stage for fair compensation.
Your Motorcycle Accident Attorney Files a Claim or Lawsuit
Once you know the amount of your damages, your lawyer will file an insurance claim or, less commonly, a motorcycle accident lawsuit against the responsible driver. Your motorcycle accident attorney will submit your claim and the demand letter that begins the process. This claim will include the supporting proof of what happened to cause the accident and evidence of your damages.
Your Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Negotiates with the Insurance Company
The hard work begins when the insurance company responds to your claim. You may wonder whether their initial settlement offer is an error because it is so much less than your lawyer requested. However, the initial offer is part of a strategy to get you to settle for much less than your case with worth.
Your motorcycle accident attorney will review any settlement offers you receive and let you know whether it is in your best interest to accept the offer. Chances are, your motorcycle accident attorney will advise you to reject at least one settlement offer. They can give you strategic advice on whether it makes sense to continue negotiating with the insurance company or to take your case to court in a lawsuit.
A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Defends You from Allegations
One of the most valuable roles your lawyer will perform for you is to defend you from allegations the insurance company may make against you. In some states, it is possible to be denied compensation entirely if you bear some of the blame for the accident. Even if you qualify for financial compensation, the size of your check can be reduced. Insurance companies know that they can get away with blaming the biker when they do not have a motorcycle accident attorney, and it is their favorite tactic to try to save money. The public views motorcyclists as riskier than the average person, and insurance companies try to take advantage of that perception to the fullest extent possible, especially if your case ever goes in front of a jury.
The Insurance Company Does Not Get to Determine Your Amount of Compensation
You do not have to allow the insurance company to dictate anything to you during a settlement negotiation. You have the legal right to compensation, and do not have to accept their characterization of your actions. Your motorcycle accident attorney will work to tell your own story and counteract any allegations that the insurance company may make. If the insurance company still insists on blaming you for the accident, in whole or in part, you can take your case all the way to trial, where you will get an objective decision from an unbiased jury. Then, your motorcycle accident attorney will present your evidence to the jury in the hopes of them awarding you the maximum possible amount of compensation for your injuries.
You should not attempt to handle any part of the motorcycle accident legal process on your own. Not only are you dealing with injuries from the accident, but there are mistakes that you can make that may gravely complicate your chances of success in the legal process. Trusting the insurance company is about the worst possible thing you can do in a motorcycle accident claim. When you hire a motorcycle accident attorney, they will stand up to the insurance company on your behalf when you need it. Otherwise, the insurance company may take advantage of you every chance they get.
Contact a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Near You Today
The time to hire a motorcycle accident attorney is now. An attorney will protect your rights and deal with the insurance company on your behalf. Contact a skilled personal injury lawyer today to schedule a free case evaluation and start the process of getting the compensation you deserve.