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Important things to do after a motorcycle accident include getting immediate medical attention and hiring a proven motorcycle accident lawyer. Your doctor(s) and lawyer will tell you how to promote your recovery and the success of your claim or lawsuit.
One of the benefits of hiring a qualified Rutherfordton motorcycle accident lawyer is that you don’t have to do much after your accident other than focus on healing. Simply receive the treatment you need, get the necessary rest, and let an attorney from our team pursue the settlement you deserve.
What to Avoid Doing After a Motorcycle Accident
Now that you know what to do after a motorcycle accident—see a doctor and hire a lawyer—it is just as important to discuss what you should not do as the victim of a traffic accident. Some catastrophic mistakes a motorcycle accident victim can make include:
- Delaying medical treatment: If you do not receive medical treatment as soon as possible after the accident, you risk suffering catastrophic health problems. You also expose yourself to allegations that your injuries were not severe; otherwise, liable parties might claim that you would have sought immediate care.
- Speaking with insurers before hiring a lawyer: Insurance companies seem to serve accident victims but often put their interests before yours. Thus, you must be cautious when speaking with insurance adjusters. For example, it’s generally wise not to provide a recorded statement to insurers until you have retained a motorcycle accident lawyer.
- Accepting a lowball settlement: One of the biggest mistakes you can make is accepting a settlement offer without allowing an attorney to review it. You may not know what a fair settlement looks like, so accepting any offer is risky. Once you have accepted an offer, the insurance company is unlikely to reopen negotiations, meaning you could be stuck with far less money than you deserve.
- Waiting to hire a motorcycle accident attorney: You will likely need to give a statement to insurance companies. A lawyer can help you prepare your statement, gather evidence, and file your claim by the statutory deadline set by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52.
Remember, your primary concerns after a motorcycle accident should be to seek immediate medical attention and retain an attorney proven in handling motorcycle accident cases successfully.
The Benefits of Hiring a Lawyer After Your Motorcycle Accident
Like any decision, you should know why you are hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer. Those injured in traffic accidents, including motorcycle crashes, hire personal injury attorneys because:
- Injuries associated with motorcycle accidents are often devastating. An accident victim may not have the energy or mental clarity to handle their claim or lawsuit effectively.
- Lawyers bring a wealth of experience and training to motorcycle accident cases.
- Firms like ours work on contingency, meaning a client pays no out-of-pocket compensation. Instead, they pay a fee only if they receive compensation.
- A motorcycle accident attorney ensures that no person or organization can violate your rights to deprive you of your deserved compensation.
The attorneys at our firm have earned accolades from our community and peers in the legal profession. We feel a great sense of responsibility to our clients, and those clients frequently express gratitude for our highly personal, purposeful brand of representation. For a law firm you can trust, we are your choice.
Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me (828) 286-3866
How Your Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Will Pursue Your Settlement or Verdict
Our motorcycle accident lawyers structure their strategies around the client. Your circumstances are entirely unique, and you may even have specific goals and requests to share with our team. Thus, we’ll create a personalized approach based on your needs and handle these tasks.
Gathering Evidence to Prove Fault for Your Accident
We must prove who caused your motorcycle accident, as this determination affects who pays for your damages. We will seek:
- Relevant eyewitness accounts
- Any video of the crash
- Photographs of property damage
- An expert’s reconstruction of the collision
- The police accident report
Being able to prove fault sets the groundwork for successful settlement negotiations.
Documenting Your Accident-Related Damages
Our team will prove every loss you have suffered because of the motorcycle accident. To do so, we’ll use:
- Medical records
- X-rays and other images of your injuries
- Mental health experts’ explanations of your pain and suffering
- Proof of lost income
- Invoices for the repair or replacement of your bike and other damaged property
We will paint a detailed image of how the accident has negatively affected you.
Negotiating with Insurance Providers
Your motorcycle accident lawyer will determine the precise value of your damages. Then, we will present our settlement demands to liable insurers, at which point negotiations may ensue.
Filing a Lawsuit if Your Case Requires One
Unfortunately, procuring a fair settlement requires several rounds of negotiations as we exchange offers with the insurance company. However, some liable insurers never offer the settlement you deserve, in which case filing a lawsuit may become the proper move.
Our attorneys will update you throughout your case, and you will have the final say regarding whether to file a lawsuit. We also represent motorcycle accident victims at trial when necessary.
Recoverable Damages to Include in Your Compensation Demand
We will seek fair compensation for all your damages, which may include the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Motorcycle repairs
- Pain and suffering
- Mental health treatment
We aim for your total financial recovery and always work hard to achieve our goals.
The Financial Impact of Hiring a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Working with a motorcycle accident lawyer can help you win a larger motorcycle accident settlement. The Insurance Research Council (IRC) found that injured parties who used a lawyer received settlements that were, on average, 3.5 times higher than those who didn’t.
The IRC also reported that 85% of all insurance money paid for bodily injury claims goes to victims represented by a lawyer. The All-Industry Research Advisory Council (AIRAC) found that represented claimants received $1.59 for every $1 of economic loss, compared to only $1.26 for those without a lawyer.
Independent consumer research often shows that 91% of people with lawyers received a payout, compared to 51% of self-represented individuals.
Protection Against “Biker Bias” and State Laws
The NHTSA reports show that in multi-vehicle motorcycle accidents, the passenger vehicle driver is at fault more than half the time. However, without legal counsel, “biker bias” often leads to riders being unfairly assigned a higher percentage of fault. This can prove decisive in your case when it comes to assigning blame for the accident.
- The 1% Rule (NC): North Carolina is one of only four states using “Pure Contributory Negligence.” Statistics show that insurance adjusters frequently use this to deny 100% of a claim if they can argue the rider was even 1% at fault. Your lawyer’s primary role here is to disprove even that 1%.
- Modified Comparative Negligence (SC): South Carolina follows a “51% bar” rule where you can recover damages as long as your fault is 50% or less. However, your total compensation is reduced by your specific percentage of blame. A lawyer can help you fight back against “biker bias” to keep your fault percentage as low as possible.
Long-Term Medical Realities of a Motorcycle Accident
NHTSA economic studies show that the “comprehensive cost” of a single motorcycle fatality averages $11.3 million when quality-of-life valuations are included. For survivors, a lawyer is often the only way to account for future medical expenses, which can be 3 to 4 times higher than the initial ER bill.
Call Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC Today for Your Free Consultation
Please do not wait to speak with our team, as we understand the time-sensitive nature of insurance claims and lawsuits.
Call Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC today for a free consultation about hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer. Our highly rated attorneys are always available, so don’t wait to contact our 24/7 hotline for your no-risk case review.
