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Motorcycle riders in North Carolina know the importance of driving defensively to reduce the chances of having a crash. However, even when you are doing everything correctly, a reckless driver could make a mistake that leaves you facing a long road to recovery after significant injuries.
If this happened to you, our Burke County motorcycle accident lawyer will protect your interests. We know the challenges involved with healing after a motorcycle crash. You should not have to pay your medical bills when another person caused the wreck and left you injured and unable to work. If you are interested in pursuing damages, you can learn more during a free consultation with our motorcycle accident lawyer.
Specifics Around North Carolina’s Fault-Based Accident Claims
North Carolina follows an “at-fault” system, meaning an individual that is in a motorcycle or car accident must file a claim with the other party/driver’s insurance. The person at-fault would have their insurance cover for the other party’s damages. Because the state has established strict at-fault accident laws, the onus is on the injured individual to prove the liability of the other party.
You have the option to hire an attorney. We can help you gather ample evidence, including video footage, witness or bystander testimony, surveillance camera feeds, and police and investigation reports. If too much time passes post-accident before you bring a lawyer on board, you risk troubleshooting how to unearth vital details and build a strong case to prove negligence occurred.
What Kind of Settlement Can We Help You Recover After A Motorcycle Crash?
When clients contact us after motorcycle crashes in Burke County, N.C., one of the most common questions we hear relates to the potential settlement award.
Although we cannot promise you will win a certain amount in your judgment, we may be able to give you a range of amounts you could win after we study the facts in your case. Every personal injury case involving a motorcycle wreck is a little different, and these differences play a big role in determining a fair settlement amount.
It is normal to have an insurance company present a lower initial compensation package to you with hopes that you will agree to the offered settlement and release them from any future claims. Our lawyers can negotiate for fair compensation by presenting the evidence of your damages and the other party’s liability.
We Will Calculate Your Reimbursement
After the wreck, you will have specific financial losses. We will accurately calculate these numbers so that we know how much to request from the insurance company. These items can include:
- Emergency medical care bills
- Hospital stay expenses
- Bills for prescription drugs or therapy equipment
- Bills for physical therapy
- Costs for in-home nursing care
- Reimbursement for lost wages during your recovery
- Transportation services if you are without means to travel/commute
- Repairs or replacement of your motorcycle
- Out-of-pocket expenses for other related costs
Additionally, we will develop an estimate for the medical costs and lost wages you will have in the future. Once we reach a negotiated settlement with the insurance company, we cannot request more money later to cover unexpected costs. We need to come up with an accurate estimate of this amount when we reach the settlement.
We Aim to Determine a Fair Settlement for Less Tangible Items
You also have the right to seek a settlement that takes other items into account.
These could include a judgment for:
- Ongoing pain
- Ongoing suffering
- Reduced quality of life
- Emotional trauma
- Disfigurement
- Disabling injuries
- Mental anguish
- Loss of Use of Property
- Inconvenience
It is challenging to place a monetary value on these damages. When you hire our motorcycle injury lawyer in Burke County, we will work hard to prevent you from leaving anything on the table during negotiations.
State law does not set guidelines on what we can request in a case like this. We will apply our experience in past cases to the situation you are facing to determine the financial settlement you could recover for intangible losses.
We Will Keep Your Motorcycle Case on Track
In a case involving a Burke County motorcycle crash, the victim has up to three years to start the process of filing a personal injury claim, according to G.S. § 1-52. You do not have to settle the case in this time frame. But you do have to start the process of filing a claim.
If your loved one who was operating a motorcycle suffered a fatality after a crash with a negligent driver, this could mean that your family has the right to bring a wrongful death case. You must start this process within two years of the fatality, according to G.S. § 1-53.
Our team will keep your injury case on track and make sure your claim meets all deadlines that North Carolina requires.
We Will Handle an Insurer Who Is Trying to Stall
Some insurance companies try to place roadblocks in the way of achieving a settlement in a case. This is extremely frustrating. You want to receive your settlement money as quickly as possible so that you can move on with your life after the crash.
By stalling, the insurer may believe it can convince you to accept a lower settlement award just to bring the case to a conclusion. Our team will use its many years of collective experience representing the rights of personal injury victims to try to counteract the stalling tactics that insurers use. We do not like to see our clients receive unfair treatment. We take our role in defending the rights of our clients seriously.
We Thoroughly Prepare and Advocate On Your Behalf
North Carolina is also a contributory negligence state. If you are partially at fault for contributing to your injuries, your compensation may reflect your degree of fault.
Our lawyers can investigate your accident to get to the bottom of what happened and fight to hold the liable parties responsible.
We Understand Some Settlements Take Longer Than Others
It is important to understand that some cases naturally take longer to settle than others. Sometimes, the insurance company may use a tactic to try to reach a quick settlement, hoping you will agree to a lower award than you deserve.
Although it can be tempting to accept the first amount the insurer offers, our team believes it is important to take the time to fully investigate your injuries. You do not want to accept a settlement early only to discover that you have injuries the doctor missed the first time.
As we mentioned earlier, you cannot request more money after agreeing to the settlement. Consequently, we know the importance of taking the time to have a full diagnosis of your current injuries and future health outlook. We can then make an accurate financial request from the insurer before agreeing to a settlement.
We Understand the Nuances of Motorcycle Accidents
The Burke County motorcycle accident attorneys at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC know that motorcycle accidents are unique and complex. We can protect you from bad-faith practices while we negotiate your settlement. If needed, we can represent you in a trial and argue before the court for fair compensation.
You Do Not Have to Pay Us Anything Ahead of Time to Secure Our Services
The team at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, works on contingency in Burke County motorcycle injury cases. This means we do not require an upfront payment. Instead, our fee comes from a percentage of the case’s final settlement.
For a no-obligation, free consultation, contact us today at (828) 286-3866. We will be ready to begin working on your case as soon as you choose to hire us.
