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The Financial Toll of Motorcycle Accidents: How Attorneys Help Riders Seek Compensation
Denver bikers enjoy riding around the city on their motorcycles. The amazing scenery makes for the perfect ride.
However, there are dangers from other motorists. If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, then you know these risks and financial toll all too well. You must learn how to make a complete recovery and how a motorcycle accident lawyer can assist you through this challenging time.
Partnering with a Denver motorcycle accident attorney is the most efficient way to maximize the compensation you get for accident-related injuries. A motorcycle accident lawyer in Denver will go to bat for you with the insurance companies and at-fault party while you handle the other problems from the accident.
Common Causes and Types of Motorcycle Accidents
Many of the same causes behind car accidents such as distracted driving, speeding, or drowsiness, cause motorcycle collisions too. But bikers face more distinct dangers.
The smaller size of motorcycles makes them difficult for other motorists to see. Motorcycles can maneuver and move in ways that automobiles and trucks might not expect. Reasons like vehicles making left-hand turns, road conditions, and lane-splitting, also pose unique hazards for bikers. Common types of motorcycle accidents include:
- Rear-end collisions
- Left-hand turn collisions
- Unsafe lane-changing collisions
- Front-end collisions
- Single-bike collisions
- T-bone or intersection collisions
- Wide-turn collisions
Unique Challenges for Motorcycle Accident Victims
After a motorcycle accident, motorcycle accident victims face some unique challenges that make it particularly crucial to work with a knowledgeable motorcycle accident lawyer.
Motorcycle accident victims typically have more severe injuries than those involved in other types of collisions. A motorcycle has practically no protection to provide in an accident, as it has none of the safety features of passenger cars and trucks. Riders are vulnerable and those vulnerabilities can end in a horrible injury during a motorcycle collision.
When seeking compensation after an accident, motorcyclists are usually faced with an undeserved prejudice. Police, witnesses, insurance companies, and the other parties involved in the crash may believe that motorcyclists act recklessly on the road and are at fault for the incident. While most motorcyclists are reliable and safe drivers, this preconception could influence their ability to get fair compensation.
Physical Trauma and the Road to Recovery
One of the most disturbing consequences of motorcycle accidents is the physical trauma exacted on the rider’s body. Unlike automobile passengers who are inside a vehicle with seatbelts, airbags, and crush zones to shield them, bikers are completely exposed. When a motorcycle and a vehicle crash into each other, the rider is usually thrown from the motorcycle.
Common injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident include:
- Road rash – severe abrasions from sliding along the street
- Fractured bones – legs, pelvis, arms, ribs, and collarbone
- Spinal cord injuries – paralysis if the spinal cord is broken
- Organ damage – kidneys, lungs, liver, etc.
- Amputated limbs
- Traumatic brain injuries – swelling, concussion, or bleeding of the brain
The physical damage from motorcycle collisions is typically tragic. Surviving riders must endure:
- Pain medications
- Numerous surgeries
- Long hospital stays
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
A full recovery could take several months or years. Some incapacitating effects, like paralysis or brain injuries, might be permanent.
These medical bills can amass rapidly, causing a major financial strain for accident victims and their families. In a motorcycle accident claim, you can recoup compensation to help pay for all past and future medical costs due to the motorcycle accident.
Emotional Pain and Suffering
Motorcycle accidents may also experience significant emotional pain and suffering. This could include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Continuous discomfort
- Loss of enjoyment in life
- Emotional distress
While these damages are less tangible than lost wages and medical expenses, they are just as critical. Your attorney will consider them when seeking compensation for your motorcycle accident.
The Legal Rights of Motorcycle Accident Victims
Knowing your legal rights as a motorcycle accident victim is critical. It drives your ability to guarantee you get fair compensation for the injuries and damage you might have experienced. Motorcycle accident victims have legal rights to seek compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Lost income
- Property damage
- Injuries
- Pain and suffering
These rights entail taking legal action against the at-fault parties to ensure a monetary award for injuries and damages.
You might seek compensation for non-financial and financial damages. You also have the right to legal representation in every accident-related situation, including discussions with possible litigation, insurance companies, and involved parties. You should never make a statement or sign any documents until you speak with your attorney.
Numerous motorcycle accident victims think they must accept a settlement offer before talking with their lawyer. Not having a motorcycle accident attorney may decrease the compensation you get, resulting in you feeling unsupported as you go through the claim process.
The Importance of Protecting Your Rights
Protecting your rights after a motorcycle collision is vital for many reasons. Right after an accident, insurance companies may try to get you to settle for less than what you deserve or try to get you to make statements that could hurt your case.
Knowing your rights can stop you from accidentally undermining your claim and ultimately let you get fairer compensation for the damage you endured due to the collision. Failing to claim all your damages can cause financial hardships long after the accident.
You have leverage when you know your rights, ensuring the insurance companies deal fairly with you.
This helps guarantee you can pay your medical bills, recoup money for lost earnings, and even get compensated for the emotional distress of being in a motorcycle accident. It can also help you know your rights when dealing with the insurance companies. It’s best to get your motorcycle accident attorney to deal with the insurance companies because it can be too much for your physical and mental well-being. Your goal is to heal and recover from the collision.
What a Motorcycle Accident Attorney Does
A motorcycle accident attorney represents riders who have been in an accident and are seeking compensation for injuries and damages. Their responsibility includes completing critical duties to guarantee their clients get fair compensation and the right legal protection after an incident.
Investigating the Accident
A motorcycle accident attorney will meticulously investigate the facts of the accident, collecting and investigating evidence like:
- Police reports
- Pictures and videos
- Witness statements
They will also work with an accident reconstruction expert if needed.
Determining Liability
A motorcycle accident attorney will determine the other party’s liability, making sure you aren’t wrongly blamed for the motorcycle collision.
This means proving the other party’s negligence, a vital step in obtaining rightful compensation. Negligence could include many factors, such as driving while texting or not following the rules of the road.
Calculating Damages
A motorcycle accident attorney will evaluate the degree of your injuries and damages, calculating the correct compensation for present and future medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost income. Your lawyer will search for vital information about your damages and injuries, including past copies of medical expenses from your doctor regarding the possible consequences of your injuries.
Negotiate With Insurance Companies
Your motorcycle accident lawyer has excellent negotiation skills and will do their best to maximize your monetary reward by handling the insurance companies on your behalf. They have extensive knowledge of motorcycle laws and are skilled at dealing with and counteracting insurance companies’ antics to deny or decrease compensation. They safeguard you from mistreatment and low offers.
Filing and Managing a Lawsuit in Court
If the insurance company doesn’t want to offer a fair settlement, your attorney will take your case to court.
Seeking Fair Compensation
Seeking fair compensation and justice are essential objectives for bikers involved in motorcycle accidents in Denver, Colorado.
Helping Riders Get Justice
A motorcycle accident attorney leads riders through the legal system, providing expertise and support. They work endlessly to hold at-fault parties accountable for their actions and get justice for the injured party.
Filing an Insurance Claim or Lawsuit
A motorcycle accident attorney helps in filing an insurance claim or, if necessary, a lawsuit on your behalf. They gather the forms, do the paperwork, make sure the claim is filed within the statute of limitations, and collect the necessary documentation to solidify the case.
Negotiating Settlements or Representing Riders in Court
An experienced motorcycle accident attorney strives to negotiate fair settlements with insurance companies. If a settlement can’t be obtained, they are ready to represent the injured party in court, mounting a powerful case to increase the odds of receiving fair compensation.
Lampert and Walsh: Speak with an Experienced Denver Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today
The Denver motorcycle accident attorneys at Lampert and Walsh believe motorcyclists are as important as vehicle drivers. We respect the rider and the ride, fighting persistently to help bikers who have been injured due to the carelessness and negligence of other motorists.
We welcome the chance to help you during a challenging time. Contact us today for a free consultation.