5 Ways a Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help You

Tens of thousands of motorcycle accidents take place in the U.S. every year. When riders are severely hurt, they often panic because their medical bills just keep piling up. Since they can’t work, they have no idea how they’ll make it financially. This is why one of the most important things anyone can do after […]

Tens of thousands of motorcycle accidents take place in the U.S. every year. When riders are severely hurt, they often panic because their medical bills just keep piling up. Since they can’t work, they have no idea how they’ll make it financially. This is why one of the most important things anyone can do after being hurt due to someone else’s negligence is to contact a motorcycle accident attorney just as quickly as they possibly can.

The Jones Law Group is staffed with experienced legal experts, and they have a deep understanding of motorcycle accidents. We’ve helped our clients obtain millions of dollars in compensation, and we’re ready to work to do the same for you. Please contact us online for a free consultation, or call (727) 571-1333.

The following are just five of the many reasons you’re going to need an attorney if you’re going to have any chance of obtaining the compensation you deserve.

1. Gathering Evidence

If you’ve suffered a severe injury in a motorcycle wreck, you’re going to incur significant financial losses, which are known as “damages” in legal terms. The reason you’re thinking of taking legal action is to recover the damages you’ve experienced.

But the only way you’re going to be successful is to have as much evidence as possible to support your case. Without it, you’ll have no chance of getting the money you have coming. An attorney will immediately work to gather that evidence by performing a detailed investigation of the accident.

While it would be great if you were able to take photos and videos immediately after the accident, there’s a pretty good chance you were hurt too badly to even consider doing so. But that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to obtain compensation. Your legal representative will dig into the accident to uncover every bit of proof they can.

This could mean going to the scene to photograph fresh skid marks, or looking at all of the vehicles that were damaged. Your attorney can obtain footage from any nearby surveillance cameras that might have captured the collision. They may even be able to get the phone records of the at-fault driver if there’s a chance they may have been talking or texting at the time the wreck took place.

2. Speaking with Witnesses

Witness statements can be crucial, making the difference between getting the money you have coming and not getting a dime. Your attorney will work to find them so they can tell what truly happened. If you were able to speak to any witnesses after the crash and you were able to get their contact information, all you’ll need to do is give that information to your lawyer. They’ll take care of the rest.

In most cases, an attorney will ask a witness fairly straightforward questions. They’ll want to know, for instance, what the witness saw or heard, or if they took any photos or videos after the wreck.

3. Collecting Documents and Records

Regardless of what type of motorcycle accident you were in or what the cause of the wreck might have been, any kind of legal action stemming from the accident is going to result in a mountain of paperwork.

This can include documentation that can help prove the extent of your damages. Documentation can include medical bills, medical records, and pay stubs. The police report needs to be obtained, as do any property damage reports that may be available. Your attorney may also be able to help file your claim with your insurance company. Which, of course, requires even more documentation.

But there is also a great deal of paperwork involved with a trial, should one be necessary because the at-fault driver’s insurance company refuses to offer you a fair settlement. This paperwork has to be accurate and filed with the court according to strict deadlines. Failure to meet those deadlines could severely damage your case. Improperly filed paperwork can cause your case to be thrown out as well.

4. Determining Fault

Another reason the investigation mentioned above is so critical is that it will allow your attorney to determine who was to blame. After all, you can’t file a lawsuit unless you know who you’re suing, right?

There are times when determining fault is fairly simple because it’s obvious the at-fault party committed negligence. Maybe they were distracted, speeding, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

But there are other times when more than one party contributes to an accident. The driver might have been distracted, but they might not have been able to stop because their brakes failed. It’s possible the reason for that failure was some sort of defect on the part of the manufacturer. The same principle applies to any other critical vehicle component that malfunctioned, such as the tires.

If that’s the case, then you’d be able to not only sue the driver but the manufacturer as well. This could result in your compensation rising significantly.

5. Negotiating with Insurance Companies

Experienced attorneys know how to determine exactly how much money their injured clients should receive. The insurance company of the driver who caused the accident might very well make a settlement offer that you’ll find attractive. It’s very unlikely that the offer will be anywhere close to compensating you for your damages.

Your lawyer will negotiate with the insurer in order to help you get what you truly deserve. Insurance companies will often use some fairly questionable tactics, such as trying to use motorcycle bias against you in an effort to reduce the amount of money you get. But a skilled attorney will have enough evidence to defeat that nonsense.

Contact Jones Law Group to Speak with an Experienced Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Hopefully, we’ve convinced you that you need the help of a knowledgeable attorney. That’s exactly what you’ll get when you choose the Jones Law Group. Schedule a free case review by using our online form or calling (727) 571-1333.