4 Vital Things to Know Before Pursuing a Motorcycle Compensation Claim
With roughly 8.7 million registered motorcycle drivers cruising national roads each year, it might be surprising to learn that, on average, statistics show that about 1% of these drivers are involved in a non-fatal accident annually.
However, due to the extreme body exposure and overall lack of protection, while driving a motorcycle, the risk of injury and death is seriously high. Unfortunately, statistics show that motorcyclists result in bodily damages in over 98% of cases. Some of these injuries are minor, but more often than not, the motorcyclist will incur injuries that will take time and considerable costs to recover from.
Financial Implications of Accidents
Higher risk and prevalence of severe injury means that medical costs are extensive, with evidence indicating that a motorcycle accident in the first two years after the collision being twice as expensive as car accidents. Furthermore, the preliminary data shows that total health costs were estimated to be six times higher for motorcycle-owners sustaining injuries, as compared to car owners.
If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident and are seeking compensation for the negligence of another driver, there are several vital factors to consider and check before you pursue this legal claim. Prior to consulting a personal injury lawyer – someone who deals frequently with motorcycle accident lawsuits – you should get paperwork and documentation prepared as best you can. This will save you both time and ensure that your claim can begin being processed soonest. You can find a Tampa motorcycle attorney (or one in your area) to help you begin to process your claim.
1. Get Your Facts Clear
Preferably as soon after your accident as possible, you need to write down what you remember happening as clearly as you can. The most common causes of motorcycle accidents vary among states, but the single biggest cause of crashes involving multiple vehicles (your motorcycle and a car, for example) was that the striking vehicle violated the motorcyclist’s right-of-way. For whichever reason you recall the accident taking place, this is vital information for your lawyer.
If you were fortunate enough to have witnesses present at the time of the accident to give an account of the details, or perhaps individuals who arrived on the scene who can comment on the state of the roads, damage to your motorcycle, or the impact on you, this may help your case. Start putting together a file of useful accounts and testimonials that can credit your claim against the offending driver.
It is crucial that you remain focused on the details of the event and once you’ve collated all this information, that you can take this evidence to a qualified lawyer to help you work through what happened to cause the crash. As accidents are often much more complex than people are aware of, remember that any and all information may make the difference to your claim!
2. Up-to-date Insurance
It is vital that you are aware of your insurance policies and the implications of your accident. Personal life insurance and a policy for your motorcycle are both urgent in this case, so it will help to find out whether your insurance is up-to-date. Additionally, it will be wise to get hold of any documents showing you are covered. Once you contact a lawyer to assist you, they will make formal contact with your insurance agency, and together, they will see that your case is taken care of.
3. Financial Damages
Though it may take weeks or months to sufficiently gauging the financial toll of the motorcycle accident, it is crucial that you start collecting any medical bills, records, and notes from doctors about the extent of the physical impact, as well as medical scans or pictures of your injuries. You will need all the evidence to motivate why your pain and suffering has constituted your inability to work well, and homecare duties that you can no longer tend to (even temporarily).
4. Proof of Vehicle Safety
With California having the highest number of motorbike sales of any state, it is evident that they’re becoming increasingly popular – for use as transport and for hobbyists! With an accurate record of your motorcycle purchase, as well as evidence of routine maintenance and the vehicle’s road-worthiness, the defendant is less likely to be able to target the integrity of your motorcycle as cause or contribution of the accident damages.
Get the Support You Deserve
The aforementioned tasks for you to handle before consulting a legal professional can also be done after you have made contact, however, the sooner you start handling important motorcycle and accident-related administrative and legal proceedings, the higher your chances of a successful case.
Without sufficient experience to manage the overwhelming amount of legalities between various parties involved, the outcome of your claim will be bleak. And therefore, the importance of getting legal support as soon as possible cannot be overstated.
