A motorcycle accident could leave you with severe injuries, mounting medical bills, and a lengthy healing process. One key to recovering from your injuries successfully is to obtain adequate compensation. While you can do this alone, you’re far more likely to fare well with the aid of a lawyer for motorcycle accident cases representing you.
How a Houston Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Help With Your Case
Injured motorcyclists might hesitate to secure legal counsel after a wreck because they don’t understand how a motorcycle accident lawyer can help them. The fact is that an experienced attorney can help strengthen your claim in many ways, including the following:
Collecting and Preserving Evidence
The evidence from a motorcycle crash can disappear quickly in the days and months after it happens. Accident crews will clean up the scene, erasing potentially helpful clues that could be used to prove fault. Video and photographic evidence could be deleted if not preserved, and witnesses' memories can become murky as time passes.
Without credible evidence, some injury victims may find it challenging to get the compensation they need. An attorney who routinely handles motorcycle accident claims will know the types of evidence available in these cases. They’ll also know the steps necessary to preserve this evidence so it can be used to support a client’s claim.
Establishing Liability
Texas is a fault-based accident state, meaning you can only recover compensation from the other party if you can prove that they were primarily responsible for the crash. Any fault attributable to you will reduce the amount of compensation you stand to receive. You won’t get any compensation if you’re the primary cause of the accident.
A qualified motorcycle accident attorney can use the evidence they gather to prepare your case if fault is contested. They’ll use the information gleaned from accident reports, witness statements, and other crucial documents to construct a narrative explaining who bears responsibility for the wreck.
Collecting Medical Records
Your medical records will be essential to your motorcycle accident case for several reasons.
First, they serve to substantiate the injuries you sustained in your wreck. Additionally, they can underscore your need for ongoing treatment and therapy. Finally, your records will contain billing statements necessary for calculating your damages accurately.
Some health providers may not release portions of your medical records. A lawyer for motorcycle accident cases can track these files down, compile them, and leverage their contents to advance your legal case. This also saves you from the frustration of learning each provider’s process for requesting records.
Negotiating With Insurance Companies
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses whose primary interest is protecting their bottom line. They may offer you a quick settlement, but it will be on terms that benefit them. You must negotiate a fair settlement with the insurer and their attorneys to get the compensation you need for your injuries.
Trying to negotiate with an insurance company and their legal team can be intimidating. Having a reliable attorney on your side gives you a powerful ally. You can entrust your case’s resolution to your attorney while you focus on your recovery.
Assessing the Impact of Your Injuries on Your Life
You’re entitled to compensation for your injuries, as well as non-economic losses like pain and suffering. While genuine, the latter category of losses can be hard to quantify. Injury victims may find it difficult to assign a dollar value to the negative effects on their quality of life and peace of mind.
A seasoned motorcycle accident lawyer can help you understand what these intangible losses are worth. To pursue their full value, they’ll assist you in writing impactful statements and subpoenaing witnesses, as well as collecting and presenting additional evidence to support the amount of damages you request.
FAQ
What Are Economic and Non-Economic Damages?
Economic and non-economic damages are the two primary types of financial compensation you can receive through a motorcycle accident lawsuit.
Economic damages include payment for financial impacts like medical bills, lost wages, and ongoing treatment costs. Non-economic damages, meanwhile, reflect intangible losses like pain and suffering, diminished quality of life, and emotional distress.
How Fast Will My Motorcycle Crash Claim Settle?
Predicting how quickly your case will settle, or if it will settle at all, can be difficult. If the evidence clearly shows that the at-fault party is liable, you and your attorney might reach a fair settlement in a matter of weeks. If multiple parties are at fault, your case could take much longer to settle.
Some contested claims might not settle at all but instead must be decided at trial. A court case can take months or years to resolve, depending on the circumstances.
How Quickly Should I Retain a Lawyer for Motorcycle Accident Cases?
It’s a good idea to hire a motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Texas is two years from the date of the accident. If you don’t take legal action before this window closes, your claim could be denied, even if the facts show that the other party was clearly at fault.
Turn to Ramsey Law Group for Assistance With Your Motorcycle Accident Claim
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident through no fault of your own, Ramsey Law Group can help you make things right.
Our skilled team has the experience and resources to help you build a strong claim for compensation. From investigating the crash to pursuing a fair settlement, we’ll be your trusted guides to navigating the legal system effectively.
Contact us today to arrange a no-obligation consultation with our dedicated attorneys.