When Do You Need a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer, and Why?

 

Table of Contents

1. Motorcycle Accidents Are Often More Complex Than Expected
2. Evidence Is Difficult to Collect
3. Serious Injuries Are Complicated
4. Road Conditions Can Be a Significant Factor
5. Injured People Typically Have Limited Law Knowledge and Resources
6. Negotiating is Challenging
7. Insurance Companies and Juries May Be Biased
8. Why You Should Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Sooner Rather Than Later

You’ve got a lot to think about after a motorcycle accident. Should contacting a personal injury attorney be on that list? If you’re weighing the pros and cons of taking on your case and the insurance company yourself versus working with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer, this is the article for you.

The short answer is that personal injury attorneys will always be helpful if you’ve been in an accident—and the sooner you contact them, the sooner they can get to work.

At the same time, though, many people choose to handle their own case at least as first—usually because their concerned about costs or time. It’s natural to wonder whether a personal injury attorney will be worth it in the end.

In this article, we’ll discuss when it’s best to work with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney and why. By the time you’re finished reading, you should have a sense of the difference a legal professional can make for your case.   

Motorcycle Accidents Are Often More Complex Than Expected

It’d be nice to think that, after a motorcycle accident, you could rely on the insurance company to settle your claim quickly, smoothly, and give you every penny you deserve without a fight. Once in a while, that might actually even happen.

Unfortunately, this isn’t usually how it goes. Motorcycle accidents tend to result in serious injuries and disagreements with the insurance companies over why they happened. This alone is enough to call for a lawyer.

Following are some of the complications that can arise after motorcycle accidents, and how an attorney can minimize them and keep your case moving forward.

Evidence Is Difficult to Collect

After any traffic accident, evidence is cleaned up quickly to clear the roadways. Because motorcycles are much smaller than cars, it can be harder to learn details of the accident by looking at the vehicles themselves.

If you’ve been injured, gathering evidence immediately after the accident isn’t your priority. By the time you’re thinking about pursuing compensation, most of the evidence is probably cleared.

However, between their experiences and other resources, lawyers have ways to collect evidence, even after the road is cleaned up. This could include locating and preserving any possible source of video footage, speaking with traffic engineers and accident scene reconstructionists, following up with eyewitnesses, and more.

Related Article

What Is a Fair Settlement for a Motorcycle Accident in Georgia?

Serious Injuries Are Complicated

Without the protection of a larger vehicle, bikers and other motorcycle accident victims are more vulnerable when a crash happens. From broken legs to skin damage to catastrophic head and spine injuries, the damage and pain can be life-altering or even fatal.

Insurance companies look for anything to refute that their client’s actions were responsible for these serious injuries. They look into pre-existing and underlying conditions on your record and use tactics that present in a way that favors their bottom line.

Fortunately, motorcycle accident lawyers are prepared for this and know how to demonstrate that the accident caused your injuries. They use your medical bills, lost wages, and evidence from the motorcycle crash to help you get a fair settlement.  

Road Conditions Can Be a Significant Factor

No driver likes potholes, rain, or road debris, but these hazards pose much greater danger to bikers. Being able to explain how the weather and road conditions contributed to an accident isn’t always straightforward.

In addition, depending on who’s responsible for the road you were on, the local government may be at least partially liable for your injuries. Taking on these kinds of entities on your own is a major challenge, and working with an attorney takes that weight from your shoulders.

Injured People Typically Have Limited Law Knowledge and Resources

Personal injury lawyers make a career of knowing the law so that their clients can focus on healing and supporting their families. In addition, they often have a network of resources to help build strong cases, such as medical experts and accident reconstructionists.

For example, if you sustained a serious brain injury, it may take a long time to know that true impact of that injury. At the same time, you must honor the statute of limitations, which puts a time limit on how long you have to file a lawsuit. That’s a lot to keep track of on your own.

An attorney monitors your physical progress while keeping an eye on the clock for that statute of limitations. In the meantime, they can talk to neurological experts about what your brain injury means for the rest of your life.   

RELATED: How Are Personal Injury Settlements Paid Out?

Negotiating is Challenging

Negotiating for anything can be difficult, and trying to fight the big insurance companies when you’re injured can be especially challenging. Trying to keep track of the offers and counteroffers, and talking to the insurance company directly without accidentally saying anything to weaken your case, is a lot to ask.

Once again, your attorney is well versed in this aspect of a motorcycle accident case. Negotiating is an art, and usually best left to the pros—especially when your livelihood is on the line.

Insurance Companies and Juries May Be Biased

Unfortunately, many people have preconceived notions about motorcycle riders. They are often stereotyped as being reckless and irresponsible. It’s possible that, without substantial proof to the contrary, insurance adjusters and juries will assume that someone riding a motorcycle is at least partially responsible for the accident and their injuries.

Of course, this isn’t fair to those filing a motorcycle accident claim or a personal injury lawsuit. A personal injury lawyer knows this and will be ready to highlight what you were doing correctly when the accident happened.  

Why You Should Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Sooner Rather Than Later

Bringing an attorney into the situation as soon as possible is usually well worth it. With this early access to evidence and information, the lawyer has the best chance of building a strong case and preventing missteps.