Road safety is a responsibility of everyone, but because of the susceptibility of motorcycles and the negligence of many drivers on the road, motorcycle accidents are usually severe and often result in devastating events. Because a motorcycle accident can change your life in a second, people need to know about victim’s rights and personal injury laws.
The National Traffic Safety reported that each year in about 98 percent of motorcycle accidents, the persons involved are injured with 45 percent were serious. Not to mention, when alcohol or high speed are involved from the other driver, the injuries to the motorcyclist are usually severe.
If you are involved in a motorcycle accident, first try to stay calm. If you aren’t injured severely, try to do the following: Verify that everyone involved is well and call medical assistance if necessary. Move to a safe place; get off the road to avoid any other accidents. Exchange vital information: such as phone numbers, addresses, and driver license numbers of those involved and any witnesses. You should also write down plate numbers of vehicles involved, vehicle model, color and general description, with brief account of what happened and who did what. Call the police to take reports and contact your insurance agency.
Take photographs of the scene if possible. Be courteous to others involved but do not give accident data to anyone other than the police. If you think you are injured, go to a hospital, symptoms of back and neck injuries in many cases may not show up until several days or even weeks. It is best to have a medical professional ensure you do not have these injuries, rather than wait for the symptoms. Try to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Remember, there are personal injury laws that protect you.
After the accident you will have several issues to deal with. There will be investigations of the accident, talking with police, dealing with an insurance claims adjuster, getting adequate medical care, repair or replacement of the motorcycle and other necessary paperwork required in these cases. You shouldn’t think about doing this on your own. It is best if you have a legal professional on your side to help you.
A motorcycle accident lawyer knows victims rights and can help you deal with the insurance claims adjuster. They will help you to recover money for expenses related to the motorcycle accident including: medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering as a result of the accident, future medical expenses, physical therapy, repair or replacement of your motorcycle and other expenses related to the accident. An experienced attorney can help with all these procedures to ensure that you get a fair and reasonable compensation for you and your family.
On the internet you will find directories of attorneys experienced in motorcycle accidents. Many of them offer a free consultation in person, online, or by phone. The important thing is that you are aware that there are laws that protect you and a motorcycle accident lawyer can tell exactly what your legal rights are and what options you have in proceeding with your motorcycle accident claim.
Making mistakes when filing a motorcycle accident insurance claim can cause delays in your insurance claim and even hurt your chances in receiving a fair settlement. Call 1-800-4-BIKERS for a no obligation consultation with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer who will discuss your options over the phone and offer solutions on how your should proceed.
