As a road user, you have a high risk of being involved in an accident, but the risk is ten times higher when you are navigating the road on a motorcycle. Driving a car is safer when compared to a motorcycle, as you have many metal frameworks designed to absorb your fall and cushion the impact, but you are fair game on a two-wheeler no matter how the accident occurs.
When you get involved in a motorcycle accident, you are not likely to leave the scene without a scratch. Motorcyclists are susceptible to road accidents premised on factors such as driver skill and experience, road conditions, visibility, and impatience of truck or vehicle drivers.
To avoid being involved in a motorcycle accident, U. S. states have laws that mandate bikers to wear protective gear and helmets as a study showed that wearing a safety helmet reduces the risk of head injuries by 70%, and of death by nearly 40%.
When you, unfortunately, get injured from a motorcycle accident, you can file for a compensation claim from the at-fault driver’s insurance company, though the validity of your case hinges on many factors.
There is an obvious bias against motorcyclists that is strongly held by car drivers, police officers, insurance adjusters, jury members, and everyone that comes across a motorcycle accident case, that is why https://www.hamparyan.com/should-i-get-lawyer-for-motorcycle-accident/ recommends you hire a personal injury attorney to bump up your claim and get your settlement in due time. Nonetheless, here are some basic guidelines to maximize your case value when filing for a motorcycle accident claim.
Preserve The Evidence
When you get involved in a motorcycle accident either as the injured rider or driver, ensure you document your experience from the point that the incident happened and onwards till you file your claim.
As an injured motorcyclist, plead with witnesses on the scene to help you take a video or picture of the crash and your injury, make sure you get this digital documentation from them, so you can have concrete evidence when you seek compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
Also, collect witness statements for your documentation. You can go a step further and call the police to the scene of the accident. This will make sure that there is an incident report on file with the police which you can easily add to your compensation claim file.
Medical Treatment
This is necessary, even if it is just a minor road crash. When you seek medical treatment, you have records of ambulance pickup and deposited in the hospital where you were treated for the accident. The medical bills incurred during the treatment process add credence to your compensation claim.
Unfortunately, if the accident is fatal, you need to get the right medical treatment and let the doctor prescribe rehabilitation to help you recover.
These are the people that can write medical reports to support your claim when you file for compensation from the insurance company.
Make Full Valuation of Your Claim
This is where hiring an excellent lawyer helps, as they will help you make a detailed valuation of the damages from the motorcycle accident. A full valuation considers the damages of the accident from lost income earning, medical bills, emotional and physical trauma of the accident, rehabilitation cost, loss of productivity or employment, and future damages.
These evaluations will help you determine the settlement or payout that will be beneficial to you as a victim.
File Your Case Immediately
Accidents are time-sensitive, and to preserve evidence that will maximize your case value, you need to strike while the iron is red hot.
Though there is a statute of limitation to file for compensation claims from an accident within three years of its occurrence, that should not make you delay further because it could harm your claim for a settlement.
In addition, keep in mind that insurance adjusters and the companies they represent usually delay compensation cases to make the victim lose interest in the case until it fizzles out.
Recovering from the fatal injuries of motorcycle accidents could make the victims file their claims late, but they should make sure they have enough evidence to maximize their case value.
Many motorcycle victims have used their bad conduct to hurt their cases, while some have used their honorable conduct to get a good settlement.
Insurance adjusters and their investigators monitor the social media activities of claimants for incriminating evidence to counter their claim value, therefore be cautious of what you post online when you are in the middle of a claim settlement process.
