Motorcycle accidents can be devastating, often resulting in serious injuries, high medical costs and long recovery times. Because motorcycles offer less physical protection than cars or trucks, riders are more exposed to injury even in relatively low-speed collisions. If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident, seeking compensation with the help of an experienced motorcycle injury attorney can make the difference between bearing the financial burden of the incident and receiving the resources you need for all damages. Our law firm got a verdict of $1,400,000 in a motorcycle accident.
Immediate Steps After the Accident
Your actions right after a motorcycle accident can significantly affect your ability to pursue compensation.
Get medical help right away. Move to a safe location if possible and call 911. Even if you feel fine at the time, be sure to get medical attention. Some injuries such as concussions, internal bleeding or spinal damage, may not show symptoms or be apparent immediately.
Call the police. An official police report documents the incident, records statements from drivers and witnesses and provides a neutral account of the crash. This is critical evidence in any personal injury case.
Gather evidence. Take photos of your injuries, the motorcycle, other involved vehicles and license plates, skid marks, road hazards and weather conditions. Collect names and contact details for witnesses.
Understanding Liability
Determining fault is central to any motorcycle accident claim. Most cases hinge on proving that the other driver acted negligently. Examples include failing to yield, distracted driving, speeding, or improper lane changes.
Liability can also extend to employers (if the at-fault driver was working at the time), vehicle manufacturers (if defective vehicles or parts were a factor), and municipalities (if dangerous roadways or intersections contributed to the crash).
Types of Compensation Available
Motorcycle accident compensation can cover both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic include the following:
- Medical expenses: Hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, prescriptions,
physical therapy, and future medical needs. - Lost wages: Income lost during recovery and diminished future earning capacity.
- Property damage: Motorcycle repairs or replacement, gear and personal items
damaged in the crash.
Non-economic damages include:
- Past and future pain and suffering: Physical pain and emotional distress.
- Loss of life’s enjoyment: Inability to participate in hobbies or daily activities.
- Loss of consortium: Impact on relationships due to injuries.
In rare cases, punitive damages may be awarded if the at-fault party’s conduct was especially reckless or intentional, such as drunk driving.
How Are Motorcycle Accident Cases Different?
Motorcycle accident cases differ from other auto accident cases in several key ways. First, motorcyclists are far more vulnerable to serious injuries due to the lack of physical protection, which often means higher medical costs and longer recoveries. It is also an unfortunate fact that liability disputes can be influenced by bias against riders, as some insurers or jurors assume motorcyclists are inherently reckless.
It is important to remember that damages often include not only medical bills and lost wages but also significant pain and suffering due to the severity of injuries. Also, evidence gathering can be more complex in motorcycle accidents and often require accident reconstruction and access to experts. These factors make experienced legal representation especially critical for motorcycle accident victims.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a negligent (careless) driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For over 53 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and $2,000,000 in a hit-and-run accident, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. We also recovered $1,500,000 for a lady who was hurt by a bus. One of our clients obtained a
verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases. Also, we got a $1,400,000 verdict in a motorcycle accident.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
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