When do I need a personal injury lawyer after a crash?
Posted on June 16, 2022 at 8:00 AM by The Biker Lawyers
It seems more car accidents happen this time of year than any other. There are few events in life as jarring and filled with potential consequences as getting into a crash. If you’re lucky, all you have to deal with is some injuries and a damaged car or motorcycle. However, if the crash leaves you or someone else seriously injured, life can become very complicated.
This guide is by no means comprehensive. For ease of navigation, if you have a specific question, click below to jump ahead. Otherwise, read on.
What to do First When to speak to a lawyer Accidents involving a Car and Motorcycle Questions about Insurance Questions about Wrongful Death Should I Hire a Lawyer?
This complexity doesn’t just stem from the physical pain of your injuries, but also from the potential legal ramifications of the accident.
For instance, if your vehicle was damaged or totaled by another driver who was behaving negligently (i.e., speeding, distracted driving), then that negligent driver could be held legally accountable for any damages they caused—and this is where it gets even more complicated.
In many cases like this one, an injury attorney will be required to help you recover compensation for damages caused by someone else’s negligence. Read on to learn what happens after a serious accident, when do I need an injury attorney after a crash?
The first thing to do after a crash is to make sure you (and your passengers) are alright.
“After a car crash, the first thing you should do is make sure no one is seriously injured. You may need to call emergency services. Regardless, you’ll probably need to call the police and/or ask 911 to send an ambulance. If you are injured and not sure if it’s serious, call a friend or family member who can come over and stay with you and help you stay calm until help arrives.” – Pete Leehey, Personal Injury Attorney, The Biker Lawyers
The second thing you need to do is call your insurance company. Your insurance agent will help you figure out what to do next.
Do not admit fault to anyone. Often, even in a motorcycle or car accident that seems pretty straightforward, things aren’t what they seem.
If possible, document everything that happened by taking photos or videos from different angles of both vehicles involved in the crash (front and back). This will help prove how much damage was done by other drivers at fault for causing injuries instead of just trying to minimize them as much as possible. It may also help prove where in the roadway the collision happened. Think of it as collecting evidence that could be very helpful later.
Accidents involving a car and motorcycle are especially devastating
Motorcycle accidents are especially devastating to riders and their families, with the fatality rate being higher than for cars. This is due to a number of factors, including:
- Motorcycles are less visible than automobiles. Drivers often don’t see motorcycles until the last moment, if at all.
- Motorcycles lack many features that protect passengers in a car crash, such as airbags and seatbelts.
Injuries sustained during motorcycle crashes can be more severe than those sustained in an automobile accident because there isn’t as much protection between you and the road surface when your bike falls over or crashes into stationary objects like guardrails or parked cars.
A Motorcycle Crash resulting in Wrongful Death
There are many reasons why a motorcycle crash could result in wrongful death.
If the rider is hit by another vehicle, it can cause severe injuries that may kill the rider.
In fact, because of their small size and lack of protection, motorcycle riders are more likely to suffer traumatic brain injury (TBI) or even die after suffering a serious car accident than those in cars or trucks.
If someone’s negligence causes an accident that results in your loved one’s death (like if a distracted driver runs into them), you can work with a personal injury attorney and pursue legal action against that party for damages such as loss of support and services, loss of accumulations to the estate, and medical expenses or funeral costs associated with your loss.
The driving decisions of the motorcyclist before the crash will also be put under a microscope. Things like speed, braking, location on the roadway, and evasive action attempted will all be considered. There is 100% fault to be divided up between the drivers involved in a crash, so everything that happened in the moments leading up to the crash is important.
Each case is unique, so it is important to speak with a qualified wrongful death attorney early.
When do I speak to a lawyer about a personal injury?
- When you have been injured in a car accident or motorcycle accident.
- When you have been injured by someone else’s negligence.
In short, if another party is responsible for your injuries (whether it was intentional or not), then it’s important to contact an attorney as soon as possible. If you aren’t sure who is responsible, contact an attorney for a free case evaluation.
Will insurance cover all my medical bills after an accident?
You may think that the insurance company will pay for all of your medical and accident-related bills and other losses —but that often isn’t true. Commonly, an injured party fails to consider long-term factors such as pain and suffering, disability, or physical therapy. They tend to assume that the health insurance companies will cover these types of expenses in the future.
In fact, some insurance companies will still try to deny coverage or dispute damages even after they’ve admitted fault! That’s why it’s essential to contact an attorney immediately so that they can begin working on your case immediately and fight any efforts by the other party or their insurance company from trying to avoid responsibility for their actions.
Should I hire a lawyer?
If you have been injured in a car accident, motorcycle accident or slip and fall, you may need to hire an attorney.
Personal injury cases and filing personal injury claims can be complex. If you have been injured in a car accident, motorcycle accident or slip and fall, you may need an injury attorney. You should speak to a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident.
In most cases, people who are involved in accidents that occur on roads or sidewalks will contact the insurance company to file claims. However, if the at-fault party has no insurance or if your injuries were severe enough to warrant more money than the insurance coverage of the other driver, we recommend speaking with an injury attorney as soon after the accident happens as is reasonably possible.
If someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, then they should be held responsible for paying for those damages and losses associated with your injuries.
If you have been injured because of another person’s careless actions (i.e., failure to yield, driving under the influence, failure to maintain control of a vehicle, etc.) it may be possible for you to receive compensation from that person even though he does not have any money!
This is where hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer becomes critical for any victim looking for justice after suffering serious personal injuries resulting from someone else’s negligence behind the wheel!
Conclusion
If you’ve been injured in an accident, don’t just accept the insurance company’s offer. It may not be enough money to cover all your medical expenses, lost wages, disability, pain and suffering, and how it will affect your life in the future. A good personal injury lawyer can help you maximize the compensation you receive for your injuries and avoid long-term financial problems.
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