Attorneys
When a motorcycle accident occurs, the last thing that the victim and his or her family are usually thinking about is taking legal action; instead, thoughts are typically focused solely on the victim’s injuries and recovery. While a motorcycle accident can be entirely overwhelming and emotional—and talking to a motorcycle accident attorney may not feel like a natural step to take—meeting with a lawyer is imperative.
Here’s why you or your family should talk to a motorcycle accident attorney in Des Moines as soon as possible after a motorcycle accident.
Damages from Serious Injuries
Even when motorcyclists are riding with proper safety gear, serious injuries such as the following are common:
- Head and brain injuries
- Broken bone injuries
- Burn injuries requiring skin grafts
- Soft tissue injuries
Even if the motorcyclist has health and motorcycle insurance, these damages can be expensive. What’s more, if the injuries have a prolonged estimated recovery time, the rider may be unable to return to work and earn an income, and may need to pay for special therapy or healthcare. Having an attorney on your side can help you to recover damages for all of these expenses.
Gathering the Right Evidence
Part of recovering damages will be proving the fault of the other party. To prove guilt, evidence will be incredibly important to your claim.
Types of evidence that you may need to show fault include the following:
- Physical evidence from the accident scene/pictures of physical evidence
- Medical documents, doctors’ statements, and medical bills
- Eyewitness testimony
- Police reports
- Key facts about another driver (history of driving offenses)
- Possible proof of intoxication of another driver
Negotiating with Insurance Companies
Who pays for your damages—your insurance company or the other driver—will depend upon a variety of circumstances, including who was at fault and the type of insurance that you have. Regardless, however, having an attorney on your side that can handle negotiations can be a relief.
Often, insurance companies will attempt to offer accident victims settlement amounts that are far too small to cover adequate damages. If the number is large, it can be tempting to accept, even when it’s lower than it should be. To avoid a situation like this from occurring, the advice and negotiating skills of an attorney are very helpful.
A Legal Resource
Finally, an attorney serves as a resource for any and all legal questions that you may have about the accident, fault, and the types of damages that you’re entitled. If filing a personal injury lawsuit is within your best interest, an attorney can guide you through the process, as well as the state’s statute of limitations (two years).
Without first-hand knowledge of the insurance system, understanding what to do after an accident to ensure you get your full benefits amount isn’t always straightforward. At Walker, Billingsley & Bair, our attorneys will make sure that it is. To learn more about what to do after a motorcycle accident and how our attorneys can help you, contact our offices today at (888) 435-9886.
