Why You Need an Experienced Motorcycle Lawyer If You’ve Been in a Motorcycle Accident
Nobody wants to get into a motorcycle accident. Collisions of any kind are frightening, but motorcycles leave drivers in an especially vulnerable position. Injuries in these types of disasters are often more severe than injuries in car accidents because the motorcycle driver is exposed to the bulk of the damage. As with any accident, you will need to undergo a fairly lengthy process to ensure that the correct people are held responsible and that you do not have to pay for medical bills that are a result of a crash you didn’t cause. This process is intimidating to many people and can make victims feel frustrated, helpless, and cause them to lose money and valuable time. Having an experienced motorcycle attorney at your side through the process can help reduce stress and maximize insurance payout. These are some main benefits of hiring an experienced motorcycle attorney after your accident.
Your Attorney Can Address Your Concerns
Most people who experience motorcycle accidents are not experts on personal injury and collision law regarding motorcycles. Because of this, if you are in an accident, you likely have several questions and concerns with no one to turn to for help. You may seek advice from medical practitioners, insurance companies, and law enforcement, but this may lead you to several biased pieces of conflicting advice. By hiring an attorney, you ensure that one knowledgeable, experienced person is available to address your concerns and help you decide how to proceed. You can also rest assured that your attorney has your best interests at heart, whereas others involved in an accident have no legal obligation to look out for your best interests.
Your Attorney Can Get You a Higher Settlement
We would all love to believe that insurance companies have our best interests at heart when they make settlement offers or navigate claims. The unfortunate reality is that this is simply not the case. Insurance companies are businesses first and foremost, and they are ultimately looking to save money. This means that they will do everything in their power to avoid having to pay. If you claim to be injured, they will call and contact you constantly to try and receive conflicting accounts so they can poke holes in your story.
In many cases, companies have private investigators follow victims to ensure that their day-to-day activities are in line with the injuries they claim to have. Even if an insurance company moves to settle right away, it is likely offering a small fraction of what you deserve. Their settlements often won’t cover your medical expenses, and you’ll be left to pay the majority out of pocket. An attorney knows how to fight these behaviors and get a settlement that reflects the damage inflicted upon you.
Your Attorney Can Protect You From Consequences
If the accident was your fault, you might still be eligible for money for repairs to your bike. Of course, insurance companies will try to use your fault as an excuse to withhold payment. An attorney will be able to push back against these efforts and get you what you deserve. Even if you are guilty, an attorney may be able to present your case in a way that prevents your premiums from going up and can even keep your license in your possession.
Your Attorney Provides Options
In some cases, insurance companies don’t want to settle at all but would rather deny a claim or battle to retain their money. In these cases, your attorney can create a legal claim, which varies depending on the situation. In some cases, this may simply mean that they continue to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company. In other cases, this can mean bringing the insurance company to court and fighting for what is rightfully yours before a judge and jury. In either instance, it would be nearly impossible to effectively do these things without an experienced lawyer. There is very little chance that you would win in negotiations or court without legal representation, and you will cheat yourself out of what you deserve.
Your Attorney Can File a Lawsuit
If in the scenario above your claim is denied by insurance, your attorney can file a formal claim to continue to fight the case. This wouldn’t be a possibility without an attorney on your team. Filing a lawsuit is an involved process, and the courts look favorably on those who do it correctly and with the right legal representation. Without an attorney, if the insurance company denies your claim, you are out of luck and will have to pay for your medical bills.
Your Attorney Can Sway a Jury
It’s unfortunate, but many people don’t look favorably upon motorcyclists. Most jury members will see riding a motorcycle as reckless, dangerous behavior and will assume that the driver is at fault for the accident. If your case ends up in court, your attorney will be able to present your case accurately to the jury. They will present a holistic picture of you and stress your humanity, responsibility, and personality. The jury members are far more likely to sympathize when an accurate portrait is presented to them, rather than relying on their own preconceived notions of what a motorcyclist is.
Your Attorney Gives You Time to Heal
It’s important to remember that during this legal battle, your body will be trying to heal from the injuries caused by the accident. Whether the injuries are major or minor, a body goes through a lot when an accident occurs, and it takes a significant amount of energy to get your body up and running again. Giving your body space and time to rest and recuperate gives you a better chance of making a full recovery and getting your life back on track.
Remember that stress is a significant driving force in our bodies, no matter if you are physically injured or not. Even just the stress of going through the insurance claims and the lawsuit process alone can significantly impact your body’s well-being and ability to heal. It’s important to give yourself space to recuperate and leave the legal battle to your attorney. Without an attorney on hand, you will have to use your time fighting for what you are owed rather than taking your time to get better.
Why Susan Handel?
Motorcycle law is extremely specific and requires special training and experience. There are rules and regulations for motorcyclists that do not exist for other drivers or other personal injury cases. While many lawyers deal with personal injury, few have the specific experience required to successfully defend a motorcyclist after an accident. Susan Handel is different. For 20 years, she’s devoted her life to defending motorcyclists from the biased systems that work against them. She understands that motorcycling is a way of life for many and a freedom that deserves to be fiercely defended. She understands the specific and intricate laws surrounding motorcycle use in California and the San Diego area and has the expertise and talent to win your case. In fact, 95 percent of her motorcycle cases are settled outside of court, allowing you the maximum settlement with the least amount of time, stress, and judgment.
If you or a loved one has been in a motorcycle accident, time is of the essence. Do not wait; contact the law offices of Susan Handel today.