Motorcyclists are extremely vulnerable, even if they wear a helmet and the correct attire. Lacking the protection of an enclosed vehicle makes motorcyclists especially prone to devastating injuries in an accident.
Unfortunately, the accident statistics reflect motorcyclists’ vulnerability. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 5,000 motorcyclists died in crashes in 2017. Reasons for motorcycle accidents can include:
- A car making an improper left turn
- Misjudging the speed of a motorcyclist
- Failure to yield the right-of-way to a motorcyclist
If you suffered severe injuries and property damage in an accident that was the fault of a careless or reckless driver, you do not have to stand for it. You can contact an Austin motorcycle accident lawyer to learn whether you could sue the at-fault driver and recover compensation.
Call the team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC, today at (800) 924-3113 with any questions about your potential motorcycle accident claim.
Your Next Best Steps After a Motorcycle Accident
If your accident happened recently, you might want to act right away. In the days and weeks after a motorcycle accident, you can take specific steps that will serve to protect your rights, especially if you intend to hold the at-fault party to account for your injuries.
See a Doctor
If you did not have a medical assessment at the accident scene or immediately after, you should seek medical attention now. Some serious injuries have a delayed onset, meaning it could take days or even weeks for symptoms to appear. According to the Mayo Clinic, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one potentially severe condition that can have a delayed onset. Seeing a doctor as soon as possible could prove crucial for your lawsuit, as you will need evidence linking your injuries and medical bills to the crash.
Gather Evidence
Hopefully, you or someone you know will have taken photographs or noted the contact details of any eyewitnesses at the accident scene. Make sure to keep it safe in one place. Legal action can become quite lengthy, and when vital evidence disappears, you might not be able to prove your case.
Make sure you keep records of all out-of-pocket expenses related to the accident, such as:
- Medical or dental treatments
- Transportation costs
- Repair or replacement invoices for any property damaged in the accident
Remember that without proof of your damages, you cannot include them in your claim.
Considering an Austin Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
After your motorcycle accident, you might find it worthwhile to contact an Austin motorcycle accident lawyer. An attorney can advise you and protect your rights. You might also consider letting your lawyer handle any communication with insurance adjusters, as settlement negotiations with insurance companies can turn into a minefield for an accident victim trying to recover compensation.
A motorcycle accident lawyer can work on every aspect of your case, including gathering the evidence you will need to prove your case and consulting with expert witnesses. If your case goes to court, your lawyer can represent you and defend your interests.
For a free legal consultation with a motorcycle accidents lawyer serving Austin, call (800) 924-3113
Proving Your Motorcycle Accident Case
In some cases, proving a motorcycle accident claim can appear straightforward—for example, if a car ignored your right of way and plowed into you. However, in many accidents, it can become a challenge to prove fault, especially if the crash involved more than two parties, or a motorcyclist has some degree of responsibility in the accident.
However, you do not have to muddle through this mess on your own. An Austin motorcycle accident attorney can gather the necessary evidence to prove your claim. Here are some ways a lawyer can build your case.
Investigating the Accident Scene
Crash scenes, including the position of the vehicles and any tire marks, can provide plenty of clues about an accident. If you contact a lawyer immediately after the accident happened, they can send out investigators to collect evidence and take photographs and notes. Even several days later, an attorney can investigate an accident scene and note any essential factors, such as the placement of traffic lights.
Analyzing Vehicle Damage
To build a comprehensive picture of your accident, a lawyer can send out professionals to look at the damage on the vehicles and motorcycles involved.
Piecing Together the At-Fault Driver’s Actions
Your lawyer will also try to analyze what exactly happened in the seconds before the accident. They might examine traffic camera footage, pore over police reports, and interview eyewitnesses. They will try to establish whether the other driver broke any traffic laws such as drunk driving, speeding, or driving recklessly. They will also make sure to identify all at-fault parties in the accident.
Proving fault in a motorcycle accident can become a lot of work. However, it is necessary to analyze a case fully to build a strong case against the at-fault party. Without proving fault and negligence, you will not have a claim.
Austin Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Near Me (800) 924-3113
Motorcycle Accident Compensation
If you got badly hurt in a motorcycle accident, life might never be the way it was before. Unfortunately, some accident victims have long-lasting physical and emotional injuries after a catastrophic motorcycle accident.
Moreover, physical injuries such as complicated fractures, or head and brain injuries, might take months to heal, causing your family financial hardship due to lost income. If someone else caused your injuries by recklessly driving, you deserve compensation. In a motorcycle accident, you could potentially recover:
- Medical bills for current and future treatment
- Repair or replacement of your motorcycle
- Lost income
- Reduced earning potential
- Pain and suffering
You could also receive additional compensation. However, compensation will depend on the extent of your injuries and property damage. If you would like to find out what you could recover in your specific case, you might want to consult an Austin motorcycle accident lawyer.
Click to contact our Austin Personal Injury Lawyers today
Time Is Not on Your Side to Take Legal Action
You might not want to wait to take legal action. According to the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code §16.003, you generally only have two years to initiate a personal injury lawsuit, and the clock starts ticking on the day of your accident. An Austin motorcycle accident lawyer can file your case before the deadline expires.
Contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC, today for your free consultation. Discover whether you can pursue compensation by calling (800) 924-3113.
Call or text (800) 924-3113 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
