People recover from motorcycle accidents by seeking medical treatment, counseling, and compensation, among other recovery methods.
Motorcycle accidents can be extremely dangerous, with motorcyclists 28 times more likely to die in an accident than a passenger vehicle driver, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). While motorcyclists can mitigate some of these risks by wearing a helmet and driving defensively, it is hard to avoid an accident when the other driver was negligent.
Getting Medical Treatment
Getting medical treatment following an accident is especially important if you have severe injuries. Even if you do not notice any injuries right away, it is still important for a motorcyclist in an accident to seek medical attention. You might have an underlying condition that does not show up until days after the accident.
For example, shoulder and neck pain could indicate whiplash. According to the Mayo Clinic, these symptoms of whiplash can show up days after the accident. If left untreated, it could result in chronic neck problems.
Seeking medical treatment early on can also help if you are thinking of filing an insurance claim or lawsuit to recover compensation for the accident. Medical records help prove that the accident caused your injuries – a major part of showing negligence. A motorcycle accident attorney will analyze your medical records and all other evidence you can provide, perhaps initiate an investigation of their own, talk to witnesses and experts, and build a case on your behalf so you can receive the compensatory damages you need and deserve.
Going to Counseling
Motor vehicle accidents, including motorcycle crashes, can be trauma-inducing, both physically and psychologically. According to the American Journal of Psychiatry (AJP), almost 35% of victims of motor vehicle accidents had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The common treatments for PTSD can be a combination of counseling, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety medications, according to Mayo Clinic. While these treatments can be covered by insurance, it can sometimes be incredibly expensive to seek cognitive therapy and see a psychiatrist. That is why victims of car accidents sometimes choose to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver in their motorcycle accident.
Seeking Compensation
When an accident victim has to struggle under mounting medical bills and other losses from an accident on top of their injuries, it can affect their recovery. By filing a personal injury lawsuit, motorcycle accident victims recover compensation for all of their losses related to the accident, including economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages account for damages that you could easily quantify with receipts. They include:
- Hospital bills
- Emergency room costs
- Ongoing treatment costs
- Medical device costs
- Prescription medications
- Costs to repair or replace your motorcycle
- Lost wages
Non-economic damages are losses that are not as easy to value. These include the losses related to your daily life, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
By filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver at fault, you might be entitled to recover all of these costs that resulted from the motorcycle accident. Not only will this allow you to be secure financially, but it will also take some stress away, allowing you to focus on your recovery.
Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC Today
While people recovering from motorcycle accidents can seek compensation while going through medical and psychological treatment on their own, it can help to have a lawyer on your side. They can take on your case while you focus on recovering.
Some ways a lawyer can help you include:
- Gathering the police and medical records
- Investigating the other driver’s past offenses
- Interviewing eyewitnesses
- Determining liability
- Estimating what you might be entitled to in a settlement
- Negotiating with the negligent party or their insurance company
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit
- Arguing for a financial award in court
- Keeping you updated on the developments in your case
A lawyer knows the laws regarding motor vehicle accidents in your state and can help you file within the statute of limitations in your state. If you miss this deadline, you might forfeit your right to recover compensation.
Personal injury lawyers typically work on a contingency fee basis. This means they only take their payment from the settlement they win you. So, even if you are struggling with paying your own bills, you can afford a personal injury lawyer to help you recover compensation.
Ben Crump Law, PLLC wants to help you if you suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident that was not your fault. When someone else’s negligence causes an accident that results in your injuries, you should not have to pay for the consequences. We want to help ensure that you do not suffer more from bills that resulted from your accident.
You do not have to go through this stressful time alone when a motorcycle accident lawyer can help you. Call a member of our team today for a free, no-risk consultation with Ben Crump Law, PLLC at 800-959-1444.
