After a motorcycle crash, you might be left with substantial physical injuries that keep you from returning to work and being able to take care of yourself. Disabilities, long-term injuries, and even short-term injuries can have a huge impact on your life and your finances, and you are often entitled to financial compensation for the effects of a crash.
However, getting that compensation is not always easy. Insurance companies will usually try to stonewall you or at least pay lower than they should. Getting full compensation often means turning to a lawyer for help.
For a free evaluation of your claim and more information about what our motorcycle accident attorneys can do for you, call Howe Law today at (844) 876-4357.
Steps to Take After a Motorcycle Crash in Mount Juliet, TN
After any crash, the first steps you take should be to get yourself to safety and call 911. Remain at the scene of the accident or, if you are blocking traffic, move to the side of the road. If you are able to call 911, do so; if you are in too much pain or cannot move, just worry about getting to safety. Someone else should call 911 if you cannot.
If your injuries are severe and you have to leave the scene of the crash in an ambulance, go ahead and do so. Your safety and medical treatment should be your first priority above collecting evidence. If you are able to stay at the scene of the crash, still seek evaluation by EMTs and follow up with doctors as needed.
If you remain at the scene, collect evidence next. This means talking with the driver who hit you to collect their contact and insurance information. Also take pictures of the vehicles, your injuries, the lighting and road conditions, the locations of vehicles, and anything else you think will be important. Additionally, keep notes about the things you cannot get in a picture, such as whether the other driver was slurring their speech or smelled like alcohol.
Lastly, cooperate with the police and make sure to get a copy of their report. If you were unable to remain at the scene of the crash, our motorcycle accident lawyers can get a lot of the same information from the police report that the responding officer files. However, your own information and photos will be easier to use as evidence.
In the days after the crash, call our attorneys for help.
Getting Compensation for a Motorcycle Injury in Mount Juliet, TN
Injuries in a motorcycle crash are often quite severe because the rider is so exposed compared to the occupants inside of a vehicle. As such, the compensation is often high, and when high-dollar damages are involved, it can be difficult to get the insurance companies to pay you what you deserve.
When filing your initial claim with the insurance company, you should speak with a lawyer first so that you know what you should and should not say to the adjuster. You should also get an initial case evaluation first so that you know what your claim should be worth. That way, you can be prepared to reject any offers from the insurance company that fall short of that estimated value.
Often, insurance companies offer just enough to shut the case down and reach a settlement without having to go into additional expenses for trial and legal fees. If their offer is too low, however, you should reject the offer and have our attorneys negotiate for a better offer.
If a better offer still cannot be reached, our lawyers can file your motorcycle accident case in court where a judge and jury can handle decisions about how much the case should be worth. This makes it so the jury, not the insurance company, decides fault and helps push insurance to settle, or else risk spending months tied up in litigation.
Ultimately, many court cases settle after the “discovery” stage, where evidence is exchanged and witnesses are deposed. If the case still does not settle, we can fight your case at trial to try to maximize the damages you receive.
Common Injuries in Motorcycle Crashes in Mount Juliet, TN
As mentioned, motorcycle riders often face very serious injuries in a motorcycle accident. Our attorneys can help you get compensation for any injuries you face, but the following are some of the more common injuries that motorcycle riders experience in auto accidents:
Broken Bones
Breaking a bone in a motorcycle accident is quite common. Often, broken ribs, collarbones, arms, and legs can keep injury victims out of work for at least a few weeks during their recovery. More serious breaks like compound fractures that break the skin or comminuted fractures that involve the bone breaking into more than one piece often require surgery to repair, and they have longer healing times.
Road Rash
Severe brush burns/abrasions for motorcycle riders are often referred to as “road rash,” but that name is almost too mild. Many motorcycle riders slide across the road surface, potentially losing anywhere from a millimeter or so of skin to facing severe skin, muscle, and other tissue damage from the force of the road sliding against unprotected areas.
Back and Neck Injuries
One of the most common injuries motorcycle riders face is back injuries. These can involve just muscle and soft tissue damage or more serious injuries like spinal fractures, potentially leading to paralysis. The same is true of neck injuries, but injuries higher up the spine can cause more extensive paralysis.
Call Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today
To get a free review of your potential injury claim, call the motorcycle accident attorneys at Howe Law today at (844) 876-4357.
