An immediate change from the freedom of the open road to the technicalities of civil law are the challenges you face after a motorcycle accident. The riding surface is of great importance in the Pacific Northwest, but there are certain risks in urban areas. For city streets and state highways, the physical and financial impact of a car/bike crash is vastly different and suffered by the rider of the motorcycle.
Obtaining fair compensation is more than just filing an insurance claim. It takes a lot of knowledge of state traffic laws, physics of accidents and insurance company psychology. Having a Portland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer who specializes in motorcycle accidents is the most important thing that you can do to ensure that you will be able to stay on the road and retain your financial future.
The Reality of Motorcycle Collisions
Information from transport authorities has been gathered and shows that the majority of multi-vehicle motorcycle accidents are due to shortcomings by the normal passenger vehicle driver. The most common catalysts are:
Left-Turn Intersections: Many drivers who turn left at intersections often fail to recognize the low height of a motorcycle oncoming vehicle, and run straight into the driver.
Blind Spot Intrusions: When drivers are changing lanes on busy streets, they often don’t conduct a proper lane change, and end up sideswiping motorcyclists traveling legally in the lane.
Distracted and Impaired Driving: With the rise of mobile devices, distracted driving has become a serious problem and vulnerable road users are more likely to be involved in rear end and failure to yield crashes.
Unlike the other vehicles, motorcycles do not have the same level of physical protection as an enclosed vehicle, such as crumple zones, roll cages or airbags, making the physical damage often overwhelming. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), spinal cord injuries, complicated fractures, extreme road rash and internal organ trauma are all common injuries to the body of the rider. This is a serious injury that takes a long time to treat, rehabilitate and recover from, and that means a prolonged time off of work.
Allied Legal Advocacy for Local Strategic Advantage
An injured rider is at a great disadvantage if he or she is forced to deal with a personal injury case on his or her own. Insurance adjusters have to pay out as little money as they can and will often try to use the “biker myth” to try to suggest that the motorcyclist was just being careless. A local personal injury lawyer is a crucial barrier and advocate, giving a number of strategic benefits.
The Preservation and Investigation of Evidence
To prove liability, it is essential to have objective evidence that is beyond doubt. A separate legal team will initiate an independent investigation to obtain key information in a timely fashion before it’s lost or damaged.
Navigating Complex Traffic Statutes
There are particular laws to deal with in motorcycle legal cases. For example, there are separate laws in Oregon that regulate the operation of riders.
Understanding Comparative Negligence
After a collision, defense attorneys and insurance adjusters are often trying to apportion some of the blame to the motorcyclist, to lessen the amount the party has to pay. This approach is very dependent on the idea of ‘comparative negligence.’
The modified comparative fault systems allow the injured party to collect damages if he or she is at fault for less than 50 percent. The money of the actual award, however, is adjusted for their respective degrees of fault in the case.But in each case the proportion of their fault is taken off the final dollar award.
Measuring the Value of a Claim
When evaluating a personal injury claim, every aspect should be taken into consideration, including ongoing financial security. These losses are classified into two types: economic damages and non-economic damages, so as to not leave out any financial damage that could be suffered.
Steps To Take After A Car Accident
Lock Up Law Enforcement Documentation: Call the police and have an official police report filled out. Make sure the responding officer records statements by witnesses and/or the other driver admitting wrongdoing.
Document the Scene Photographically: Photographs of the final resting position of the cars, the points of impact, damage to the property, skid marks, roadway conditions and any obvious physical injuries.
Don’t Give Recorded Statements or Sign Authorization Forms for Other Insurance Companies: Do not sign authorization forms or give recorded statements to insurance adjusters without legal representation. The statements are commonly designed to confess guilt, thereby hurting your case.
Conclusion
A motorcycle crash can have a long-lasting impact on your life both physically and financially. Being harmed in a car accident and trying to recover at the same time as dealing with the aggressive corporate insurance representatives can be very stressful, and can result in much under-compensation. Having an experienced motorcycle personal injury attorney on your side even the playing field, and make sure your legal rights are strongly protected. To protect your future, click here to know more info.
Leave a Reply