Recovering from a serious motorcycle crash can often seem insurmountable for injured victims and their families. Lost income from missing work, medical bills, and property damage can all add up to a challenging and stressful situation. Speaking to a qualified attorney about your situation could help you seek the compensation you may need for a full recovery.
At the law firm of Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers, our distinguished attorneys take pride in helping injured victims in Stuart pursue the fair amount of compensation they may need for a healthy future (by appointment only). Call our team of legal professionals to learn more about your rights and how you may be able to recover from negligent parties that are liable for your damages.
Because motorcycles offer little to no protection from oncoming vehicles or immovable objects, the results of a serious collision can cause long-term health issues, which usually require expensive medical treatment, physical therapy, and rehabilitation. It is important to fully understand what is needed to have a successful accident claim or lawsuit so you can pursue the compensation you need to help you fully recover.
Read on to learn more about your legal rights for seeking compensation after experiencing a motorcycle accident. Exercising these rights could help improve the recovery process by relieving financial stress for you and your family.
Steps to Take After a Crash
There are certain steps you need to take after experiencing a significant motorcycle crash. Failing to act on some of these steps could hurt your recovery efforts in more ways than one:
Step 1 – Call the Police
Contacting the proper authorities is highly recommended and required by law if injuries occur. Failing to call the police after a significant motorcycle collision can also result in a denied accident claim with the insurance company. Some insurance policies have stipulations that may exclude you from coverage if you do not have a police report. Insurers are less likely to believe your injuries were the result of the crash if you do not have a copy. If your claim is valid and you do not have a copy of the report, a knowledgeable attorney from our firm may be able to obtain one on your behalf.
Step 2 – Seek Medical Care
If you were injured in the crash, one of the most important things you should do is seek immediate medical care from a healthcare professional. If you wait too long to see a doctor, the insurance company may deny or devalue your claim, saying that your injuries would be less severe if you had immediate medical attention. Save all medical documentation including bills, diagnosis reports, and other expenses related to your injuries. This documentation could be submitted as valuable evidence as you pursue financial compensation for your recovery efforts.
Step 3 – Collect Evidence
Besides saving medical documentation, it is highly recommended that you collect as much evidence as possible after the crash, if you are healthy enough to do so, of course. Take pictures and video of your injuries, your bike, the accident scene, any other vehicles involved, and any other damages or clues that may help explain what happened. If you were unable to collect evidence, your attorney may be able to go back to the accident scene and perform a thorough investigation.
Step 4 – Record Witnesses Information
If you can, try to record the names and contact information of any possible witnesses who may have seen the events leading up to the crash. Having credible witnesses vouch for your claim could play a significant role when you try to recover funds for your damages. Your lawyer can also contact witnesses on your behalf at a later date, if necessary.
Step 5 – Avoid Speaking to Insurers
Insurance companies are infamous for trying to find ways to deny or lower the value of an injury claim. If they all paid the full amount for every claim, they would not be profitable. It is important to avoid divulging too much information to insurance adjusters and only provide the basic facts about the crash. Otherwise, you could say something that may hurt the value of your claim. Instead, let an experienced lawyer communicate and negotiate with insurers on your behalf. A good lawyer will know how to preserve the value of your claim and negotiate with insurance adjusters, so you can pursue the fair amount of compensation you may deserve.
Step 6 – Be Careful on Social Media
One tactic insurers may use against you is by looking through your social media posts to find anything that could be held against you. For instance, if you suffered a neck injury, and while you were waiting for your case to be settled, you decided to post a video or photo of yourself playing tackle football. The insurance company could use the post as evidence that your injuries are not severe enough to warrant the full amount of compensation. Try to avoid social media altogether until your case is settled. If you must use social media, stay away from posting information regarding the accident or your condition. You could cost yourself tens of thousands of dollars that you may need for a full recovery.
Step 7 – Attend All Medical Appointments
An important factor in the recovery process is making sure you attend all scheduled medical appointments, including follow-up care as well. If you miss appointments or deny follow-up care, the insurance company could devalue your claim, saying that your injuries would have improved, had you attended all recommended appointments. If you only saw a doctor in the emergency room, it is always a good idea to follow-up with your primary care physician. It looks good on your record and you could avoid a possible long-term ailment by letting doctors find it in the early stages.
Seek Legal Help From a Licensed Lawyer
Motorcycle accident injuries are usually outrageously expensive nowadays. Having a licensed lawyer review your injury claim means he or she can help you learn your legal rights to pursue fair compensation and aid with your recovery efforts.
At Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers, our licensed lawyers serve injury victims in the city of Stuart and throughout the state of Florida (by appointment only). Schedule a no-cost evaluation of your motorcycle crash claim today. We charge no initial fees to determine whether your claim may be eligible for compensation.
Call a law firm you can trust. Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers. Ph: (561) 800-8000