After a motorcycle accident, what you should do is get medical attention and carefully follow your doctor’s instructions. Next, consider your financial well-being.
If the accident was not your fault, you can claim compensation. To achieve a favorable result, get help from a Houston motorcycle accident lawyer.
Take Action as Soon As You Can
Motorcycle accidents often cause terrible injuries. You may not be able to think clearly or take steps toward claiming compensation right away. However, you should not wait too long. In accordance with the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. Chapter 16, you have two years to file.
This applies to most personal injury cases with a few exceptions. If you file too late, your case will not be accepted. It also makes your lawyer’s job more difficult if you wait. They need to look for evidence, including things you or even the police may have overlooked.
Witnesses can be harder to track down as time passes, and time-sensitive evidence like traffic camera footage may no longer be available. Get your personal injury claim started as soon as you possibly can. If you are not able to handle this because of your injuries, ask someone close to you to help.
Choosing a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
When wondering what to do after a motorcycle accident, many people feel hopeless. They do not realize that they can afford a top-notch lawyer and excellent medical treatment. A good motorcycle accident lawyer should help you with legal matters and have access to a network of doctors who will help you.
Many personal injury lawyers are willing to work on contingency. That means they only require payment if you win compensation. Before you choose a lawyer, browse their website carefully to see if they look like a good fit.
Consider their experience, look for any awards they have won, and search for client reviews. Before you commit, you should get a free consultation.
There are four questions to ask your personal injury lawyer. Ask about their experience, costs, expected timelines, and the compensation they would claim for you.
Preparing For Your First Appointment With a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
You will get a clearer picture of what to expect after consulting a lawyer. One of the things to do after a motorcycle accident is to prepare for it. Apart from knowing what questions you should ask, gather documents and evidence that they can use to assess your case. These include:
- Medical records, bills, and your doctor’s opinion on your injuries and recovery
- A copy of the accident report form
- Your account of what happened, which you should write as soon as you are able and while you still remember as much as possible
- Any witness statements or other evidence you may have, such as images of the crash scene
- Contact details for your insurance and medical providers, including any ambulance service that attended the crash scene
- Proof of income or contracts for upcoming work you were unable to do, as lost income is factored into damages
Finally, bring along your intuition and knowledge of people. Part of finding a good personal injury lawyer is looking at how they treat you. You want good communication and a sense of being treated with respect. Remember, you are the client. Your first impressions matter.
Once You Have Chosen a Lawyer, Track Progress and Help Them to Help You
Your lawyer should not just use the information you have given them. They should investigate more deeply. This helps them to argue your case if others object. If they need any extra information from you, share it with them.
A good personal injury lawyer should keep you updated on their progress and answer any questions that occur to you. It can be frustrating waiting for results, but a good case takes time to build. While you should be patient, your lawyer must keep you in the loop.
The best thing to do after a motorcycle accident is to take good care of your own health. If you were to make your injuries worse by trying to get active too soon or by missing appointments with your doctor, you may harm your health and receive less compensation.
What Happens if You Were Partly to Blame?
Some people feel that they cannot claim compensation because they believe they may have made a mistake that contributed to their accident. The Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 33. Proportionate Liability states that if you were more than 50 percent to blame, you cannot claim.
Although you may feel you made mistakes in the moment, a lawyer can tell you how a court is likely to decide proportionate liability. For example, you were trying to avoid an accident after a car unexpectedly changed lanes. You swerved, losing control of your motorcycle and crashing.
Your percentage of liability (if any) is likely to be lower than that of the driver who caused you to swerve. If you really are partly, but not mostly, to blame for an accident, you can still claim compensation. The amount you receive is reduced by your portion of liability, but it could still be substantial.
You Can Claim Without a Lawyer to Help You, But Your Compensation May Be Far Lower
Typically, a negotiation follows a claim. Lawyers for the defendant or their insurance company may make you an offer to settle out of court. When you represent yourself, you may find that the compensation you are offered does not even begin to cover your costs.
If you were to stick to your guns and take the matter to court, you would face experienced lawyers who know how to make your claim seem unreasonable. Most people do not know how to counter these arguments effectively.
The result is often less than satisfactory, and many accident victims walk away with less compensation than they could otherwise have gained. That is why having a lawyer to represent you makes such a big difference to outcomes. With the right help, benefits far exceed costs.
We Know What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident, and We Will Advocate for You
At Lowe Law, our motorcycle accident lawyers contribute to an outstanding track record. We have recovered millions of dollars for our clients, and our lead attorney is considered one of the top lawyers in the US. Plus, we only charge our clients for cases we win.
We make it possible for you to get high-quality legal help, and our concern for you extends to ensuring you get good medical treatment. Our Houston personal injury lawyer has the skills you need to maximize your claim and stand a good chance of winning.
So, if you are at a loss for what to do after a motorcycle accident, contacting Lowe Law for advice should be high on your list. With us, we believe you will find new hope and courage to face the future after your accident. Call us today and claim your free consultation.
