What Does a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Do?

If you or a loved one was injured in a recent motorcycle accident, a California motorcycle accident lawyer can help you get compensation. What a motorcycle accident lawyer does can help you understand and navigate the financial recovery process. Your lawyer can deal with the legal and insurance matters that go into building an effective personal injury claim.

From investigating your accident to representing you in court, a lawyer can deal with the details of your case so motorcycle accident victims can focus on their medical treatment. They can also assess your financial recovery and fight for the best possible settlement. Most law firms in your area will offer a free injury claim review and represent you on a contingency fee basis.

Is it Worth Hiring a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in California?

Motorcyclists are often viewed as potentially reckless or as thrill seekers. Because California’s pure comparative negligence law could diminish—or potentially eliminate—your financial recovery, your claim could benefit from hiring a personal injury lawyer to prove you did not cause or contribute to the collision.

It could cost nothing up front or out of your own pocket to hire a lawyer since most work on contingency. They will cover all the costs of investigating and preparing your personal injury claim and will only receive attorney’s fees if they recover compensation for you. A contingency agreement also means no large retainers and no hourly attorney’s fees.

That means you can get started sooner, get legal support faster, and owe no fees at all if you do not win compensation.

When Is the Best Time to Hire a Motorcycle Accident Attorney?

You do not have to fight for your financial recovery on your own. It is never too soon to hire a personal injury attorney to represent you against an at-fault driver or a huge insurance company. In fact, hiring an attorney sooner rather than later could give you all of the following benefits:

• Eyewitness interviews while their memories are vivid
• Evidence collection and preservation that limits loss or confusion
• Accident scene reconstruction with time-sensitive photos and videos

You should also consider hiring a lawyer for potentially complex claims like motorcycle crashes that cause fatalities and catastrophic injuries. A lawyer can also be beneficial if the at-fault party denies liability or their insurer makes an unreasonably low settlement offer.

How Does a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Deal With the Insurance Company?

The insurance company will make many demands on you in the legal process of investigating and resolving your motorcycle accident claim. When dealing with the insurance company for you, your lawyer will do all of the following so you can focus on getting better:

• Communicate on your behalf, protecting you from saying or signing anything that might hinder your motorcycle accident claim
• Collect all the evidence your claim needs to prove the at-fault driver’s negligence caused your accident
• Manage all paperwork, including claim forms, court filings, and other legal and insurance documentation
• Present proof of your recoverable damages and negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf

The insurance company and its adjuster will have their bottom line in mind when handling your claim. Your lawyer will keep your best interest and optimal financial recovery at the forefront of your insurance claim.

What Kind of Evidence Does a Lawyer Compile for a Motorcycle Accident Claim?

Evidence in a motorcycle accident case does two important things. Its first role is to establish the elements of negligence—duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages. This portion of your case file will include:

• Police report
• Accident reconstruction report
• Witness statements
• Photos and videos
• Expert testimonials

Your accumulated evidence should also prove the monetary value of your claim. This portion of your case file will contain proof of income, medical bills, and motorcycle repair or replacement estimates.

How Does a Lawyer Assess the Value of Motorcycle Accident Compensation?

Assessing your damages includes gathering evidence of their monetary value. They will compile bills, receipts, prognosis reports, estimates, and invoices that support your compensation request. The economic and non-economic damages your lawyer requests for you can include:

• Medical expenses
• Losses of income
• Lost earning ability
• Property damage
• Property destruction
• Lasting impairments
• Disfiguring injuries
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anxiety
• Emotional distress

The at-fault driver’s insurance company might offer you a settlement right away. While it can be tempting to get swift financial relief, it can also be limiting. A speedy settlement offer might not allow the full financial impact of the accident to be known. If accepted, you cannot request additional (even legitimate) damages later.

How Can a Lawyer Help if a California Motorcycle Accident Was Fatal?

The unexpected loss of a loved one can leave your family reeling. It can also lead to financial hardship. While nothing can atone for your loss, a California wrongful death lawyer can help you pursue the following damages:

• Funeral expenses
• Lost financial support
• Lost domestic support
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of companionship

Your lawyer can also provide clarity on who can file a wrongful death action and which family members can receive fair compensation.

What is the Statute of Limitations on Motorcycle Accidents in California?

You generally have two years to file your personal injury lawsuit, according to CCP § 335.1. If you miss or misinterpret the filing deadline, you could put your legal right to file your lawsuit in jeopardy.

Your lawyer can help you interpret and meet the statute of limitations. They can also file your lawsuit on time and in the appropriate court.

Find Out What Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Can Do for You

If you or a loved one was injured in a motorcycle accident, you could be entitled to financial compensation from the at-fault driver. If you are considering hiring a lawyer to represent you, you need to know what a motorcycle accident lawyer does and how we will fight for the maximum compensation possible for you.

Find out how we can help you build a strong evidence collection and pursue compensation with a free claim review. Contact our consultation team at Sargent Law Firm Injury Lawyers to get started today.