There were 5,579 motorcyclists killed, and 82,528 suffered personal injuries in 2020. This is the highest number of motorcyclist deaths since 1975.
Motorcycle accidents happen in a flash. One minute you are riding along, enjoying the wind in your face. The next minute you wake up in a hospital room, staring at ceiling tiles.
Your life changes permanently. Your body may never be the same again. This is when you need to call a motorcycle accident lawyer.
Insurance companies make money collecting premiums; they lose money paying out benefits. If you think there is no need to pay a lawyer because your insurance company will take care of you, think again. Keep reading to learn the benefits of hiring a motorcycle accident attorney serving Lafayette.
1. Insurance Company Negotiations
Following a motorcycle crash, an insurance company may be one of the first calls you receive. They may offer you an immediate settlement. Applying pressure, they may say you must accept immediately or lose the chance.
Don’t fall for their tricks! Insurance companies offer low-ball settlements. Once you accept, you lose the chance to file a motorcycle accident claim for the full value of your injuries.
Never accept an insurance company offer until you talk with a personal injury lawyer. Motorcycle accident claim attorneys know how to evaluate your case. They will know if the offer is fair.
Lawyers understand the factors for determining a fair settlement for injured motorcyclists. This includes the cause of the accident, medical treatment costs, and long-term prognosis.
2. Building Your Case
While you concentrate on healing from your injuries, your motorcycle accident lawyer will begin building your case. They will request discovery from the other driver. This may include their driving record and insurance declaration.
Your attorney will collect evidence supporting your case. This includes photographs of the accident scene, police reports, and medical records.
They may enlist accident re-enactment experts and medical experts. Conducting depositions of witnesses and medical professionals is common in personal injury lawsuits.
Your attorney knows the Louisiana statute of limitations. This requires filing lawsuits for personal injury and wrongful death within one (1) year of the accident. Wrongful death lawsuits are brought by family members of a motorcyclist who dies in a crash.
3. Rehabilitation Costs and Long-Term Impact
A motorcyclist does not have the protection of a vehicle around them. They suffer a direct impact on their body.
Riders may be catapulted through the air following impact. This increases the risk of broken bones and brain trauma. Motorcycle Lawyers are familiar with the extensive rehabilitation costs and life-altering long-term consequences.
According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report, the average inpatient rehabilitative cost per motorcycle accident patient was $13,200 in 2002 (pages vii to viii). In addition to inpatient costs, victims of a motorcycle accident show 62% unable to work or disabled.
The rider may incur months of outpatient follow-up care following an accident. This includes medical appointments with orthopedic surgeons, physical, occupational, and speech therapy, time in a medical rehabilitation facility, and more. Your motorcycle personal injury attorney will consider all these factors when negotiating a settlement.
4. Legal Expertise
Ask yourself a few questions when you question whether or not you need to hire an attorney.
Do you have experience negotiating with insurance companies and their legal counsel?
Do you know how to evaluate the value of your case?
Do you know how to format a lawsuit properly?
Are you familiar with the Statute of Limitations?
Are you familiar with the elements of negligence or elements of wrongful death necessary in a lawsuit?
Are you familiar with conducting discovery, including depositions, interrogatories, document demands, and admission requests?
Are you comfortable presenting your case in court, including trial?
If you answered no to even one of these, you need to contact a motorcycle accident attorney and schedule a consultation.
Where to Find a Lafayette Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
When you suffer injuries from a motorcycle accident in Lafayette, you need the expertise of the Wright Gray Trial Lawyers. Our motorcycle accident lawyer team understands the severity of injuries you will likely suffer. We will estimate the compensation you deserve, negotiate a fair settlement, or take the matter to trial.
We handle your case on a contingency fee, meaning you pay nothing until we win your case. If we don’t win, you don’t pay. Contact us today using our online form or call 888-912-4944 to schedule a free consultation.