Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Motorcyclists are at a way higher risk than any other driver on the road. By nature, motorcycles are faster, less protected, harder to ride, and less stable than other vehicles on the road. Despite this, other drivers don’t respect a motorist’s space and safety. Motorcyclists are 27 times more likely than other drivers to die in a vehicle accident. Motorcycle accidents aren’t an inevitable event, they are totally preventable if other drivers respect the boundaries of a motorcycle.
Whether you need to take action against another driver or your insurance company, My Case Helper can find you a qualified motorcycle accident lawyer to help you get compensation. You shouldn’t have to settle for less than what your loved one is worth.
Losing A Loved One In A Motorcycle Accident
Aside from the emotional toll of tragically losing a loved one to a motorcycle accident, you also need to think of what they left behind. Getting compensation, whether it’s from the other driver or your insurance company, you’ll need help covering:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Medical bills
- Future income and support
- Pain and suffering
Some of these things may feel impossible to recover. How do you put a price on the loss of someone’s love and affection?
A motorcycle accident lawyer can investigate your loved one’s accident, collect documentation, and take care of the legal proceedings. You should grieve and heal during this time, not worry about fighting with a negligent driver or uncaring insurance company.
Also Read: What’s A Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Motorcycle Accident Death Settlements
Sadly, insurance may not even be enough to cover the cost of all your current and future expenses. Working with a wrongful death lawyer to document, investigate, and negotiate a better settlement can help cover more costs.
Generally, wrongful death settlements can reach into the 6-figure range. This can change depending on your loved one’s accident, your losses, and your state’s payout laws.
Your loved one’s death came as a surprise and shock to everyone. There may be more family members who feel entitled to compensation or to property. This is incredibly difficult without a will or estate. Be sure to also mention this to your lawyer to see what other solutions they can help you find.
Also Read: How Attorneys Help Plan Estates In 8 Steps
Causes Of Motorcycle Accidents
The most common way motorcyclists get into accidents is from visibility issues. Drivers turning left in oncoming motorcycle traffic are the number one causes of fatal accidents. Motorcycles are smaller, making them less visible to other drivers. Drivers often misjudge a motorcycle’s speed and size.
Motorcycle accident lawyers also see a disturbing trend of distracted driving accidents. Studies show that distracted driving impairs your driving more than driving under the influence! Other fatal motorcycle accidents also include:
- Sideswipes by vehicles changing lanes or merging onto freeways without proper shoulder checks.
- Sideswipes by vehicles running red lights or failing to yield at an intersection.
- Head-on collisions with oncoming motorcyclists.
- Rear-end collisions with a fully-stopped or slowed motorcycle at an intersection.
- Side collisions or backing into motorcycles with vehicles failing to check rearview mirrors.
- Door collisions with oncoming motorcycles with vehicles failing to assess surroundings before opening a door.
Most of these accidents are at the hands of negligent drivers failing to properly assess all road hazards. Despite many institutions pointing fingers at motorcyclists for high fatalities and accidents, negligent drivers are to blame in many cases.
Timeline Of A Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit
You only have a limited time to file a lawsuit against another driver or insurance company after your loved one’s death. Reaching a settlement agreement can take anywhere between 30 days to 6 weeks. Taking a motorcycle accident case to court can last up to a year. However, regardless of time, most motorcycle accident lawsuits follow a specific timeline:
- Service of the answer: After issuing a notice to the defendant, or the party you’re suing, the defendant will have 30 days to respond. This is a written response to all your allegations.
- Discovery: At this point, you’ll do everything you can to gather as much information as possible. Both parties must release all depositions, bills, interviews, medical records, physical exams.
- Motions: These are written requests to the court requesting a to resolve a legal issue or another matter with the opposing party. Motions are also filed when a party fails to comply or properly respond to discovery requests.
- Conferences: Depending upon state laws and local court rules, conferences may differ. These are scheduled meetings with all attorneys and the judge to discuss the status of your case. These conferences usually decide if a case will go to trial, or to discuss an alternative resolution.
- Alternative Dispute Resolution: This is also referred to as mediation or arbitration. At this point, a neutral third party will act as both judge and jury. Over the course of a few days, both parties will work together to come to an agreed settlement or resolution.
- Trial: Your case may already be scheduled for a trial, or mediation did not go as planned. This is when a judge or a panel of jurors determine what damages you are due.
The settlement you receive during mediation versus the one you receive in trial can vary. To get a better estimate of what kind of settlement you can expect for your fatal motorcycle accident, call My Case Helper.
Also Read: The Myth Of Frivolous Lawsuits
Find A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
If you need help finding a real qualified lawyer to help you win your motorcycle accident case, call My Case Helper. We can connect you with a lawyer in your area to help you through this challenging process.
Our partners can help you decide if what the insurance companies offer you is truly worth what your loved one is worth. Call today to find a motorcycle accident lawyer in your area.
Also Read: 12 Questions To Ask A Personal Injury Lawyer
