Motorcyclists often face much higher challenges on the road than the average motorist. Other drivers don’t see them, and when they are involved in a crash, their damages are often more severe. When a negligent driver causes a motorcyclist to crash, the victim shouldn’t have to deal with their expenses alone.
The Lithonia personal injury lawyers at John Foy & Associates can help you get a fair settlement and get back on the road. Compensation could be the element you need to move past your crash. Learn more and keep in mind that, if you have any questions, someone from our firm is available to talk for free 24/7.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident
As with any other accident, your number one priority after a motorcycle crash should always be your own health and safety. Call an ambulance and get medical attention as soon as possible, and make sure that you aren’t in a dangerous position. Pull to the side of the road, away from any traffic.
Once you’ve taken every measure to ensure your safety, you can also begin to collect information and evidence that will strengthen your case. After a motorcycle accident, you should:
- Take photos or videos of the accident scene, as well as the damage done to you and your motorcycle
- Get the other driver’s information, including their insurance details and license plate number
- Call the police and get an official accident report
- Talk to witnesses and get their contact information
- Get in touch with a Lithonia motorcycle accident attorney before you sign anything
After your crash, it’s important to get started on your claim as soon as possible. The Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) § 9-3-33 puts a two-year statute of limitations on injury claims. If you fail to act before then, you could lose any shot you have at getting compensation.
Do I Need a Lawyer If I’ve Been in a Motorcycle Accident?
That depends on what happened in the accident and what you intend to do. If you were the one that caused the accident, you may want to contact a defense attorney who represents at-fault parties. If you were not at fault for your crash, you may want to call a lawyer.
When you’ve suffered damages due to someone else’s negligence, you can file a claim to get them and their insurance company to compensate you. If you have any intention of pursuing compensation, chances are good that it’s worth getting an attorney to help you.
There is no legal requirement to have a lawyer after an accident, so technically, you don’t need one. You don’t even need a lawyer to get compensation. However, your chances are much better if you do have an attorney by your side, and an attorney can make sure you’re getting a good settlement from the insurance company.
How Is Pain and Suffering Calculated for Motorcycle Crashes?
When your lawyer calculates your damages, it’s usually based on the financial costs that your accident caused. That can be medical expenses, repair bills, and any other documents or receipts that show what you have had to pay as a result of the at-fault party’s negligence.
However, some damages won’t be financial. Known as non-economic damages, these are meant to compensate you for the emotional and mental toll on your life that your accident caused. The most common type of non-economic damage is pain and suffering. But how do you put a price tag on the pain that someone feels?
To calculate pain and suffering for a motorcycle accident claim, your lawyer will actually use your economic damages. They will calculate your financial costs and use what is known as a multiplier to show how much you’re owed. This multiplier will depend on the severity of your injuries. Your damages could just be multiplied by one, or they could double or even triple.
It’s impossible to say how much you are owed for pain and suffering without knowing the details of your situation. At your free initial consultation with one of our motorcycle accident attorneys in Lithonia, they will give you an estimate of what compensation you can get for your accident.
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How Long does It Take for a Motorcycle Accident Claim to Settle?
We understand that, after your crash, the last thing you need is one more thing to worry about. That’s why we want to make the claims process as painless as possible. However, these things do take some time, and to get a fair settlement your claim will have to go through all steps of the process.
In general, if you’re willing to settle for a reasonable amount, it takes weeks or months to get that settlement. There will be investigation, calculation, and negotiation to go through before you’re able to collect compensation. However, as long as you are willing to meet the insurance company halfway, you can usually get a settlement in a timely manner.
However, if you have very costly damages or need a large amount of compensation, the settlement process could take longer. The insurance company will fight your claim, and there’s a chance that you will even need to file a lawsuit. Once that goes to court, the timeline is much more complicated and it will take longer to get you compensation.
However, our lawyers will take care of all the legal details during this process. We want you to be able to focus on recovering from your crash, and we can help by making sure you don’t have to worry about more than you should.
Talk to a Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Lithonia Today
When someone else causes you to crash your motorcycle, it can be frustrating and unfair to have to pay for your damages yourself. Negligent drivers should be held responsible for their actions. The Lithonia motorcycle accident lawyers at John Foy & Associates can make sure that happens.
For a FREE initial consultation with someone from our team, call us or contact us online today.
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