Being injured in a motorcycle accident can be overwhelming and confusing if you’ve never been in an accident before. You must be aware of many aspects and deadlines to ensure you have the best chance of qualifying for compensation.
Our Phoenix motorcycle accident lawyers from Zanes Law answer common questions in our guide to motorcycle accident lawsuits in Phoenix. Read on to learn more about how motorcycle accident lawsuits work.
What Steps Should You Take After a Phoenix Motorcycle Accident?
In the moments after a motorcycle accident, you might be overwhelmed and unsure what to do next. It’s important to take the following steps after you’re injured in a crash:
Seek Medical Care
Obtaining medical attention after an accident is the most important step for your health and motorcycle accident case. A doctor can diagnose any pain you feel and other injuries that may not show symptoms yet.
After a medical professional diagnoses your injuries, keep or obtain a copy of your medical bills and medical records. A lawyer can use these as evidence to prove the other parties’ negligence.
Call the Police and Collect the Other Driver’s Information
The next step you need to take is to call the police and collect the other drivers’ information. It’s important that you don’t apologize for the accident or admit fault in any way. Taking responsibility for the accident can reduce your compensation amount or make you ineligible for compensation.
When the police come to talk to you, you should be polite and answer all their questions honestly, and if you can, ask for a copy of the police report to have as evidence in your motorcycle accident case. If, for some reason, you can’t get a copy; you can request a copy from the department records unit at the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Alert Your Insurance Company
After you’ve alerted law enforcement, you should call your insurance company to tell them you’ve been in an accident. By doing this, your insurance company won’t be surprised when you file a claim, and they may get to your claim quicker.
Insurance companies look for any excuse to delay handling your claim, so alerting them is crucial. Be sure not to admit to any fault for the accident in your call; just alert them and inform them that you’ll be filing a claim with a lawyer soon.
Contact a Phoenix Motorcycle Accident Attorney
The final step you should take is contacting a Phoenix motorcycle accident lawyer. A lawyer can guide you through the various legal steps you must take to get compensation for your injuries.
An attorney can provide legal advice every step of the way and ensure that you stay updated with your case’s developments. In addition, they will fight and protect your rights to compensation.
What Are Common Injuries Motorcycle Accidents Victims Sustain?
As a motorcyclist, you are more physically vulnerable in accidents and can suffer more severe injuries because your helmet is the only barrier between you and the road. Common injuries you may have suffered in a motorcycle accident include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Loss of limb
- Spinal cord injury
- Broken bones
- Leg injuries
- Loss of limb
- Internal bleeding
After you’re injured, you should seek medical attention immediately, this is one of the most important steps in our guide to motorcycle accident lawsuits. Then after you’ve received treatment, you should get in touch with a motorcycle accident lawyer in Phoenix. You can then start the legal process and determine your eligibility for compensation.
How Long do You Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit for Compensation?
You only have so long to file a lawsuit after you’re injured in a motorcycle accident. According to A.R.S.§ 12-542, you have two years to file a lawsuit against the negligent parties responsible for your injuries.
Certain case details, such as an ongoing investigation, could give you more or less time. A motorcycle accident lawyer from Zanes Law can review your situation and determine how long you have to gather evidence and file a lawsuit.
When filing a lawsuit, it’s essential to have solid evidence of your claim, such as a police report, photos and videos of the accident, witness testimonies, medical records, and photos of your injuries. A lawyer can help you gather all these pieces of evidence to ensure you successfully file your claim.
What Damages Can You Recover After a Motorcycle Accident?
When someone contributes to your pain, you are legally entitled to recover damages for your losses. After a motorcycle accident, an attorney can help you recover two types of damages:
Economic Damages
These types of damages are financial losses you’ve suffered due to your accident. A lawyer can put an exact dollar amount on economic damages and help you recover losses such as:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of employment
- Lost wages
- Physical therapy
- Property damage
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages, on the other hand, don’t affect your financial status but rather are the long-term effects of your injuries. You could recover non-economic damages such as:
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of society
Depending on how severe your injuries are, you may be eligible for additional damages after your bike crash. A lawyer can assess your situation and tell you what damages you can recover.
How Can a Lawyer Help You After You Suffer Injuries in a Motorcycle Crash?
In addition to being your legal support and advocate, our legal team can help you with various tasks in your Phoenix motorcycle accident lawsuit. For example, meeting with the insurance company is one of the most intimidating parts of the legal process. An attorney Our experienced Phoenix motorcycle accident lawyers can accompany you to the meeting and ensure the insurance adjuster offers you a fair settlement amount.
Another task our law firm can help with is determining how much your motorcycle accident injuries are worth. Our lawyers have years of experience representing injured motorcycle riders and handling motorcycle accident claims and can tell you an average amount of compensation you could recover.
Our attorneys can help with many more tasks throughout your lawsuit. You can learn more about additional tasks they can help you with when you meet with them for a free consultation.
Learn More About Motorcycle Accident Lawsuits
We hope this guide to motorcycle accident lawsuits in Phoenix helped you further understand the process. A Phoenix motorcycle accident lawyer can answer your questions about our guide to motorcycle accident lawsuits in Phoenix.
An attorney from Zanes Law can review your case for free and tell you if you have a valid case.
