Rather than run the risk of sounding paternalistic, I’ll probably only say this once in this article: if you’re in a motorcycle accident, seek medical attention immediately and do not wait. If you wait to go to the doctor and wait to seek assistance from a motorcycle accident attorney, you may lose your case. Why? Because the delays in getting medical help and coming to a motorcycle accident attorney may be viewed with some suspicion by the insurance company.
Unfortunately, as long as I have been a motorcycle accident attorney, it has always been difficult for a biker to get compensation. I’m not saying it’s impossible, or that it can’t be done, but what I am saying is that with the current attitude about people who ride motorcycles, compensation can turn out to be a real battle royal.
I find it rather odd that many car drivers and insurance companies heap scorn and cast aspersions on motorcycle riders; painting them as reckless fools with no traffic sense in their heads. The truth of the matter, from my perspective as a motorcycle accident attorney, is that most motorcycle crashes are caused by car drivers, because “they” were negligent.
But back to my main theme here, and that is if you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, you must get medical help immediately. This applies even if you figure you’re just fine and dandy and only have horrid road rash and cuts and bruises and a sprained neck. Over the years that I have handled accidents as a motorcycle accident attorney, I have seen seemingly innocuous injuries turn into life-altering events that debilitated the rider.
One of the worst types of injuries a biker can sustain is a traumatic brain injury. While it may not be immediately evident that is what happened, if it is not caught right away, the consequences may be catastrophic. Just take a moment and think back over this last couple of years about the number of high profile sports people who suffered traumatic brain injury from hitting their heads. The most well known case of course involved actress Natasha Richardson.
As a motorcycle accident attorney, I have seen and dealt with some pretty devastating injuries, many of which resulted in lifelong impairment for the injured biker in varying degrees of difficulty. Being in a motorcycle accident can be overwhelming, and if the cause of the accident was another’s negligence, then the biker deserves the best fight their motorcycle accident attorney can muster.
While it likely goes without saying, I’m going to emphasize this once more, just because I can, and because it’s my job as a motorcycle accident attorney to hand out advice. Making sure to get medical attention is a smart move because there is a record of your injuries. If there is any delay, as I mentioned earlier, the insurance company may look askance at your claim.
The fact is, that medical records that are detailed and complete are vital cornerstones to have in any lawsuit, and your motorcycle accident attorney knows this. Damage awards are quite often based on what information is in those records. So, make certain “every” injury is completely documented, in case something goes wrong later. And while I am at it, do not sign off on any medical claim until you discuss the matter with a motorcycle accident attorney.
Even though you may view yourself as a safe motorcycle rider and have driven all over the place for many years and never had a problem, this does not take into account the negligence of “other” drivers; drivers who say they can’t see a motorcycle.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a motorcycle crash, seek legal counsel from a motorcycle accident attorney to obtain justice. When another driver is at fault for the collision, you have a higher chance of being able to claim compensation.
