If you have a motorcycle, you already know the risks associated with owning and driving this type of vehicle. Injuries from a motorcycle accident can range from life-altering to fatal. It is rare that riders walk away unscathed. Riders are unprotected, save a helmet, and traveling at high speeds. Your degree of exposure does not negate your rights to legal representation or to damage recovery through the motorcycle accident personal injury claim. You can purchase several different kinds of insurance coverage as a safety net should you get injured. But that is not your only option. We will outline your options as well as pitfalls you should avoid when filing your personal injury claim after a motorcycle accident.
Should I Represent Myself in a Motorcycle Accident Case?
This is often a point of contention for personal injury clients involved in an accident. Acting on assumptions and manipulating facts before you meet with a personal injury attorney can only hurt your case. The two biggest mistakes people make in motorcycle accident personal injury cases are:
- They either settle with the insurance company or attempt to file their own claim independent of legal advice.
- They lie on their claim or underplay the injuries they’ve sustained.
None of these actions do anyone any favors; especially you. You end up sacrificing your credibility or shortchanging yourself. Do not sign any agreements or releases from the insurance company until they have been thoroughly reviewed by an attorney who specializes in motorcycle accident personal injury cases. You need to be sure that what you’re being offered accurately represents compensation for your injuries, loss of earning capacity and pain and suffering.
The initial settlement agreement from an insurance company rarely covers all of these categories. The outcome may only worsen for you if you attempt to file your own claim without legal advice.
What You Should Not Do In a Personal Injury Case
There are a number of ways claimants can try to skirt around personal injury law. Attempting to manipulate the law in your favor is not recommended. You will be discovered and your claim will be thrown out. You also run the risk of being counter-sued by the affected parties for fraud. It just isn’t worth it.
The more common path is to downplay your injuries. Claimants assume that this will cause the court to look more favorably on their case. The repercussions of motorcycle accident personal injury incidents present differently from other roadway collisions. It can take months for all the injuries to become apparent. You need to make sure your claim covers all eventualities at the time it is filed.
Stockard, Johnston, Brown & Netardus, P.C. in Amarillo, Texas will make sure your claim is accurate and truthful according to motorcycle accident personal injury law. It will be concise and filed in a timely manner. Our attorneys have seen several motorcycle accidents occur in the Amarillo, Texas area and Texas Panhandle region in the past several years, especially of late, so we are familiar with and experienced in taking on these personal injury cases. Contact Stockard, Johnston, Brown, Netardus & Doyle, P.C. today to further discuss your motorcycle accident personal injury claim.