Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help Me with a Motorcycle Accident?

If you are injured in a motorcycle crash that was caused by another party, it is crucial that you work with a capable motorcycle injury lawyer in Phoenix. While a personal injury lawyer is typically the right professional to handle a motorcycle claim, it is important that they have specific experience with motorcycle crash cases to provide effective representation.

Motorcycle accidents can lead to devastating injuries and result in significant medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and additional damages. While you have the right to seek compensation for these damages, the process can be grueling.

Insurance companies are ruthless when it comes to their bottom line. While you are trying to gather evidence, negotiate with adjusters, and advocate for yourself, you will also be struggling to recover from your injuries. A personal injury attorney with an understanding of motorcycle injury claims can take on the legal burden, focus on your best interests, and improve the likelihood of a favorable result, allowing you to concentrate on healing.

At Burg Simpson, we are here to help cut through the confusion so you can rest assured that your accident claim is in the best hands. To get started with a FREE and confidential case evaluation with a motorcycle injury lawyer in Phoenix, call us today at 602-777-7000. We are Good Lawyers. Changing Lives.®, and we represent clients throughout Arizona.

Do Personal Injury Lawyers Handle Motorcycle Accident Cases?

Yes, many personal injury attorneys handle motorcycle accident cases. These are just one of many subspecialties within personal injury law. Others include:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Construction accidents
• Premises liability
• Dog bite injuries
• And more

While all of these types of personal injury claims are similar in some ways—which is why most personal injury law firms handle many different kinds of claims—there are differences and nuances between them.

When looking for a personal injury lawyer to handle your claim, it is important to ensure they have specific experience with motorcycle accidents. This is especially critical because there is often an unfair bias against motorcyclists that a skilled motorcycle injury lawyer in Phoenix will know how to handle.

How Can a Motorcycle Injury Lawyer in Phoenix Help?

If you have never been involved in a serious accident claim, it is important to understand just how much time and work goes into building a successful case.

For example, some of the things a good motorcycle injury lawyer will help with include:

• Investigating the accident, including gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses.
• Establishing liability by making a sound argument for why another party was responsible for the accident.
• Calculating damages to ensure accident victims pursue the full compensation they deserve.
• Negotiating with insurance companies in an attempt to reach a fair settlement offer.
• Taking the case to trial if a settlement cannot be reached.

Completing these crucial tasks requires a significant time investment and a certain amount of know-how and experience. A practiced motorcycle accident lawyer has handled many of these cases and can ensure your case is dealt with professionally, helping you recover the compensation you deserve.

What Should I Do After a Motorcycle Accident?

Motorcycle accidents are rarely minor. Riders are often seriously injured, which requires immediate medical attention. In many cases, a victim may be rushed to the hospital before they even know what happened, let alone have the chance to exchange information or document the scene.

The most important thing you can do is prioritize your health. Call 911 or make sure someone else has. Do not “tough it out” or avoid reporting the crash. A formal accident report will be critical down the line—but your safety is critical right now. There will be opportunities to obtain reports later.

If you are able, or if someone can assist on your behalf, it can help to do the following:

1. Get the name, contact info, and insurance details of the other driver(s).
2. Take photos or videos of the accident scene, vehicles, and surroundings.
3. Identify any witnesses who can describe what happened.
4. Make note of road or weather conditions that may have contributed to the crash.

If your injuries prevent you from doing any of this, that is okay. Your priority is recovery. An attorney can help collect evidence, contact witnesses, and reconstruct the scene after the fact.

Once you are stable, you should:

• Report the accident to your insurance company.
• Keep track of your medical treatment and expenses.
• Speak with a practiced motorcycle injury lawyer in Phoenix as soon as possible.

These few steps can help you protect your rights and build a strong claim for the compensation you deserve.

What Not to Do After a Motorcycle Accident

Equally important to what you should do is what you should not do after a motorcycle accident. A few key things to remember:

• Never admit fault: When speaking with the police or an insurance company, avoid saying anything that could be construed as admitting fault. Even small incidental phrases like “I should have…” or “I was not paying attention…” could make it far more difficult to recover compensation, even if it was mostly another party’s fault.
• Never give an official statement to an insurance company without consulting with an attorney: The insurance adjuster may claim they need a statement for their records or to ensure they have the facts straight, but the only reason they do this is to try and get you to say something inconsistent that would allow them to shift the blame onto you.
• Never release your medical records to an insurance company: The other party’s insurance company may also ask you to provide them with your medical records. Again, their reasoning may seem innocent, but their primary goal is to identify any potential gap or weakness in your records that they could exploit.
• Never be quick to accept an initial settlement offer: Insurance companies generally start with “low-ball” settlement offers that are far less than what you actually deserve. Do not accept an offer unless you have taken the time to truly understand both your short- and long-term damages.

One of the greatest benefits of working with a motorcycle injury lawyer in Phoenix is that they can handle all of the communication with the insurance company and negotiations for you. Take the burden off your plate and allow them to help ensure you are treated fairly.

How Long Does a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit Take?

How long it takes to resolve your claim depends on several factors, including:

• If liability is disputed
• The value of your claim
• The insurance company’s willingness to negotiate
• Whether your claim is settled out of court or goes to trial
• And more

Generally, you should expect it to take several months to reach a settlement agreement with an insurance company. However, if you have to take the case to trial to obtain fair compensation, it may take a year or longer to reach a verdict.

Working with an attorney can help speed up the process. They will handle paperwork and negotiations as efficiently as possible.

When Should I Contact an Attorney?

After a serious accident, it is best to consult with an attorney as soon as possible. That way they can begin investigating the accident and building your claim swiftly. This will not only help resolve the matter faster, it will also help preserve evidence, identify eyewitnesses, and more.

Keep in mind that Arizona has a 2-year statute of limitations for most motorcycle accident claims. This means that after these 2 years have passed, you will likely be unable to recover compensation for your damages.

Burg Simpson’s Motorcycle Injury Lawyers in Phoenix Can Help

At Burg Simpson, we firmly believe in holding negligent parties accountable for the damages they cause. Too many drivers on the road are not cautious enough and fail to share the road with motorcyclists and others, which can lead to devastating injuries.

Our goal is to use our local clout and national strength to provide the top-notch legal representation you need to protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.

For a FREE case evaluation with a motorcycle injury lawyer in Phoenix, contact Burg Simpson today.