Yes, you should hire an attorney if you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Pennsylvania. When an accident involves a motorcyclist and another vehicle, it is usually devastating for the rider. The injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident are often catastrophic or deadly. Because of the severity of injuries suffered, riders deserve to be compensated. However, insurance companies are not looking to pay huge settlements to motorcyclists. The Reiff Law Firm is dedicated to helping those injured in motorcycle accidents throughout Pennsylvania. Below, our Philadelphia motorcycle accident lawyer discusses why it is crucial to retain proper legal representation after a crash.
Investigating and Collecting Evidence in Pennsylvania Motorcycle Accident Cases
If you have been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident and are receiving medical treatment or are recovering from surgery, you are not able to investigate the crash. Our Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorney will gather evidence, reports, and witness testimony to help determine what occurred and who should be held responsible for your injuries.
By collecting police reports, questioning witnesses, examining the scene of the accident, reviewing possible surveillance video of the accident, and reviewing the driving records of the other motorists involved, our office will look to establish that another driver was at fault. Our office has the resources necessary to try to build an argument that another driver owed you a duty to operate their vehicle safely, failed to do so, and caused the accident and your injuries. While our dedicated attorneys and staff work on your case, you can concentrate on healing.
Calculating the Value in a Motorcycle Accident Injury Case with the Help of a Lawyer
Another reason to retain our knowledgeable Pennsylvania motorcycle attorney is to value your case appropriately. Even if you decide to settle with an insurance company, you will want to know what your claim is worth and the amount you are entitled to recover. Insurance adjusters are working to lower their liability – they are not trying to maximize your award. Our office can negotiate with any insurance provider from a position of strength.
Our attorney will thoroughly review and calculate your potential damages. An accurate estimate of the value of your claim is vital information when negotiating with the insurance company of a negligent party. It is also critical when deciding to take your case to trial.
You are entitled to recover a variety of damages. In many cases, an insurance adjuster will either estimate the damages lower than deserved or ignore them completely.
Medical Expenses
You are entitled to recover for your medical expenses. These costs include more than your initial hospital bills and treatment expenses. You are also able to recover for an ambulance or medical ride, required medication, medical specialists, diagnostic tests, surgeries, and any ongoing medical care or therapy, including any in-home healthcare or equipment. Because of the severity of motorcycle injuries, the cost of ongoing medical treatment is often very expensive.
Lost Income
Lost income could be a significant part of your recovery calculation. Because many injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident are severe, you could miss weeks, months, or even years of work. In some cases, an injured motorcyclist could be permanently paralyzed or disabled. With the help of your employer and financial experts, our Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorney will estimate not only your lost wages but any future lost income that is a direct result of your injury.
Pain and Suffering
Often, the largest part of a compensation award following a motorcycle accident is for pain and suffering. Known as non-economic damages, an injured motorcyclist can recover for the physical and mental anguish they endured because of their injury. These types of damages are challenging to calculate because there are no receipts. Our office will estimate an amount for your emotional stress, physical pain, mental suffering, anxiety, humiliation, and even your inability to enjoy life.
Hiring a Lawyer to Negotiate with Insurance Companies after a Motorcycle Crash
When you speak with a representative from an insurance provider, they are not working to help you. In many cases, an adjuster is looking to find some reason or justification to lower or deny a claim. Motorcyclists have a reputation of recklessness, and an insurance adjuster will sometimes use that reputation to shift fault from a negligent driver to an injured rider. Our Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorney has the experience and skill to negotiate toe-to-toe with an insurance company. Additionally, as stated above, our office knows the value of your claim. In order to maximize a settlement offer, it is essential to have proper legal representation at your side.
Taking Motorcycle Accident Cases to Court in Pennsylvania
Our job as your motorcycle accident lawyer is to work to get you the most compensation possible. Often, this requires taking your case to trial. When an insurance company or the negligent party fails to offer a settlement amount you deserve, an alternative is to prepare your case for trial. By filing a lawsuit, you could increase your potential compensation by either winning a jury award or forcing a defendant to offer more to avoid the risk of trial.
Call Our Pennsylvania Motorcycle if You or a Loved One Was Injured in an Accident
Motorcycle accidents can be devastating events that result in life-altering or life-ending injuries. Because of the size of a motorcycle and the exposure of the rider, litigation surrounding motorcycle accidents is complicated. Our experienced Pennsylvania motorcycle and car accident attorney brings decades of well-developed skills to fight for your rights. Often, it takes a vigorous argument to prove a motorcyclist was not at fault. If you or a loved one was injured in a motorcycle crash, contact the Reiff Law Firm immediately. Call (215) 709-6940 to schedule a free consultation.
