Arbutus Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
When dealing with serious motorcycle accident injuries in Arbutus, victims can turn to our lawyers for help collecting the compensatory damages they need.
To get the damages you deserve from a negligent driver for a motorcycle accident, our lawyers will identify recoverable damages, including medical bills and lost wages. Tallying losses as soon as possible after an accident can ensure organization and careful record-keeping during your case. On top of calculating your losses, our lawyers will help you file your case by the deadline, which is typically three years from an accident’s date in Arbutus. If the issue of contributory fault comes up in your claim, we can address it through accident reconstruction efforts and eyewitness statements to show that you did not contribute to the accident caused by the defendant. We can also prioritize documenting your pain and suffering so you get compensation for non-economic damages due to the accident in Arbutus.
Call our motorcycle accident lawyers for a confidential and free case review from Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291.
How to Collect Damages After a Motorcycle Accident in Arbutus
Collecting all damages from motorcycle accidents is paramount for victims, and our lawyers can help by identifying your recoverable losses, filing your case on time, addressing the issue of contributory fault, and proving your pain and suffering in court.
Identify All Financial Losses
To ensure you collect all damages from a recent accident in Arbutus, our lawyers will begin by identifying recoverable losses. The first set of damages victims can recover is economic damages. These are tangible losses, such as medical bills, motorcycle repair costs, lost income, and other financial expenses from the incident.
We can help you keep records of your treatments and bills as you receive medical care. We can also use your employment records and financial information, such as recent tax returns or paystubs, to calculate your lost wages from a motorcycle accident.
Victims injured because of negligence in Arbutus can often recover non-economic damages in claims against negligent drivers. Calculating these damages will require different methods than those used to assess economic damages, as they are intangible and subjective losses.
There are many expenses from an accident that add up over time, like transportation costs to get victims to and from the hospital for treatment. Our goal will be to identify all recoverable damages, no matter how small, so that we can gather proof of your damages to submit as evidence in your case.
File on Time
One of the biggest hurdles to victims recovering compensation is filing cases on time. The statute of limitations sets the date by which victims must bring claims in Arbutus, which is three years, according to Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art., § 5-101. Though there are some exceptions to the deadline, they rarely apply to motorcycle injury claims, and victims should expect that they have just three years to sue. Missing the deadline could bar you from recovering compensatory damages, and our motorcycle accident lawyers can start preparing your case immediately so that you do not risk missing it.
Address Contributory Fault
Maryland is a pure contributory fault state, meaning victims who are any degree of blame for their injuries, no matter how slight, are barred from recovering any damages. This poses a serious issue for victims of complicated motorcycle accidents, especially due to preconceptions about motorcyclists being irresponsible compared to passenger car drivers.
One of the best ways to address arguments that you contributed to the accident is with witness statements. Witness statements may come from eyewitnesses or experts who can add extra credence to a case.
For example, through accident reconstruction efforts, experts can review photos, videos, and evidence from the scene to determine the first harmful event that initiated the accident. Such efforts can also help experts pinpoint the speed of both vehicles and their direction of travel at the time of the crash. Based on the results of accident reconstruction, experts may testify that only the defendant, not the victim, is liable for the accident.
Eyewitness statements can be similarly effective when addressing contributory fault in Arbutus. Witnesses can testify in court, explaining their first-hand accounts of what happened and describing what they saw. To ensure eyewitness statements are as accurate and helpful as possible, our lawyers will seek to interview them immediately after the accident.
Video surveillance footage can also undermine arguments that you contributed to the accident or show that the defendant had the last clear chance to avoid the accident, making them wholly liable for your damages. Because of this, our lawyers may visit the accident location to survey the site for any nearby businesses or homes that might have security systems in place.
Prove Pain and Suffering
Many motorcycle accidents are life-altering, resulting in permanent or debilitating injuries that cause serious emotional turmoil for victims. To prove your pain and suffering to a jury, you might consider testifying about the trauma you have experienced because of the accident. Mental health experts can testify about the likely emotional pain and suffering someone with your injuries would deal with, as well as any physical pain or discomfort.
Maryland limits non-economic damages in most cases, including in motorcycle accident lawsuits. The current limit is $935,000 under § 11-108(b)(2), though it increases annually. Compensation for pain and suffering is not guaranteed in injury settlements, especially when victims accept offers too soon out of the gate. During settlement negotiations, our lawyers can argue for non-economic damages, leveraging evidence that would prove the defendant’s fault in court. If the opposing side refuses to increase settlement offers, we can proceed with a trial to ensure you get compensation for pain and suffering.
Call Out Arbutus Attorneys About Your Motorcycle Injury Case Now
Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 to discuss your case for free with our motorcycle accident lawyers.