Clinton, MD Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

People who ride motorcycles value their bikes highly. For that reason, they often take very good care of their rides and do everything in their power to stay safe on the road. Unfortunately, motorcycle crashes happen all too often, and these accidents can cause serious damage to your ride. Worse still, motorcycle crashes often leave riders seriously injured, requiring costly medical care to recover. If these accidents are truly accidents, it can be frustrating, but many motorcycle “accidents” are actually the result of someone else messing up.

If you were injured in a motorcycle crash and suspect that negligent conduct played a part, we can help. Our lawyers know motorcycle cases work, and we will make sure you are treated fairly by the court. We will fight hard for you to get the justice you deserve.

Chat with our motorcycle accident legal team about your case by calling Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291.

What Should You Do After a Motorcycle Crash in Clinton, MD?

Motorcycle accidents are sudden, violent, and scary experiences. Many people may not know what to do after an accident happens, or they may “freeze up” because of all that is going on. Having a plan in the back of your mind prior to a motorcycle accident happening, as well as knowing what to do after one happens, can keep you safe and improve your chances of success in a motorcycle accident claim.

Make Yourself Safe and Get Help

The first thing you need to do after a motorcycle crash is get yourself off the road if you are able. There is a risk that a follow-up accident can occur when there is a crash, an injured motorcycle, and an injured rider in the middle of the road. If you are still able to drive your motorcycle or move under your own power, you need to move over to the side of the road as soon as possible.

You should also dial 911 for help or make sure that someone else does. If someone else is to call emergency services, it is better to tell a specific individual to call 911 because that is more effective than asking for “someone” to call and hoping someone steps up.

Once first responders arrive, let them examine you and do exactly as they say. If they want to have you go to the hospital, that is what you should do.

Gather Evidence

If you are able to stay around where the accident took place, you should try and collect as much evidence as possible. Photo and video evidence of the motorcycle crash and surrounding area can be very helpful to our motorcycle accident attorneys when building a case for you. Additionally, take the statements and make a note of the names of anyone who saw the accident happen. They may be able to testify in court for you. Finally, be sure to record the name, license plate information, and insurance information of anyone involved in the crash, even if you do not immediately suspect that they caused it.

Follow-Up Medical Care

It is also important to get subsequent medical care after your crash, even if first responders said you were “OK” after the accident. Some injuries, like whiplash or nerve damage, may take a couple of days or even weeks to manifest after a crash because they can be hidden by an adrenaline rush.

Talk to Our Lawyers

Finally, you need to get in touch with legal counsel quickly after the proverbial dust has settled. There are a lot of things that attorneys can do for you even before you are thinking of filing a lawsuit. We can advise you on what steps you may want to take regarding medical care, keep track of expenses and other items, and start gathering and making sense of any evidence surrounding your accident that is present. Having us do this lets you focus on recovery rather than keeping track of important details.

Another reason to call our offices sooner rather than later is that you only have three years to file a personal injury lawsuit for your crash pursuant to Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art., § 5-101. Once that “statutory period” is up, you can no longer file a claim.

Insurance in Motorcycle Accident Claims in Clinton, MD

You will undoubtedly have to deal with insurance companies in one way or another after a motorcycle crash. Your own insurance likely has some policies that will cover expenses derived from the accident regardless of any findings of fault. Beyond that, Maryland uses “at-fault” insurance for motor vehicle accidents, which means that the driver who caused the accident has their insurance cover associated expenses.

Your goal is to demonstrate that the driver who injured you is at fault so that their insurance covers your damages. Insurance companies, of course, are not in the business of admitting liability for their policyholders all the time, so they may try to downplay the accident or make it seem like it was really your fault. We can talk to these companies on your behalf so that they treat the process fairly and do not twist things you say against you.

If an insurance company does not want to cooperate, you then go to court and sue the driver who injured you, along with any other party you believe is liable for your motorcycle accident. Once you establish that the defendant is liable in court, that finding can be used to make an uncooperative insurance company cover expenses associated with your car crash.

Discuss Your Claim with Our Clinton, MD Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

Rice, Murtha & Psoras’s team of motorcycle accident attorneys are only a phone call away when you dial (410) 694-7291.