Perry Hall, MD Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
People who ride motorcycles are often unfairly labeled as dangerous or reckless drivers. In reality, many motorcycle accidents result from the negligence of other drivers. If you are involved in a crash on your motorcycle, a lawyer will assist you in getting fair compensation.
While a crash can be a scary experience, what you do right after the collision may set the tone for subsequent legal action. First, you should call for help and get emergency medical attention. While waiting for help, exchange information with other drivers and document the scene however you can. When you are ready, call a lawyer. Your attorney can help you recover damages, including medical costs, property damage, emotional distress, and more. To prove your claims and get compensation, we need evidence. Witnesses, security camera footage, and photos from the accident scene are good places to start our search. Rather than handle all this alone, speak to our legal team about getting fast and effective help.
Speak to our motorcycle accident lawyers to get a free, confidential case review when you call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291.
What to Do Right After a Motorcycle Crash in Perry Hall, MD
Immediately after a motorcycle accident, you should call for emergency help. Dial 911, explain the accident to the dispatcher, and have an ambulance and the police sent to your location immediately. If you are too badly hurt to make this call yourself, someone else at the scene should call instead.
If possible, record and document the scene as best as you can while waiting for help to arrive. If you are able to stand up and safely walk about the area, snap some pictures, record videos, or make mental notes of everything you see. This information might be very important when our motorcycle accident lawyers help you file an insurance claim or a lawsuit.
You should also try to exchange information with other drivers at the accident scene. We need their information to file an insurance claim or a lawsuit. If the other driver fled the scene, inform the police that you were the victim of a hit-and-run. This is a serious crime, and the police will likely investigate and track down the negligent driver.
Talk to the police when you can, either at the accident scene or after you have received medical care. If you do not, the police might only have the other driver’s side of the story for their crash report, which might not look good for later in court or an insurance claim.
Contact an attorney as soon as possible, even if you are unsure of what kind of legal action you want to take or if you want to take legal action at all. Your lawyer can help you explore all your options and decide which one fits your needs.
Recoverable Damages in Perry Hall, MD Motorcycle Collision Cases
Damages vary from case to case and are unique to each plaintiff’s situation. Even so, some damages are more common than others, and they should be discussed with your attorney as soon as possible.
Motorcycle accidents often lead to severe injuries, and injured riders tend to incur significant medical bills. Even if you only spend a single night in the hospital, the bill might be huge. Healthcare is notoriously costly, especially for those who lack health insurance. If your injuries are more severe and require long-term medical care, you can claim current and future costs of treatment.
Property damage is another significant factor in many motorcycle accident cases. You should claim the value of your damaged motorcycle and any personal items you had with you that were lost or destroyed. Motorcycle gear like helmets and pads can be expensive, and they are often damaged in accidents.
Many injured riders report a deep sense of mental anguish after an accident. It can feel like a near-death experience for some, and the psychological impact may be great. On top of that, you have to deal with the intense bodily pain of your injuries. While pain and suffering do not exactly have a price tag, they still deserve compensation.
If your injuries prevent you from returning to work for a while, talk to your lawyer about the income you lose because of the accident. The longer you are unable to work and earn a living, the higher your damages should be.
How to Gather Evidence for Your Perry Hall, MD Motorcycle Accident Case
Evidence is the heart and soul of your motorcycle accident case. If you can do so safely, you can begin gathering evidence almost immediately after the crash. Many riders take photos and record videos of the crash scene, vehicles, and people present at the crash. Often, this is for insurance purposes, but these recordings can also be submitted to the courts as evidence. You never know what kind of details you might capture in a picture or video, so record as much as you can.
We might also need witness testimony. If other drivers were at the scene or even pedestrians passing by who stopped to help, they might have seen something important that will help prove the defendant’s negligence. The more witnesses we have to back you up, the better.
We cannot forget about your own testimony. Only you can provide certain details about the crash. For example, only you can explain how fast you were going on your motorcycle if you tried to swerve out of the way and how your injuries have impacted your daily life.
We should also check the area around the crash for cameras. Footage from security cameras or dashcams might show the entire incident from start to finish. Depending on the camera’s position, we might have irrefutable video evidence of the defendant’s negligent behavior.
Contact Our Perry Hall, MD Motorcycle Accident Lawyers for Assistance
Speak to our motorcycle accident lawyers to get a free, confidential case review when you call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291.