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Is it Worth Hiring a DC Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?

After a motorcycle accident in Washington, DC, you’re likely facing medical bills, bike repairs, lost wages, and possibly long-term injuries. While you may consider handling your insurance claim alone, the question remains: is hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer in DC truly worth it?

Motorcycle accident cases in DC present unique challenges. Riders often face unfair bias, complex liability issues, and insurance companies eager to minimize payouts. A specialized attorney brings valuable expertise to navigate these obstacles and maximize your compensation.

This guide explores the benefits of legal representation after a motorcycle crash, situations where hiring an attorney is particularly crucial, and what to expect during the claims process in the District of Columbia.

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How Can a DC Motorcycle Accident Attorney Help You?

According to the National Safety Council, motorcyclists account for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities despite making up a much smaller percentage of drivers on the road. Their lack of protection makes them especially vulnerable to serious or fatal injuries in crashes, even at lower speeds or in routine traffic situations.

If you or a loved one were involved in a motorcycle accident in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area and suffered severe injury or even death, hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer may be the only way to secure the compensation you deserve for your injuries and long-term suffering. 

Learn more about the ways a DC motorcycle accident lawyer can help you.

Gathering Evidence for Your Motorcycle Accident

injured motorcyclist on road near fallen bikeWhen you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle accident, the last thing on your mind is gathering photos and other evidence from the scene of the collision. However, if you seek the representation of a motorcycle accident attorney, they can help you by working with their team to gather the evidence needed to build your case.

Your motorcycle accident lawyer will seek surveillance and traffic camera footage from the accident scene, collect the police report to gather as many details as they can to pinpoint the cause of the accident, and reach out to witnesses who were there that day.

Motorcycle accident recreation specialists will use their resources to reconstruct the accident scene if needed.

Prove Fault in Your Motorcycle Accident

Proving fault in an automobile accident is complicated. Still, because of the size of a standard passenger vehicle against a motorcycle, the other driver is likely to try to mitigate blame in any way. Be it that the motorcyclist was not in a clear line of view or wasn’t wearing a helmet, you’re up for a long battle of he-said-she-said with the insurance companies.

Even if you file a lawsuit, having fault established early on will be the difference between a successful motorcycle accident lawsuit and a less favorable outcome.

In addition, some accidents are not a result of a negligent driver but rather a third party. A motorcycle accident lawyer will do the work needed to prove who is liable for your injuries and resulting losses.

Filing an Insurance Claim for Your Motorcycle Accident

You may think that filing an insurance claim for a motorcycle accident will be cut and dried. However, the insurance company will try to limit the compensation you get for any reason they can find.

A motorcycle accident attorney can help you communicate with the insurance adjusters so you can get the settlement you need to cover your injuries and losses.

In addition, your motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to illustrate liability to the insurance companies, calculate the value of your losses, and move forward with the claim through every step so you can focus on recovery.

Contact Regan Zambri Long to discuss how we can help.

Filing a Lawsuit for Your Motorcycle Accident in Washington, DC

motorcycle accident victim in wheelchair holding wheel

While only three to four percent of personal injury cases end up in trial, it can happen. Even if you think your motorcycle accident case is simple, you should speak with a motorcycle accident lawyer before stepping into the courtroom.

Oftentimes, victims and their families think they have the resources and energy needed to have a successful case, but unfortunately, that isn’t usually how it plays out. Be it extensive injuries, time away from work, etc., many motorcycle accident victims and their families find it easier and more cost-effective to have a personal injury lawyer handle the case.

A DC motorcycle accident lawyer can help you file a lawsuit, establish the other driver’s negligence, and secure the settlement or verdict you need to proceed.

How Can a Motorcycle Accident Attorney Help Me Get Compensation For My Injuries?

If you or a loved one were injured in a motorcycle accident, you can make a personal injury claim to recover compensation for any physical, financial, or emotional damages you endured. Potential compensation may include:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost work wages
  • Future earnings
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional damages
  • Funeral expenses
  • Loss of consortium
  • Loss of companionship

How Does Contributory Negligence Impact My Compensation?

Typically, Washington, DC, follows the contributory negligence rule. This means that if you were the driver of a car involved in an accident and your negligence caused the collision, you would not be able to recover compensation for your injuries or damages.

However, with legal changes, you can now recover compensation for your damages even if you were somewhat negligent, so long as your negligence was not the sole cause of the accident.

What Should I Do Before Hiring a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in DC?

Partner Victor Long seated at deskWhen a motorcycle accident occurs, there are a few steps you should take before you call a motorcycle accident attorney.

The first is to seek medical attention. Even if you think you’re okay, some injuries, including severe ones, do not appear until hours or days after the event. Be sure to be checked out by a medical professional, keep track of any changes in your health, and keep all medical documentation and billing in one spot.

While still at the accident scene, you or someone there should call the police. This begins the process of getting a formal police report done. Depending on your injuries, you may not be able to gather the contact information of the other driver or the witnesses, so this will be

Once you’ve taken these steps, then you should call a DC motorcycle accident lawyer.

Not all personal injury cases require a lawyer. However, the intricacies of DC contributory negligence make motorcycle accidents all the more complicated. Because of this, you need a lawyer on your side who can handle the insurance companies in negotiations and has the trial experience to take your case to court if you are not getting the compensation you deserve.

How Will I Pay For a Washington, DC Motorcycle Accident Attorney?

If you are wondering if hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer is worthwhile, you may also be trying to figure out if you can afford one. In general, most people can’t afford to be without one.

Most motorcycle accident and personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay anything upfront. Instead, a percentage of your settlement or verdict is paid to the law firm once the case is closed.

If you are being charged at an hourly rate, they likely are not comfortable with your case or question if it will hold up in court.

Why Hire Regan Zambri Long As My DC Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?

If you have been hurt in a motorcycle accident or lost a loved one, you need the best motorcycle accident lawyer. The Washington, DC motorcycle attorneys at Regan Zambri Long have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for accident victims and their families. We leave no stone unturned and will work with accident reconstruction specialists and other experts to help bring your claim or case to the result you need. Our DC area trial attorneys handle motorcycle accident cases in Washington, DC, Virginia, Maryland, and other states.

For a no-obligation, free consultation, call (202) 937-2067 or use our online contact form to discuss the details of your case.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.

Call 202-960-4596

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