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If you were involved in a motorcycle accident, you may be able to recover damages for your injury. If you are considering a motorcycle personal injury claim, the motorcycle accident attorneys at Regan Zambri Long, PLLC are here to help. An experienced attorney can help you with your case and will give you direction and guidance on how long after the accident you can file your claim.
The amount of time you have to file your personal injury claim after an accident will depend on your state. Each state has its own limitations on how long you have to file a personal injury claim, which is called a statute of limitations. Statutes of limitations are meant to protect against unfair lawsuits by making sure the potential defendant in the legal action can still gather the evidence needed to fairly defend themselves. The more time that passes, the harder it is to gather evidence, especially for defendants.
You should make it a top priority to work with an experienced lawyer who knows and understands these deadlines. These statutes of limitations are as short as one year in some states and as long as six years in others. Regan Zambri Long, PLLC, practices throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. The statute of limitations in these three locations is:
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 83,000 motorcyclists were injured across the United States in 2020 with 8.3 million registered motorcycles. This means that nearly 1,000 motorcyclists per 100,000 (or 1%) were injured in 2020. As for the areas where Regan Zambri Long practices, there were over 300,000 registered motorcycles in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. in 2020. This data would mean that 3,000 residents across these areas will be in a motorcycle accident at some time during their life.
Approximately 53% of motorcycle accidents involve a motorcycle and at least one other vehicle. Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents are distracted driving, reckless driving or speeding, and weather conditions. The NHTSA reports that motorcycles are 29 times more likely to be involved in an accident than a vehicle. Motorcycles are smaller and less stable than cars, which can make them hard to see and can create a greater risk of accidents.
One of the greatest risks to motorcyclists is other vehicles making left-hand turns. Left-turning vehicles are usually responsible for these types of accidents because they are required to yield to oncoming traffic and often make mistakes. Road hazards are also particularly dangerous to motorcycles because of their size and stability. Motorcycles are at high risk when the pavement is uneven or when there is gravel or grass on the roadway. The last, and possibly the most dangerous risk to motorcycles is lane splitting or driving between lanes in slow-moving traffic. Most drivers do not anticipate a motorcycle driving between lanes. Some states legally allow this, but it is very risky. In Washington, DC, and Virginia, lane splitting is illegal. In Maryland, however, lane splitting is not explicitly illegal.
The lack of protection surrounding a motorcyclist puts them at a high risk of sustaining life-threatening and severe injuries. On top of this lack of protection, the difference in the weight and size of a motorcycle compared with a vehicle or large truck makes motorcycle accident injuries much more severe. Some of the most common injuries in motorcycle accidents are:
After a motorcycle accident, you should try to take the following steps:
The best case scenario after a motorcycle accident is that your insurance company reimburses you for the cost of the damage to your motorcycle and the cost of your injuries.
However, if you cannot reach a fair settlement with your insurance company, you can recover money for the damage to your motorcycle, your medical bills, any lost income due to the accident and recovery, and even damages for pain and suffering.
It’s hard to determine an average settlement for motorcycle accident claims, but an experienced attorney can project an amount of damages for your claim based on the specific facts of your case. Every case is different, so settlements can range from thousands to millions. Regan Zambri Long has been assisting clients for over 40 years, and some of Regan’s motorcycle settlements include:
The length of a motorcycle accident claim will depend on the specific facts of the case, but the quickest resolutions come from settling ahead of trial. Having a skilled lawyer increases the chances of reaching a quick settlement, otherwise, personal injury cases can take years to resolve.
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, one of our experienced motorcycle accident lawyers can help. Hiring an attorney will take the burden of proving your case off of your shoulders. Our team of lawyers will build your case and gather all the evidence necessary to win your claim and receive the compensation you are entitled to.
We are confident that we can reach the settlement you deserve. Our lawyers often operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning that they are compensated for their services only after you win, and the amount owed is based on the amount you win at trial.
Call Regan Zambri Long today or contact us online today for a free case evaluation.
