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Being involved in a motorcycle accident can be a life-altering experience. And while no one can force you to get legal representation, there are benefits to hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer.
If you or a loved one were injured in a motorcycle accident because of the negligence of another motorist, a DC motorcycle accident lawyer from Regan Zambri Long can help you.
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. According to the National Safety Council, motorcyclists account for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities.
Learn more about the ways a DC motorcycle accident lawyer can help you.
When 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 attorney will seek out 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.
If needed, motorcycle accident recreation specialists will utilize their resources to reconstruct the accident scene.
Proving fault in any automobile accident is complicated, but 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 that the motorcyclist 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.
You may think that filing an insurance claim for a motorcycle accident will be cut and dry. However, the insurance company is going to try to limit the amount of 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 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.
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 really should speak with an attorney before stepping into the courtroom.
Oftentimes, victims and their families think they have the resources and energy needed to have a successful case, 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 move forward.
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:
Typically, Washington, DC follows the contributory negligence rule. This means that if you were the driver of a car involved in an accident and you were negligent which caused the collision, you would not be able to recover compensation for your injuries or damages.
However, with legal changes, you now can recover compensation for your damages even if you were somewhat negligent, so long as your negligence was not the sole cause of the accident.
When 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 fine, some injuries, including those that are severe, 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.
At a similar time while still at the accident scene, you or someone there should call the cops. 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 incredibly important when you file an insurance claim or move forward with a lawsuit.
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 do 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 who has the trial experience to take your case to court if you are not getting the compensation you deserve.
Motorcycle accidents are complicated and you likely have a million questions and fears in your mind. The motorcycle accident attorneys at Regan Zambri Long are here to help. Take a look at some of the questions most commonly asked to our lawyers.
In Washington DC, the statute of limitations for filing a motorcycle accident claim is three years from the date of the accident. Failure to file a claim or case within the three years will bar you from recovering compensation.
However, if someone died as a result of a motorcycle accident, you have two years to file a wrongful death claim.
These deadlines may not seem urgent, but time moves quickly and the more that passes, the harder it is to get the evidence needed to prove your claim.
Motorcycle accidents can result in minor to fatal injuries. Some of the most common injuries in DC motorcycle accident cases include:
In general, most motorcycle accidents occur because of driver error and negligence. But there can be other causes of these collisions. Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents include:
Collisions with other motorists are not the only collisions that may occur. Motorcycles may also be hurt in accidents where debris has been left in the road, sudden weather changes have made it unsafe to ride, or pedestrians cross in front of motorcyclists by jaywalking.
Despite Washington DC’s efforts to make its roadways safer for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists, motorcycle accidents still occur at alarming rates. Some reasons that account for the high frequency of motorcycle collisions in the DC Metropolitan Area include:
Under District of Columbia Municipal Regulation 2215.3, anyone driving or riding on a motorcycle in Washington, DC must be wearing a helmet. Drivers must also wear face or eye protection unless the motorcycle has a windshield.
So, if you were not wearing a helmet and proper protective gear at the time of your accident, you run the risk of limiting recovery for your injuries, even if the other driver was negligent.
Not wearing a helmet can be considered a failure to take the action necessary to prevent further injury.
While there is a list of things you should do following a motorcycle accident, there are also things you should avoid doing.
First, do not admit fault to the police, the insurance, or anyone. You never know who could be coming out of the woodwork to stop you from collecting compensation. Instead, allow an attorney to handle all communications on your behalf–especially if you are not sure what occurred at the time of the accident.
Secondly, do not sign any statements, or give any recorded statements as these can and likely will be used against you.
Finally, do not avoid medical treatment, or delay medical treatment. Waiting too long to be evaluated can make it seem like your injuries were not a result of the collision, further hurting your claim.
If you are wondering if it is worth hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer, you may also be trying to figure out if you can afford to hire 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, and instead a percentage of your settlement or verdict is paid out to the law firm once the case is closed.
If you are being changed at an hourly rate, they likely are not comfortable with your case or question if it will hold up in court.
If you have been hurt in a motorcycle accident or lost a loved one, you need to call Regan Zambri Long. The Washington, DC motorcycle attorneys at Regan Zambri Long PLLC 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) 960-4596 or discuss the details of your case by using our online contact form.
