While the benefits of motorcycles are known to all, from increased gas mileage, slow depreciation, and sheer convenience, the risks of using them can also be more significant. Because of its small size, a motorcycle tends to be less visible on the road. Since it does not provide first-contact protection for the rider, accidents often lead to severe, if not fatal, consequences.
If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, an Owensboro motorcycle accident lawyer can help you get compensated for your losses.
Hiring an Attorney for Your Motorcycle Accident Claim
Holding negligent parties responsible can be a challenge for anyone who has been in a motorcycle accident. Resolving issues of contention often results from the expertise of a personal injury lawyer.
For a free legal consultation with a motorcycle accidents lawyer serving Owensboro, call 800-333-9999
Cost of Hiring an Owensboro Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Lawyers are generally paid per hour, but we understand this can be too expensive for accident victims who are probably struggling to recover from injuries or damages. As a solution, we use what is known as a contingency arrangement, where we get paid nothing upfront upon taking a case and instead receive a certain percentage of your final settlement or court award.
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Determining Liability for Motorcycle Accident Injuries
As with any other type of accident, determining fault in a motorcycle mishap begins with evaluating the circumstances. For example, if another driver caused the crash in violation of safety laws, they could be responsible. If that other driver had no safety law violations but had been reckless in operating their vehicle, such as changing lanes without checking their blind spot, they could also be liable.
Pinpointing liability in a motorcycle accident isn’t all that straightforward, and therefore law enforcement should always be called to the scene when an accident occurs. A police accident report can help further prove that another driver was indeed responsible for your injuries and damages.
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Determining Compensation Eligibility
Before you can receive compensation, you need to provide evidence of your losses and that the other party is responsible for them. You must also attach a sum to your losses before a judge or jury awards your compensation.
Regardless of the specifics of your case, there are two main types of compensatory damages for which you can file. General compensatory damages can include mental anguish and loss of consortium. Actual compensatory damages refer to your medical and hospital expenses, prescriptions, lost wages, and physiotherapy.
With a lawyer, all the potential avenues of recovery can be explored, allowing you to recoup the maximum amount you can claim for your losses.
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Kentucky Statute of Limitations for Motorcycle Accidents
Filing a personal injury claim in Kentucky has a time limit legally known as a statute of limitations. For motorcycle accidents (and all motor accidents), you have limited time to file your claim from the date of the accident. If you fail to meet this deadline, your case may be dismissed, which means you may lose all rights to demand compensation for your losses.
You should contact a lawyer as soon as possible, not necessarily to file your claim right away but to get the ball rolling in preparing your case. After all, some injuries and damages take a while to become apparent, sometimes up to a month or even longer. The idea is to sit down and investigate and gather evidence with as much time as possible.
Of course, the sooner you connect with a lawyer, the less likely you are to breach the statutory deadline.
Settle or Go to Court
When filing a motorcycle accident claim, you can choose between taking a settlement offer from the liable driver’s insurance company or bringing your case to court. There are pros and cons to each. If your case ends up in court and wins, you get more extensive monetary compensation than whatever amount the defendant has offered you. If the judge or jury wants to use your case to effect changes in personal injury legislation, you could get an even more significant award for your damages.
Conversely, a trial can be volatile in many ways, such as the judge suddenly throwing evidence away or even overturning a previous decision in favor of the defendant. As a result, you may lose more time and resources as you go through the process. If you agree to settle with the defendant, you can keep your affairs private, unlike going to court, where your case is automatically opened for public scrutiny.
If you receive a settlement offer that is reasonable enough considering your losses, it is usually best to accept it and save yourself the rigors of a full-blown trial. If you feel you are being shortchanged with a lowball offer, personal injury lawyers are trained to identify these offers or be ready to take your claim to court.
Reasons to Work with a Personal Injury Lawyer
Working with an Owensboro motorcycle accident lawyer is the best decision you can make when pursuing your claim. Our experts can thoroughly explain your legal rights, protect you from manipulation by insurance companies, gather proof of the other party’s liability, bring down your medical liens, and perform other tasks that build a stronger, more winnable case. At Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers, we are happy to take on that role for you. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Call or text 800-333-9999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form