A motorcycle is one of the most exhilarating ways to travel, and when the weather is right in Washington DC, it can be a great way to enjoy the sun and the mild mid-coast temperatures. However, the unfortunate reality is that motorcycles are also extremely dangerous, and have the highest mortality rates out of any type of vehicle. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcyclists were 27 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash per vehicle mile traveled in 2017, which is a staggering difference between mortality rates.
HIRE A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEY NOW
After you have gotten your immediate medical issues addressed, the next most important step to take is to partner with an experienced and diligent personal injury attorney ready to take your motorcycle accident case. Unfortunately, this process can be stressful and overwhelming, especially when you are trying to wrap your head around the reality of your injuries and the impacts on your life that this accident has had, and will continue to have.
Balkin Law Group provides you with attorneys who are ready and willing to take your case today. Read more about motorcycle accidents in Washington DC below, and contact us as soon as possible to be connected with an attorney now.
WHAT TO DO AFTER A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT IN WASHINGTON DC
The following are intended to be general guidelines that you can follow after an accident, but of course, no two accidents are alike and therefore, no two responses will be the same. Use your discretion and make sure that you prioritize your health and safety over all else.
Call 911
The most important thing to do after any accident is to take the right steps to make sure that your medical needs are addressed as soon as possible. This likely means calling 911, or at least making sure that someone else at the scene called 911 so that police, fire, and EMT services are dispatched immediately. When they arrive, the EMTs will be able to administer emergency care while determining who, if anyone, needs to be taken to the emergency room. At the same time, the police will be able to secure the area, interview witnesses, and begin drafting an accident report.
Get Medical Help
It is worth repeating that your medical needs should be your absolute top priority, along with the medical needs of your passengers. Whether or not you require an ambulance or emergency admission to a hospital, you MUST see a doctor as soon as possible. The most obvious benefit of seeing a doctor is ensuring that your injuries are treated properly, but there is the additional benefit that your injuries will be recorded into official documentation and will, therefore, be used as proof during the insurance investigation.
Hire an Attorney
In the days and weeks following your accident, you will be in nearly-constant contact with a series of insurance adjusters and agents who are investigating the situation. Each time you speak with one of them, they will be looking for ways to reduce your settlement amount and ultimately save the insurance company as much money as possible. Instead of filing a claim without seasoned legal representation, you should hire an attorney BEFORE you initiate your claim so that you can avoid any of the stress that comes along with the investigation process and focus on your own needs instead. Your lawyer will be able to handle the administrative work on their own.
File a Claim
Once you have hired an attorney, they will be able to file a claim on your behalf. When a motorcycle accident attorney is representing your case, every single communication or interaction that they have with the insurance company, police, other attorneys, and anyone else involved in the legal follow-up to the accident will be done so with the intention of maximizing your settlement. This way, you can focus on your personal needs and recovery without having to deal with any of these overwhelming and complicated interactions.
CALCULATING COMPENSATION AMOUNTS AFTER A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT IN WASHINGTON DC
One of the most important things that an attorney will be able to help you with after your accident is to understand, and then fight for, the amount that you rightfully deserve as a victim in this situation. Keep in mind that an insurance company focuses on paying as little as possible, NOT on paying victims the amount that they rightfully deserve. During the insurance company’s investigation, your attorney will be able to undergo their own investigation that will help to inform your negotiation tactics later on.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the basis of any personal injury claim and make up the measurable financial impacts that a victim suffers. They include—but are not limited to—things like medical bills, any costs associated with recovery like physical therapy or assistive devices, as well as any impacts on the victim’s earning abilities or financial stability. Generally, these types of damages are the least likely for an insurance company to try to deny claims for, although there will be many line items that they will certainly contest out of consideration for their own financial interests.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are much more tricky to calculate since they apply to things that do not have set dollar values and are seeking compensation for more abstract, qualitative effects such as pain and suffering. Since these impacts are so hard to prove and quantify, the insurance company will spend a lot more energy pushing back on these claims. However, they are no less important, and your attorney will be able to aggressively negotiate to get you the money that you rightfully deserve.
CONTACT BALKIN LAW GROUP TODAY
The sooner you contact Balkin Law Group, the sooner you can begin working with a personal injury attorney.