After Your Motorcycle Accident: Dealing with Injuries

Following a motorcycle accident, you may have concerns about your rights. To receive tailored answers that consider your specific situation, it is advisable to consult with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney. They can provide information on seeking compensation and guide you through the necessary process.

In motorcycle accidents, victims often sustain severe injuries that can have long-term or lifelong effects. These injuries may include:

• Traumatic brain injury: While wearing a helmet can reduce the risk, it doesn’t eliminate the possibility completely.
• Spinal cord damage, leading to paralysis: Paralysis can occur in various parts of the body, limiting movement below the waist or neck.
• Amputations
• Burns
• Broken bones
• Soft tissue damage, such as ligament and tendon injuries
• Organ damage

What should I do after a motorcycle accident in Nevada?

After a motorcycle accident in Nevada, your first priority should be seeking immediate medical care. Secondly, it is crucial to contact an experienced Nevada motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible.

Motorcycle riders are often more vulnerable compared to car occupants due to the lack of protection. If you sustain spinal cord injuries or fractures during the accident, the severity of your injuries may be apparent right away. However, in the case of a traumatic brain injury, the full extent of the damage may not be immediately apparent, especially if you didn’t lose consciousness at the accident scene. Adrenaline can also mask pain from various injuries.

Seeking medical attention ensures proper treatment and establishes a record of your injuries. Working with a Nevada motorcycle accident attorney ensures that you understand your rights and enables you to pursue the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

Can I seek compensation if I wasn’t wearing a helmet during my Nevada motorcycle accident?

While it is highly recommended to wear a helmet, as it significantly reduces the risk of traumatic brain injury, not wearing one doesn’t excuse another driver from causing your accident. Even if you weren’t wearing a helmet, you can still seek compensation for your injuries, including traumatic brain injuries. If someone else’s negligence caused the accident, you have the right to pursue compensation for your accident-related expenses.

Who is responsible for paying the medical bills after a Nevada motorcycle accident?

If you suffer injuries in a Nevada motorcycle accident, you are responsible for paying the medical bills related to those injuries. However, there are options available to help you cover those costs:

1. Health insurance: Your health insurance may contribute to paying your medical bills. Provide your health insurance information to your healthcare providers and inform your insurance company about the accident to understand the coverage for your motorcycle accident expenses.
2. Nevada motorcycle accident claim: Filing a claim can provide compensation for your medical expenses. If you are unable to pay your medical bills until you receive compensation from your motorcycle accident claim, an attorney can provide a letter of protection to inform your doctors that payment will be made once you receive the necessary compensation.

After Your Motorcycle Accident: Understanding Your Claim

Ideally, after a motorcycle accident, the insurance company would promptly provide fair compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, and future expenses. However, the claims process can often be challenging and complex.

How will the insurance company dispute the claim?

Some insurance companies may try to reduce their financial responsibility by disputing your claims and offering inadequate compensation. They may:

• Attempt to prove that you, not the other driver, caused the accident, which could reduce your compensation.
• Argue that you exaggerated your injuries, potentially by questioning your ability to participate in certain activities or attend events you claimed you couldn’t. These tactics can diminish your claim and minimize the company’s liability.
• Offer a low settlement soon after the accident, taking advantage of the fact that you may not yet know the full extent of your medical expenses or the compensation you deserve. Before accepting any insurance offer, it’s essential to consult with an attorney.

What damages should you claim?

While each personal injury case, including motorcycle accidents, is unique, most people typically claim the following damages:

• Medical expenses: All medical costs associated with your accident, including ambulance fees and physical therapy, are recoverable. Keeping track of your medical bills can help determine the final amount to claim.
• Pain and suffering: Compensation for the emotional and physical suffering endured after the accident extends beyond physical pain. It may cover missed activities, embarrassment, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Lost wages: If your injuries prevent you from working or require hospitalization, claiming lost wages can help compensate for the hours and income you’ve lost.
• Lost earning potential: If your injuries are permanent and prevent you from returning to your previous job, lost earning potential accounts for the future inability to support yourself and your family through your previous employment.

Who is responsible for your accident?

Determining who is responsible for your accident is crucial in filing your claim. While it may seem that as the motorcycle rider with severe injuries, you should automatically receive compensation from the other party, liability can vary depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident. Consider factors such as:

• Drinking and driving
• Failure to wear a helmet
• Failure to follow road rules, including giving adequate space to other vehicles and obeying traffic signs and signals
• Reckless driving

If the other party caused the accident, their insurance company will likely cover the expenses associated with your injuries. However, if you contributed to the accident, liability may be shared, and the insurance company may reduce your compensation based on the percentage of responsibility assigned to you. Additionally, other parties such as vehicle manufacturers may share liability if there were mechanical failures. Consulting with a lawyer can help identify all liable parties and determine the appropriate course of action.

Who is liable for a Nevada motorcycle accident?

Multiple parties may share liability for a Nevada motorcycle accident. While the other driver’s actions, such as reckless driving, driving under the influence, or distracted driving, may have caused the accident, other parties can also share financial liability. These parties may include:

• The employer of a driver involved in the accident while on the job
• A mechanic who recently worked on a vehicle that experienced mechanical failure
• The owner of the vehicle (if different from the driver)
• The manufacturer in cases involving mechanical defects that led to the accident

An experienced Nevada motorcycle accident attorney can evaluate all factors contributing to the accident and identify all liable parties, thereby increasing potential sources of compensation.

The at-fault party’s insurance company has offered me a settlement. Should I accept it?

Before accepting a settlement offer from the insurance company covering the liable party or any other entity involved in your accident, it is advisable to consult with an experienced Nevada motorcycle accident attorney. Settlement offers often fail to reflect the full compensation needed to cover your injuries, especially if you have significant medical expenses. An attorney can help you understand the compensation you deserve and prevent you from accepting an offer that may ultimately minimize your overall compensation.