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With many people using motorcycles, the number of motorcycle accidents has increased. Motorcycle accidents often result in injuries that are serious, complexities in insurance claims, and sometimes a significant financial strain.
At times, the victims may consider handling claims on their own to save time and money. But not hiring a lawyer after a motorcycle accident can have various risks, such as accepting a low settlement amount, struggling to prove liability, underestimating the costs of your injuries, and even weakening your claim due to improper evidence.
By understanding factors such as the injuries commonly caused by motorcycle accidents, how the process of filing a claim works, and the help of an experienced lawyer in filing a claim, victims of such cases can easily protect their rights.
So, here are a few points on the risks of not hiring a lawyer after a motorcycle accident.
1. Accepting a Low Settlement Offer
If you go to file a claim, the first thing you should remember is that insurance companies work for their own benefit. So, their first step when you file a claim is to downplay the amount they offer you. So, one of the biggest risks of not hiring a lawyer is settling for a very low offer.
While an early offer may seem helpful, it might not account for future costs such as medical treatments, rehabilitation needs, loss of wages, and pain and suffering. A lawyer will ensure that you get the right compensation by taking all these factors into consideration.
2. Difficulty Proving Liability
When it comes to a personal injury claim, proving liability plays a very important role in determining the outcome of your claim. But when it comes to motorcycle accidents, it is the motorcyclists who face unfair bias. Many insurance companies assume that it is the rider who is at fault.
An experienced lawyer will be able to establish liability by gathering the right evidence on time, such as police reports, witness statements, surveillance footage, etc., before they disappear or get damaged.
3. The Injuries are Underestimated
Most motorcycle accidents result in severe injuries such as brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and broken bones. Without proper legal guidance, there is a high chance that you may underestimate the severity of your injuries and how much they may cost you in the future. Sometimes your injury may require surgery in the future, prolonged therapy, or even permanent changes to your lifestyle, such as being unable to work.
A lawyer will be able to work with medical professionals, who will then look into your injuries and tell them the approximate cost of your treatment. The lawyer will then help you get a compensation amount based on the severity of your injuries. This will prevent you from accepting a claim before understanding the exact costs.
4. Handling Complex Legalities
If you are someone who is new to the insurance or legal field, you will definitely be overwhelmed by the complex policies. They are also filled with legal and technical terms and strict deadlines.
Making a mistake in filling them out or missing the deadline can result in your claim getting rejected. A lawyer ensures that all the processes, such as filing the claim and meeting the deadlines, are done properly.
Final Takeaways
- In many cases, motorcycle claims are undervalued without legal help.
- Insurance companies may try to downplay the offer or deny fair compensation.
- Victims may underestimate the future costs of their injuries.
- Lawyers will help handle complex insurance policies, thereby preventing costly mistakes.
- It increases the chances of winning the case in court.
