For many unfortunate Connecticut bikers, what began as a day on the road to clear your mind and invigorate your soul can turn into miles of road rash, broken bones, and worse.
No matter how many years of riding you have under your belt, all it takes is one careless driver, and both you and your bike could be laid out on the road, damaged beyond repair.
You’ll be banged up and perhaps worried about your financial future if you’ve suffered this fate. If you’ve found yourself the victim of a motorcycle crash that wasn’t your fault, get help from a Bridgeport motorcycle accident lawyer.
To be compensated for all of your damages, you’ll need a legal team that has experience negotiating personal injury settlements.
Tips for Negotiating a Connecticut Motorcycle Accident Settlement
Even a minor collision with a car or a truck can lead to devastating injuries for motorcycle riders. Broken bones and fractured ribs are common from bike crashes and other even more catastrophic injuries.
Bikers could be out of work while recovering from the accident for months or years or, worse yet, unable to earn a living due to a permanent disability. Motorcycle riders must do everything they can to ensure that the at-fault party is held accountable and receive every penny of the compensation they deserve.
Many have made honest mistakes negotiating personal injury settlements, and those errors of judgment can be costly. Here are some tips for Connecticut motorcycle riders to consider after a motorcycle accident to ensure they receive the maximum compensation.
Hire a Lawyer
No matter how cut and dry your case seems, no biker should ever attempt to file a personal injury lawsuit or negotiate a pretrial settlement without first speaking to a professional motorcycle accident attorney.
Most offer a free consultation to discuss your case, and if they feel yours is valid, you won’t have to put up a dime to retain their legal services. Most personal injury law firms work on contingency fees, meaning they’ll only get paid if you win your case.
Don’t Accept the First Settlement Offer
When the at-fault driver’s insurance company knows that they’re liable for your damages, they may reach out quickly and offer a fast settlement.
They may even say that you don’t need to hire a lawyer and that they’ll take care of everything for you. “Just sign on the dotted line,” they’ll say, “and you can put all this behind you.” Remember, insurance companies aren’t looking out for your best interest. You’re not their client; their job is to limit liability and costs.
Their first settlement offer will never be what you’re entitled to. No one other than your personal injury attorney should be negotiating with the defendant’s team, no matter how tempting the settlement offer is.
Stay Off Your Social Media
It can be far too easy to blow off some steam about the accident or the settlement process by blabbing on your social media accounts the details of what you’ve been going through. Whatever you post on these platforms could come back to haunt you, so it’s best to refrain from posting anything. If you claim life-altering injuries but your socials paint a different picture, this will be used as proof that you may not suffer as much as you claim.
Gather Strong Evidence
In Connecticut, bikers who’ve been injured in an accident will be burdened to prove a few things. First, they’ll have to prove that the other driver was negligent and caused the accident.
Next, the accident caused their injuries, and they suffered damages. This is all done by gathering evidence. The stronger the evidence, the better the settlement will be.
With the help of a personal injury attorney, you’ll want to collect as much evidence as possible to prove your claims. Typical motorcycle accident evidence can include:
- Police accident reports
- Photos of the accident scene
- Photos of your injuries
- Eyewitness statements
- Medical records and medical bills
- Receipts for any out-of-pocket medical expenses
- Pay stubs and proof of time off due to the accident
- Family, friends, and coworkers’ statements about your physical and emotional health
Keep Up With Your Medical Treatment
You must follow your medical team’s treatment plan to the letter of the law. Don’t postpone or avoid physical therapy appointments, no matter how unpleasant they may be.
Take all prescribed medications, and don’t do anything to hinder your recovery. Any lapse in treatment, no matter how short, can be used against you by the defendant’s legal team to question your injuries.
Negotiating a Motorcycle Accident Settlement: The Bottom Line
After a bike crash, the first thing you need to do is seek medical care. Once you’re on the mend, speak with a personal injury attorney experienced in motorcycle accident personal injury cases. Without a legal team, you’ll never be able to collect the full compensation for your economic and non-economic damages.
