WHAT TO DO AFTER A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT

The Law Offices of Kevin McConnell is your Santa Rosa motorcycle accident law firm. We are based in Santa Rosa and bring to bear nearly four decades of motorcycle accident claims and litigation for our clients. Kevin is not just a motorcycle accident lawyer; he is an everyday rider with a long history of racing and riding. Like all of our injury cases, there is no fee until we win your case, and your initial no obligation consultation is free. Call or email our office to speak to a Santa Rosa motorcycle accident lawyer who is a rider just like you.
WHAT TO DO AFTER A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT
Unfortunately, we who ride are more likely to suffer serious injuries than people in cars. Very often, we leave the scene of an accident in am ambulance with our bike a smoldering wreck left on the side of the road or hanging off the back of a tow truck. Sometimes we do not even get to tell our side of the story to the responding police officer who may write a report based solely on the version of events provided by the other driver. For these reasons and more, it is absolutely critical that you contact a Santa Rosa motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as you are able. Also, choosing the right lawyer makes all the difference in the outcome of your case.
DON’T TALK TO ANY INSURANCE ADJUSTER
Insurance adjuster often try to contact you immediately after an accident to get a statement and perhaps offer you some “chump change” settlement, pennies on the dollar. The reason they want a statement is to have information, right out of your mouth, that they can use to avoid or minimize any payment to you. It is critical that you do not speak to any insurance adjuster before you have an attorney. This applies to your own insurance company’s adjuster. Just don’t talk to anyone!
WHAT IF I AM AT FAULT?
Let’s be honest. Many of us who ride are known to go a little too fast or make moves that others might question as risky. Not every case is clear cut (although we handle frightening number of cases where a car turned left in front of our rider and “did not see” the bike or its multiple halogen lights that would fry an egg at three feet!). Even in cases where our rider has some part of the fault, we are able to make a substantial recovery. So don’t worry if you think you bear some fault or the cops place some or even all of the blame on you. We are able to fight these cases and produce a good result.
It is important to get a Santa Rosa motorcycle accident lawyer on the case right away. One reason is we have an amazing investigator who can get to the scene within hours of you hiring our firm. This early investigation has, time and again, won the case for our client even when the other side or the Johnny Law points the blame at our rider. Again, it is important that you choose the right Santa Rosa motorcycle accident lawyer and do so right away.
PROPERTY DAMAGE CLAIMS INCLUDING RIDING GEAR
After an accident, do your best to retain all of your gear that may have been damaged or lost: helmet, sunglasses, gloves, jacket, pants, boots, etc. As a part of your case, we can recover for the lost and damaged gear. This can range up to several thousand dollars. Note that the Law Offices of Kevin McConnell never charges a fee for recovery or property damage, including the bike.
If your bike is towed, you should immediately have it taken to a place where it will not incur storage charges. If you are not able to recover the bike and store it at you home, contact our office for help.
Don’t start repairs on your bike until it has been fully documented with photos, and a repair estimate prepared. The damage to the bike is important evidence in your personal injury claim.
INJURY CLAIMS
Motorcycle accidents can have a devastating effect on your life. You may be hurt and unable to work to support yourself and your family. You may be permanently disabled and never return to work. Because motorcycle accident cases produce such catastrophic effects, it is important you choose the right lawyer. At the Law Offices of Kevin McConnell, we live, breathe, think, ride, and dream motorcycles. Kevin is the expert you need to protect you and your family when the nightmare comes calling.
Typically, you are entitled to recover for you injuries whether slight of serious. Your recovery may include:
— past medical bills
— future medical bills
— past wage or earning loss
— future wage or earnings loss or loss of earning capacity
— future disability
— pain and suffering
— disfigurement if your injuries leave a scar or burn mark or road rash
It is vitally important that you have an experienced motorcycle accident attorney do the work up on your claim to present the most effective case against the insurance company.
Keep in mind that we do not charge any fee until or unless we win your personal injury claim. We use a sliding scale that starts at one-third of the recovery.
WHAT IF MY CASE DOES NOT SETTLE?
The vast majority of motorcycle personal injury claims settle without the need to file a lawsuit or complete a jury trial. While we at the Law Offices of Kevin McConnell certainly have the experience to file a lawsuit when necessary, and to take a case all the way to trial in order to maximize our client’s recovery, we do our best to set each case up for settlement as soon as possible. If it doesn’t settle, we can fight it out in Court. That process is the subject of a separate blog. Just keep in mind that whether the case settles or not is your decision.
CALL OR EMAIL FOR A FREE, NO OBLIGATION CONSULTATION WITH A SANTA ROSA MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYER
If you or a loved one have been injured in a motorcycle accident, call or e-mail an experienced Santa Rosa motorcycle accident attorney for a free consultation. I have personally recovered millions of dollars on behalf of our brothers and sisters who have been injured on a bike. Let me take care of you and your family.
Ride safe!