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If you or a loved one have been injured or sustained property damage in a motorcycle accident caused by the negligence of another party, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. Unfortunately, recovering this compensation can be challenging. Here, we want to discuss the benefits of speaking to an attorney soon after your motorcycle accident.
The aftermath of a motorcycle accident can be incredibly confusing, particularly as you begin to field calls from insurance carriers and maybe even other parties involved in the incident. Individuals involved in these incidents need to seek medical care, continue any medical treatment recommended by their doctor, and figure out how to get their property repaired.
Working with an attorney can help bring clarity to this confusing situation. A lawyer can offer a free consultation and then help outline the steps the person should or should not take in order to recover the compensation they need. Seeking out a free consultation with a lawyer does not necessarily mean you have to work with that lawyer. However, it will help bring an understanding of what happens next.
If you do decide to work with a motorcycle accident lawyer in Orange County, your attorney will have the resources necessary to fully investigate every aspect of the incident. This includes gathering evidence obtained at the scene of the incident, speaking to eyewitnesses, obtaining mobile device or vehicle black box data, working with accident reconstruction experts, and more. Investigations into motorcycle accidents can take time, particularly for incidents that result in significant injuries or death.
One of the hardest aspects of a motorcycle crash is dealing with the insurance carriers. Insurance carriers are not your friend, even if you were not at fault for the incident. The goal of an insurance claims adjuster is to limit how much money they pay out in a settlement, even if they are your own insurance carrier.
Almost every initial settlement offer from an insurance carrier is far below the dollar figure that a person should actually receive. When an attorney is by your side, they will handle the initial demand letter and then any negotiations needed to receive fair compensation. The back and forth with insurance carriers can be time-consuming and frustrating, but an attorney will understand the best way to handle the situation.
In the event an insurance carrier or at-fault party refuses to offer a fair settlement, it may be necessary to file a civil personal injury lawsuit. This is an entirely different process and immensely complicates the entire claim. When a civil lawsuit begins, there will be a discovery period where attorneys for both sides exchange information, continue to investigate the incident, and take depositions from witnesses. During the discovery period, negotiations may continue if one side or the other decides to settle.
In the event there is no fair settlement offer, an attorney can take the case in front of a jury trial in order to argue your side.