If you’re hurt in a motorcycle accident, you have the same rights to a fair recovery as any other car accident victim. However, it’s up to you to make sure that you receive a settlement that fairly represents your injuries and losses. Here’s how to receive the largest injury settlement amount:
Get Medical Attention
Even if you’re sure of what your injuries are, the jury is going to want proof. Building your case means gathering evidence even if it seems obvious. It’s important to have a medical professional verify and prove your injuries. They know how to evaluate you and what tests to run in order to document things like broken bones and even soft tissue damage like bruises and whiplash. Documenting your injuries is critical for recovering for your medical bills as well as for placing a value on your pain and suffering.
Take Photos
If your injuries are obvious, take photographs. A photo allows the jury to get a vivid picture of how your life has changed and what you’ve been through. You don’t need a fancy camera in order to snap a couple of photos that show how you’ve been hurt.
Your case may not be fully resolved for several months or even a year or more. Photos preserve evidence of your injuries as they are at any given time. Taking photos as you recover can show the jury how your recovery progresses.
Evaluate Your Case and Gather Evidence
To get the best settlement for your motorcycle injury, you need strong evidence of every element of the case. It’s important to evaluate your case and determine where you need to build your case the most. Then, you can work to gather the evidence that you need.
For example, you need to prove that the other side breached their duty to behave in a reasonable and careful way. When a person behaves in a careless way that gives rise to legal liability for the injuries they cause, it’s called behaving negligently. If you evaluate your case and find that you need more proof of the responsible party’s negligence, you can identify this concern and work to build your case.
Building Your Case
For example, you might work with an accident expert to prove how the accident must have occurred and how the other side caused it. You might conduct a deposition or prepare a written request for admissions to ask the other party to admit to what happened. An experienced motorcycle lawyer from a firm like Gould Injury Law can review your case, determine what you need to do to recover the maximum amount, and work with you to take action.
What You Do after the Accident Matters
If you want to receive the largest injury settlement after a motorcycle accident, remember that what you do after the accident matters. Careful documentation and strong case preparation can help the other side see why it’s appropriate to offer you a fair amount. A personal injury attorney can help you build your case.
This article was written by Dixie Somers, a freelance writer who loves to write for business, finance, and family issues. She lives in Arizona with her husband and three beautiful daughters. You can find Dixie on Facebook.
