Jackson Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

It can be quite exciting and enjoyable to ride a motorcycle. To many, motorcycles represent freedom and individuality, as well as the possibilities of the open road. They can be an active, cool method of transportation, but they can also lead to terrible accidents. Motorcycles are small and often hard to see on the road, resulting in frequent accidents with bigger vehicles. If you have been involved in a crash, you may want to speak to a skilled Jackson motorcycle accident lawyer.

Filing Your Motorcycle Accident Claim

When you are pursuing legal action against the party responsible for causing your motorcycle accident, you may also be dealing with severe, life-threatening injuries. These injuries might require ongoing medical care for the remainder of your life, and you may be counting on your settlement to take care of these expenses. With that in mind, you shouldn’t compromise when it comes to deciding on a lawyer. At Wigod & Falzon, we are committed to having your best interests at heart.

When you pursue a personal injury case, such as a motorcycle accident case, it is vital to keep in mind the statute of limitations for personal injury cases. In Michigan, the statute of limitations is three years. You will have three years to establish your claim, build a case, gather the evidence you need, consult with a lawyer, and ultimately file a claim for compensatory damages. If you cannot file your claim before three years have passed, you might not be able to file at all.

If you miss your filing deadline, for whatever reason, there is a decent chance that your case may be entirely dismissed, and you will miss out on the only opportunity you will have to pursue damages from the negligent party. With the increasing cases of motorcycle accidents, it can take a considerable amount of time to develop a personal injury claim, so you may want to get started on your case as quickly as you possibly can. You may want to bring your evidence to a lawyer early on so they can consider your case.

How to Handle Yourself After a Motorcycle Accident

There’s no telling how you might feel after surviving a motorcycle accident. You might have a changed outlook on life, or you might be desperate to hold someone accountable for what happened to you. Either way, a motorcycle accident lawyer can help. It is important to keep in mind that Michigan state law doesn’t require motorcycle drivers to wear helmets if they are over 21 years old or carry $20,000 in medical insurance.

If you get into an accident without a helmet on, there is a decent chance your injuries could go from bad to catastrophic. While you aren’t legally required to wear one if you are over 21, helmets still save lives all the time. Ultimately, it is your choice, but you should consider your options. Here are a number of important steps you can take to preserve your claim after a motorcycle accident:

• Keep calm. Being in a motorcycle accident is likely going to be traumatizing, unpredictable, and painful, particularly if it was caused by a much larger vehicle. You may feel an enormous urge to panic, but it is advised that you try your hardest not to. Panicking may be your first instinct, but it won’t help you in the slightest and could make things worse. Get yourself together, calm down, and assess your situation.
• Check for injuries. Once you have calmed yourself down, you should start checking your body for any obvious injuries. Depending on how protective your clothing was, you could be considerably injured. Due to shock, you might not even be aware of it yet. Check your body for any bruising, wet spots, red spots, protrusions, sprains, and broken bones.You should do the same for any passengers. If you feel pain but there’s no visible injury, tell the EMTs as soon as they arrive. You may have internal trauma that needs to be addressed. If your injuries are too severe, simply stay put and wait for the EMTs to come to you.
• Call 911. Provided you are not too injured, you should call 911 as soon as you possibly can. The sooner police officers and emergency medical technicians arrive, the sooner the accident site can be secured, and you can feel a bit relieved that someone is taking control of the situation. Besides, you will have to file a valid police report in order to move forward with your insurance claim.
• Move your bike. If you are not too injured and your bike isn’t too damaged, you may want to consider moving it out of the road. Otherwise, you might inadvertently cause another accident because oncoming traffic failed to notice your motorcycle. If the police allow you to, move your bike to the shoulder. If you are too injured or the bike is too damaged, just leave it. It will be moved eventually.
• Get checked out. Once the EMTs arrive, you should immediately go get looked at by them. They will check you for injuries as thoroughly as they can at the scene. Don’t forget to tell them about any pain you might be experiencing. Try to stay out of their way and let them do their job while they check you for concussions, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and internal bleeding.
• Speak to the police. Provided you aren’t too injured to speak, the police will want to hear your side of the story for their report. Be totally honest and transparent with them, but also do not admit fault for the accident in any way. Admitting fault can cause you serious problems when you file your claim. Even apologizing could be misconstrued as accepting blame.
• Gather evidence. Once the police have cleared the scene, you can start documenting the evidence you will need for your claim. Be sure to take plenty of photos of your injuries, the damage to your bike, the damage done to the other car, any posted signs, and the road conditions. Be sure to speak with any witnesses and get their contact info if they are willing to help you out when the time comes.
• Exchange information. You and the other driver will have to swap insurance and contact information. Get their name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, and insurance carrier. Give them the same information. If you are too injured to do any of this, don’t worry about it. The police will likely gather all this info themselves for their report, which you can access.
• See a doctor. Once everything has calmed down and you are released from the scene, you may want to immediately see a doctor. There’s no telling just how injured you might be, and now that the shock has worn off, you should get checked out more thoroughly. In addition, a doctor can provide you with a detailed medical report of your injuries, which you will need for your claim.
• Contact insurance. You are going to have to call your insurance carrier to tell them you have been in an accident. You should do this as soon as you can to avoid any problems. You can give them the evidence you’ve already collected, but be sure not to admit any fault for the accident. If you are contacted by the other driver’s insurance carrier, you don’t have to say anything to them. Just advise them to speak with your lawyer.
• Get a lawyer: Once you have everything you need to start building a case, you should contact an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in Jackson, MI who can make sure your case is handled the right way.

FAQs

What Kills Most Motorcycle Riders?

Depending on the case at hand, there are any number of factors that can result in the death of a motorcycle rider in the event of an accident. One of the most common causes of death for motorcycle riders is head injuries. If they aren’t wearing a helmet and they crash, there is a decent chance the resulting head injury will cause their death.

How Can a Lawyer Help My Case?

A motorcycle accident lawyer can help your case by giving you direction. They can show you how to file a claim and pursue damages the right way. Without a lawyer, your case might be aimless. You might miss crucial filing deadlines or forget certain steps in the overall process. A lawyer takes care of that for you.

Does Medicare Cover Motorcycle Accidents in Michigan?

Yes, in some cases, Medicare can cover motorcycle accidents in Michigan. Some instances where Medicare might get involved include if the motorcyclist doesn’t have no-fault insurance coverage or if there wasn’t another vehicle involved in the accident. If the motorcycle crashed alone, it could prove difficult to seek damages for the accident.

Are Motorcycle Accidents Covered by Life Insurance?

Yes, motorcycle accidents can be covered by life insurance, though there are important things to consider. You have to make sure that a motorcycle accident is covered in the life insurance policy that you have. Insurers take into account whether someone has a hobby that’s considered dangerous, such as riding motorcycles. If you lied on your application, your life insurance might not pay out.

Contact Our Team of Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today

Reach out to the legal team at Wigod & Falzon to start developing your motorcycle accident claim today. Contact us to schedule a consultation with a valued team member.