Motorcycle accidents far too often result in serious injuries to the rider. Even a motorcycle with the most advanced safety features still offers very little protection to riders. Injuries sustained in a crash result in the need for expensive medical treatment. Without compensation from the liable party, most people can not afford to pay their medical bills on their own.
Our team of West Jordan motorcycle accident attorneys at 1Law is well aware of the struggles faced by motorcycle accident victims. Our record speaks for itself when it comes to recovering compensation for those who have been injured.
Before you can even begin the process of attempting to recover compensation for damages you suffered in a motorcycle accident, you must first determine if your claim is valid. If your damages resulted from a crash that was caused by another party, you will most likely be able to submit a claim with the liable party’s insurer or file a personal injury lawsuit against them.
However, in cases where you were the one whose actions caused the crash, your options will be far more limited. In this situation, you might still be able to recover limited compensation from your own insurance provider, but this coverage will have a much narrower scope.
An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to help you identify who is liable for your crash and whether or not your compensation claim is valid.
People involved in motorcycle accidents would often prefer to simply take the money offered by the insurance company and avoid a long legal battle. However, doing so will likely result in getting a payout that is insufficient to cover the expenses you incur as a result of your crash.
Insurance companies are not your friend. They are concerned with their bottom line and will do everything they can to pay as little for your claim as possible. Insurers often approach accident victims with a settlement offer before they have time to file a claim. While this may seem helpful, their hope is that you will accept this lowball offer and lose your right to further compensation.
A motorcycle accident lawyer in West Jordan can protect you from these predatory tactics. On average, those who hire an experienced motorcycle accident attorney end up with significantly more money once the dust has settled than those who attempt to represent themselves.
Motorcycle accident attorneys and other types of personal injury lawyers charge their clients on a contingency fee basis. While other lawyers often charge based on the time spent working on your lawsuit, your motorcycle accident lawyer will collect a fee, based entirely upon the outcome of your case.
When you hire a motorcycle accident attorney in West Jordan, you will agree to pay them a percentage of the money you recover from the liable party. They won’t collect any fees while your case is in progress, and the money they do receive will come directly from the payout by the liable party.
With this system, your attorney will be highly motivated to ensure you get as much money for your injuries as possible, since the more you receive, the bigger their payday. Also, should they fail to get you compensation, they won’t make any money from your case.
Utah state law under Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-307 gives motorcycle accident victims four years from the date of their crash to file a lawsuit against the liable party in most cases. Failure to file within this period will likely result in the forfeiture of your right to recover compensation.
However, it is vital to understand that there are special circumstances that could apply to your case that would limit the amount of time you have to file. Hiring an experienced motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible after your accident is the best way to ensure that you meet all deadlines for your case.
When you suffer an injury in a motorcycle accident, you will likely be eligible to recover a wide range of damages. Determining what you can claim will depend on the specifics of your case. All compensatory damages can be sorted into the categories of economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages cover all the monetary losses that result from your accident. Economic damages cover both current and future losses. Additionally, they cover money you had to spend as well as the money you failed to earn due to your accident.
Some commonly claimed economic damages include:
Non-economic damages cover a wide range of losses. While none of these losses directly affect your finances, they tend to have far more profound effects on the lives of accident victims. Because of this, the money awarded for these losses tends to be significant.
Non-economic damages that may apply to your case include:
There is a third overarching category of damages that occasionally applies in motorcycle accident claims, known as punitive damages. The money awarded for punitive damages is designed to punish the liable party rather than compensate the accident victim for their losses.
Punitive damages are only awarded when the at-fault party’s actions were particularly egregious.
At 1Law, our West Jordan motorcycle accident attorneys are committed to providing our clients with the best legal representation possible. We work hard to ensure that accident victims get the money they need to recover and move on after an accident.
Give us a call, fill out our online contact form, or use the free legal chat tool on this page to schedule a free consultation with a member of our team. We’ll review your case and advise you of your legal options.