Protect Yourself With the Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Boynton Beach
Riding a motorcycle is a great way to save gas and enjoy some fresh air. Motorcyclists will find any excuse to go for a ride, and who wouldn’t want to enjoy the great sights and weather around Boynton Beach? However, riding a motorcycle comes with its share of risks. Motorcycles are less visible on the road, and many drivers forget to look out for motorcyclists when turning and changing lanes. If you are injured in a motorcycle accident speak with a Boynton Beach motorcycle accident attorney to discuss your case details for free today.
Moreover, motorcyclists are more vulnerable in the event of a collision. While a typical car or truck provides a fair level of protection, you’re much more likely to be injured in a motorcycle accident. Even if you’re lucky enough to survive a collision, you may have to deal with pain, debt, and other terrible consequences in the aftermath. Therefore, if you want to protect yourself as much as possible, then check out this comprehensive guide on how to properly handle a motorcycle accident.
How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Boynton Beach?
Over 5,000 motorcyclists across the United States died in collisions in 2019, and thousands more were injured. In the same year, compared to other drivers in accidents, motorcyclists had worse injuries and much higher mortality rates. While riding a motorcycle is safe when everybody follows the rules, things can become disastrous when other motorists aren’t paying attention to the road, and a lawyer is the only thing that can save many people from financial ruin after an accident.
What To Do After A Boynton Beach Motorcycle Accident
Scan the Collision Site
Collisions often occur on busy roads. Thus, in the immediate aftermath of a collision, you may be in danger of being run over or hit by debris. Can you see any oil or fluids on the ground? Is anything on fire? Either way, if you are able to move without injuring yourself, then you should get out of the way of traffic and other nearby hazards.
Seek Medical Help
Before you worry about insurance or the other motorist, you have to make sure that you’re okay. Even if you feel alright immediately following a collision, you must check your body for any injuries. You should apply pressure to any open wounds to slow down the rate of blood loss. If you feel pain around a limb or joint, then you must do your best to avoid putting your weight on that area. This is important because you don’t want to exacerbate a fracture, sprain, or broken bone. Traumatic brain injuries are especially common in vehicle collisions, yet they’re easy to overlook. Although you may not think that you’re injured, you should still see a medical professional as quickly as possible. Otherwise, you could potentially die of a brain hemorrhage in your sleep.
Get the Other Driver’s Information
If you don’t exchange information with the other party, then you will have little recourse for compensation. Therefore, you should give the other party your name, address, phone number, insurance information, and license plate number, and you should ask them for the same information. If the other party refuses to comply, then you should make sure to write down their license plate number and any other information that you can gather.
Don’t Drive Away
If there’s even the slightest sign of property damage or a personal injury after an accident, you shouldn’t just drive away. Per Florida law, after any collision, you must notify the owner of the damaged vehicle or property and give them all of the information mentioned earlier. Failure to comply with these laws can result in stiff legal penalties. If either party is injured, then you should call the police to the scene and file an official police report.
Take Pictures
If the accident is significant enough to warrant police involvement, then they will likely take several pictures of the scene. Sadly, however, many negative stereotypes exist about motorcyclists, so police officers and your insurance company may automatically assume that you’re at fault. Moreover, some police officers just want to fill out as little paperwork as possible and avoid going to court. Consequently, they may gather evidence that makes it look like you were at fault so that they don’t have to put as much effort into dealing with your case. Thus, you should also take as many pictures as possible in order to paint an honest image of the accident. That way, you can build a better case and protect yourself from liability.
Gather Witnesses
First-hand witnesses are crucial to building a good case. Therefore, you should stop anyone who saw the collision and ask them for their contact information. Other motorists, pedestrians, and people in nearby buildings may all be potential witnesses. If you wait too long to speak to witnesses, then they may have already moved on, so time is of the essence. The other motorist, the police, and your insurance company likely won’t have your best interests in mind, and without honest witnesses, it’s your word against theirs. Therefore, you must do your best to gather as many witnesses as possible so that you can paint an accurate picture of the event in court.
Contact a Lawyer
It’s natural to feel panicked after an accident, and you might not be in your most rational state of mind. However, failure to properly account for certain key details may result in legal penalties or a poor insurance payout. Therefore, you should call a lawyer as quickly as possible to ensure that you’ve done everything in your power to build a solid case and protect yourself from liability. The best Boynton Beach motorcycle accident lawyer has dealt with many cases just like yours, and they will give you the best legal counsel so that you can avoid legal trouble and receive the greatest insurance payout.
After A Motorcycle Accident in Boynton Beach
You should count yourself lucky if you even survive a motorcycle accident. Motorcyclists are notoriously vulnerable on the road, and the smallest mishaps can have life-altering consequences. Even a minor collision can lead to nerve damage, broken bones, chronic pain, brain damage, and other severe medical conditions. A more serious accident could leave you dead, paralyzed, or in a coma.
Even if you get through the accident completely unscathed, your motorcycle will likely need some expensive repairs. Emergency care itself can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars. On top of that, you may have to pay for years of physical therapy, appointments with specialists, and surgeries to deal with your injuries resulting from a motorcycle accident. For these reasons, it’s especially important to contact the right Boynton Beach motorcycle accident attorney so that you don’t have to drown in debt.
Boynton Beach Motorcycle Safety Tips
Before your next ride, you should take a look at Florida’s motorcycle safety laws. Failure to comply with safety regulations is bad for you and any other motorist on the road. Moreover, your insurance may not fully cover any injuries or damages that result from noncompliance with relevant safety laws. Aside from obeying the law, you should also regularly follow a few basic safety precautions.
First and foremost, you should never ride without a helmet. Your skull and brain are extremely fragile, and even a minor impact can result in major damage. Your helmet should not have a loose fit, so you must properly fasten all straps and buttons to make sure that you’re wearing it properly. An open-face helmet may look cool, but it leaves your jaw and half of your face exposed. Thus, you’re much better off wearing a full-face helmet.
It’s also extremely important to ride a suitable motorcycle for your frame. Generally, a motorcycle’s handlebars should not be above your shoulders when you’re riding in a normal position. Otherwise, you’re more prone to bashing your head against the handlebars during a collision. If you have fragile bones or lack the physical strength the move heavy objects, then you may want to opt for a lightweight model in order to avoid being crushed.
Other motorists tend to be less considerate towards motorcyclists, and a motorcycle is much more difficult to see in a typical vehicle’s mirrors. Furthermore, cars and trucks are heavier than motorcycles, so they take much longer to come to a complete stop. Therefore, you should try to maintain as much distance from other motorists as possible.
Compensation For A Motorcycle Accident In Boynton Beach
Insurance companies exist to make a profit, and insurance payouts can be a huge expense for them. Consequently, insurance agents are incentivized to give you as little as possible. While an insurance company may offer to cover some of your damages, there’s a good chance that they are not fully meeting their obligations. A qualified lawyer will review the terms of your policy, gather the best evidence, and present a strong case in court to ensure that you get the benefits that you deserve.
How To Maximize Your Boynton Beach Motorcycle Accident Settlement
In the wake of an accident, you’re going to have a lot of bills to deal with. Debt can absolutely ruin your life. If you’re up to your neck in medical debt, then you may not be able to buy a house or afford to enjoy a dignified lifestyle. Therefore, it’s important to get fair compensation from the insurance company and the other party in the accident. However, a few wrong moves can sabotage your efforts, so you should take the following precautions before going to court.
Don’t Accept Cash From the Other Party
The other party may try to pay you right away to forget about the accident. While receiving money right away may seem nice, you might be shooting yourself in the foot by accepting it. Will the amount that they offer really cover your expenses? Do they want you to break the law and neglect to report the accident? What if they bring up the payment when they’re brought to court? Accepting a cash payment will only complicate matters, and a judge may hold a verbal agreement against you. Instead, you should contact your insurance company and reach out to a lawyer. You’re more likely to have a better outcome when you go through the proper channels.
Remain Skeptical of Early Settlement Offers
An insurance company might try to offer a settlement early on, but you should not accept such a settlement. If they’re offering an early settlement, then there’s a good chance that they know that you stand to gain more by going to court. By being patient and working with a reputable motorcycle accident lawyer, you will increase your likelihood of receiving a much better settlement.
Keep a Low Profile
The insurance company and the other party’s lawyers are going to try to dig up any excuse to lower your settlement. Your lawyer is the only person with whom you should share details about the accident. While you may have a legal obligation to file a police report in the event of an injury, you should only include the basics of what happened. The other side may try to use your social media activity to discredit you. Thus, you should refrain from sharing pictures of yourself or posting any updates on social media until all legal proceedings have concluded.
Store Evidence in a Safe Place
Pictures, witness information, and all other evidence should be stored in a safe place that you will be able to access at any time. Ideally, you will share any evidence with your lawyer so that they can keep it secure and use it to build your case. Computers, hard drives, and other devices are known to fail, so you must also keep your evidence backed up on multiple devices or a cloud service.
Contact an Experienced Boynton Beach Motorcycle Accident Attorney
An accident can be a traumatic experience, and dealing with the police, the other motorist, and insurance companies can be a huge hassle. You’re a busy person and already have a lot on your plate. Without proper legal aid, you may not have the time or capacity to deal with everything on your own. Luckily, you don’t have to handle this alone. The right lawyer can help you through every step of the process, and they’ll work night and day to ensure that you’re not taken advantage of. Your future matters, and you deserve a fair settlement. If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, then contact Shiner Law Group today to explore your legal options. The consultation is free, so you have nothing to lose by reaching out.
