You may be entitled to compensation for injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.
If you've been hurt in a Sacramento motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering if the accident was caused by someone else's negligence. If you're considering filing a motorcycle accident claim, learn what you need to do to get the best settlement possible.
Following a Sacramento motorcycle accident, you may not be sure what you need to do to protect your rights. If you've hired a Sacramento motorcycle accident attorney, you've already taken the most important step. Your attorney can evaluate your case to determine what type of damages you're entitled to and guide you in negotiating a fair deal. If you haven't consulted a motorcycle accident lawyer in Sacramento, the following tips can help you to protect your claim.
- Collect evidence to support your claim. Immediately following a motorcycle accident in Sacramento, you should make every attempt to collect evidence relating to the incident. This may include taking pictures of the accident scene, collecting witness statements and getting a copy of the police report. You should also take pictures of your injuries and obtain copies of your medical report in order to document your recovery. The more evidence you're able to collect, the stronger your claim will be and the more likely the responsible party's insurance company is to offer a settlement. The better your evidence is, the higher the initial offer is likely to be.
- Document your expenses. In addition to documenting the accident itself, you also need to maintain records of any expenses you've incurred as a result. When determining how much of a settlement to offer, insurance companies will look at the actual amount of your medical care, the amount of money you've lost by not being able to work as well as the overall loss of quality of life you endure. You should keep careful records of all the costs of your medical care, including out-of-pocket expenses for prescriptions and co-pays as well as the costs of traveling to and from your doctor's appointments. You should also keep a calendar showing how many days of work you miss and gather old pay stubs as proof of income. Finally, you may also want to consider keeping a journal or diary detailing your recovery and how the accident has impacted your life. By providing proof of your financial losses stemming from the accident, the insurance company will have less room to argue that your expenses are inflated or unrelated.
- Don't wait for a settlement offer. Many people who are injured in a Sacramento motorcycle accident may choose to wait for the insurance company to offer a settlement. By taking the first step and sending a demand letter which specifies the amount you're willing to settle for, you can begin negotiations from a starting point that you're comfortable with. Setting the ground rules early for what you will and won't accept lets the insurance company know that you won't allow your injuries to be undervalued. Of course, you should consult with your Sacramento motorcycle accident attorney prior to doing so.
Nadrich & Cohen, LLP specializes in representing Sacramento motorcycle accident victims and their families. For more information on filing a motorcycle accident lawsuit, call 1-800-718-4658 to begin your free initial case evaluation. There is never a fee unless damages are recovered on your behalf.
