Motorcycle accidents have become quite common nowadays. These accidents are significantly more dangerous than other road crashes because motorcyclists are less protected and are liable to get injuries that place their lives in danger. Usually, these accidents are caused by the negligence of other drivers on the road. They require swift action to ensure that the person injured gets compensated for the horrific experience they went through. Therefore, it is crucial to be aware of the legal processes that you need to go through to ensure that if you are ever in such a situation, you are going through the right steps. The following guidelines will give you an idea about the litigation of motorcycle accidents so that you can take the correct action.
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1. Collection of Information
The first step you should take if you are ever in a vehicle crash is to get information about other drivers involved. This will make contacting your insurance agency and an accident lawyer easier. If you are injured due to the accident, you can get this information from documents that the authorities gathered on the scene since they are required to note all of it down in their official report. Collecting information can help you figure out who you are going to sue for the damages you are facing due to the crash.
2. Contacting a Lawyer
After you gather the information from other drivers and any witnesses on hand, you should start your search for a lawyer. This is going to be relatively easy to do since a simple online search will lead you to a ton of results.
Different states, including Florida, have different traffic laws, which means that finding an attorney in your area is going to ensure that they are aware of all the state-specific laws pertaining to the type of accident you’ve faced. Even though in most accident cases, the steps are similar, the consequences of getting hurt in a Tampa motorcycle accident are sure to differ than if you were hurt in another state with different traffic laws. When looking for a lawyer to take your case on, always look for someone who is specialized and is based near you. Finding a trustworthy lawyer who is well-aware of the laws and how to use them to your advantage is the key to winning your case.
3. Proving Liability
After hiring a lawyer, you do not have to concern yourself with the technicalities of the legal process, since they will be responsible from this point on. Your lawyer will start to look for different information and data that can prove liability according to the type of accident you were in. As mentioned above, most motorcycle accidents occur due to negligence on other drivers’ part, however, in some cases it can be due to manufacturers’ negligence. At this point, your lawyer will study all the data presented and seek different sources such as eyewitnesses to figure out who is to blame. This is crucial to ensure that your case is successful.
4. Assessing Damages and Building a Case
Finding out what damages were caused due to the accident is also going to help your lawyer build a strong case for you. Damages sustained during an accident do not just concern your vehicle, but also your physical and mental health.
If you sustained an injury due to the accident you were in, then you need documentation from a medical professional stating the injury as well as what kind of treatment you need to recover from it. You will also need to assess the state of your motorcycle to figure out how much compensation is needed to cover repairs. While gathering all of this information, your lawyer is also going to start looking at your opponent’s defense and trying to talk to witnesses who may be on the other driver’s side.
5. Going to Trial
This is where it gets even more serious than before. Your lawyer will have a plan ready to ensure that you get the results you want, but it is still not a guaranteed victory. During the trial, both your lawyer and the defendant’s lawyer are going to do their utmost to get the verdict that the client wants. Witnesses may be asked to testify, and your lawyer has to have a firm case to ensure that you are represented properly in front of the jury.
After each party has its chance to present the information and the case, the jury will give the verdict. This is the final part of the legal process that you will have to receive the compensation you rightfully deserve.
Now that you are aware of the different litigation steps required to guarantee you get compensated for the terrible experience that you had to go through, you can be more prepared for anything on the road. Abiding by traffic laws at all times will not just ensure your safety but will also give you an airtight case against the driver who crashed into you. The most important factor is the lawyer you choose to hire since they will be your ticket to winning or losing the case.