Call Personal Injury Attorney in Pittsburgh After a Motorcycle Accident
Sept. 2, 2017
The best thing you can do after a motorcycle accident is to hire a personal injury attorney in Pittsburgh. Motorcycle accidents can cause extreme injuries. Given the lack of protection, riders often experience more severe injuries than those in an enclosed vehicle. Even with a higher propensity for sustaining an injury, this does not translate to riders automatically receiving more money for their injury claims.
How a Personal Injury Attorney in Pittsburgh Can Help
The first thing an injury attorney needs to do is gather evidence to prove negligence of the driver who hit the client. For the victim to receive compensation, the attorney must demonstrate that the victim was not the responsible party or the cause of the accident. Demonstrating that someone else was negligent and that said negligence led to the accident, makes it possible for the victim to collect compensation. This is necessary regardless of whether another individual, business or government entity was responsible for the crash.
In the case of a motorcycle accident, each of these parties could be sued, depending on what the root cause of the accident was. For example, if the cause of the crash was a bike malfunction, the manufacturer may be responsible due to product liability. If the road conditions are dangerous because they were not properly maintained, the government could be responsible and sued accordingly. If another driver was responsible for the crash, they can be sued, etc.
An injury attorney needs to determine which party is responsible for causing the crash or if more than one party was involved. The attorney then needs to conduct discovery to gather the evidence necessary to prove it. The sooner this process can begin, the better, since evidence is more difficult to obtain as time passes.
The Challenge of Being a Rider
Motorcycle riders have an additional challenge to face. There is a bias against motorcycle riders that often influences how insurance companies or a jury will view the accident. It is a common belief that motorcycle riders are reckless and dangerous.
If a jury believes this, they may rule in favor of the other party. This makes presenting evidence more critical than ever. An attorney is the best person to present evidence and argue that the rider was the victim and not the cause of the crash.
Receiving Compensation
An attorney can also help to increase the amount of compensation that one receives either through settlement negotiations or by going to court. Since an attorney understands what a victim can be compensated for, it is possible to increase the settlement amount beyond what a victim could get on their own. For example, a victim may receive money to pay for things like:
Lost wages suffered due to the wreck
Medical bills
Rehabilitation expenses
Transportation costs
Money to hire a caregiver or helper
Long-term medical expenses
Pain and suffering
Emotional trauma or PTSD
Some juries may even award punitive damages to punish the negligent party, though that is done on a case by case basis.
Schedule a Consultation
To speak with a personal injury attorney in Pittsburgh, call my office and schedule a consultation.
NOTE: This is for informational purposes only and does not constitute
legal advice.