You Can’t Expect the Insurance Company to Do the Right Thing
The insurance companies involved in accident cases are going to look for any reason to deny a motorcycle accident claim. They will try to put the fault of the accident on your shoulders, even if it was caused by another driver. However, drivers on the road have a responsibility to others to be careful. While your motorcycle may be smaller, it doesn’t excuse the negligence of other drivers.
Some motorcyclists have a bad reputation for risky riding. Insurance companies are going to use this information and knowledge to their benefit. They believe they can win based on bias; however, that’s not right. You deserve to be represented by a motorcycle accident lawyer who will be able to counter the tricks that insurance adjusters attempt to use against you. That’s why you should hire our legal team at Leverty & Associates.
What’s Your Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?
The value of your motorcycle accident depends on the injuries you sustain, your losses, and several other factors, such as your motorcycle insurance.
While each case is unique, some of the compensation you may be able to receive after a motorcycle accident includes:
- Medical costs: Receive compensation for current and future medical care.
- Wages: If you can’t work due to the injuries caused by your accident, you can recover compensation for lost wages.
- Loss of consortium: If your relationship with your spouse is impacted in any way, you can receive compensation.
- Pain and suffering: Recover compensation for your pain and suffering.
A Reno motorcycle accident attorney from Leverty & Associates can help you better understand the different types of compensation you may receive.
Statute of Limitations to File a Nevada Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in Nevada, you will likely have two years from when the accident occurred to file a personal injury claim. However, most injury claims are settled long before a lawsuit is filed. This is why it is important to hire an accident attorney in Reno to get the process started.
If the insurance company for the at-fault insurance company doesn’t offer you a fair settlement, then the motorcycle accident attorneys you hire may be able to seek damages by going to court. You want to ensure that you provide your legal team with plenty of time to investigate your accident, build a strong claim for compensation, and negotiate a settlement before the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit expires.
If you don’t file your motorcycle accident claim before the statute of limitations passes, the court will not hear your case. If this happens, then you will lose the chance you have to recover compensation from the person at fault for your accident.
How to Protect Your Rights After a Motorcycle Accident
It’s important to take the right steps to protect yourself after being involved in a serious accident. These steps include:
Seek Medical Attention
It’s important to seek medical treatment right after your motorcycle accident. You should be checked out on the scene or go to the emergency room. Not only does this help ensure that your injuries are treated, but it also provides documentation of what happened.
Collect and Save Evidence
It’s up to you to collect as much evidence about the accident as you can. This includes things like the official police report, photos you take at the scene, your medical bills, and any other records that may be important when it comes to filing your motorcycle accident claim.
Take Notes on What You Can Remember
Write down everything you remember about the accident and be sure to keep a personal journal. Be sure to include information about your emotional distress and physical pain that results from the injuries and accident.
Avoid Posting on Social Media
Anything you post on social media about the accident or even innocent posts about things you are doing may be found and used by the insurance company to reduce your compensation. It’s best to avoid posting on social media at all until the accident case is settled.
Let Your Attorney Handle All Communication
If the other party’s insurance company contacts you about the accident, it’s best to direct them to your attorney. Anything that you tell the insurance adjuster may be used against you, which is going to impact your case.
FAQs
After being involved in a Reno motorcycle accident, you may have several questions about your rights and the legal options that you have. Here, our motorcycle accident attorneys have answered a few of the most common questions that we receive from our accident victims. We can also answer any other questions you have about your claim when you schedule a free consultation.
There’s no specific answer for this, and it varies. According to information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, passenger vehicles are typically at fault for motorcycle-involved T-bone accidents due to issues like the failure to yield. In many cases, though, motorcyclists are considered at fault more often for head-on and rear-end accidents. Passenger vehicle drivers will have more blind spots and may not anticipate the presence of smaller motorcycles, so this helps to explain driver negligence in some accidents.
In many cases, the answer to this is “yes.” In many situations, a motorcycle accident claim is not filed against the driver of a passenger vehicle. In fact, sometimes, public entities, such as states and cities, have an obligation to make sure roads are safe. Sometimes, a motorcycle accident can occur due to inadequate lighting, uneven paving, potholes, or oil slicks. A Reno motorcycle accident attorney can investigate the situation and help pursue a claim with the responsible party.
The answer depends on the circumstances, but in most cases, yes, you will. The helmet will not be a relevant factor when it comes to the person who caused the accident. This means that if the other party was liable for the accident, then you still may be able to recover compensation.
Even if you are considered partly at fault for a motorcycle accident, you may still be able to recover compensation. In the state of Nevada, if you were less than 51% at fault for the accident, you may still be able to receive compensation. Remember, though, that the amount of compensation that you receive will be diminished based on how much you are determined to be at fault. For example, if you are awarded damages of $20K, but are determined to be 25% at fault for the accident, then you would only receive $15K for the accident.
When it comes to your motorcycle accident, there’s no question that you will likely have questions about the situation. Our legal team is here to answer these questions and help you recover the compensation you deserve.
When Should You Contact a Reno, Nevada, Motorcycle Accident Attorney?
It is smart to contact our legal team for help with your motorcycle accident case as soon as you can.
Hiring a Reno motorcycle accident lawyer means that you have someone on your side who has experience with these types of cases. We can help you by:
- Working quickly to investigate your accident and preserve any evidence
- Identifying all parties who may be partially responsible for the situation
- Helping to negotiate a fair settlement from the insurance company of the at-fault party
- Filing a lawsuit and arguing to ensure that you receive full compensation.
You should not wait to seek legal advice. Our motorcycle accident attorneys at Leverty & Associates can help with your situation and ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. You will never have to pay upfront or out of pocket for your case. In fact, you will only pay for legal services if our team can help you recover compensation for the claim.
Common Myths Related to Reno Motorcycle Accidents
While riding your motorcycle is a lot of fun, it can also be full of risks and danger. Motorcycles are much smaller than passenger vehicles, and they don’t protect riders in a box of metal. Because of this, as a motorcycle rider, you are more likely to experience serious and life-threatening injuries if you are involved in an accident.
This is one reason that it is so important to follow the proper safety precautions when you are riding a motorcycle. With that in mind, here are some of the most common myths related to motorcycle accidents.
Other Drivers Will Always See a Motorcyclist
Unfortunately, this is not the case. If you are riding a motorcycle, you should never assume that the other motorists will see you. Your motorcycle is much smaller than traditional vehicles and may not always be visible to others on the road. If you want to protect your safety, be sure to stay out of the blind spots of other drivers and always ride at a safe distance. You should also wear bright clothing when you ride.
Most Motorcycle Accidents Are Caused by Motorcyclists
Some people believe that motorcyclists are the ones who cause most motorcycle accidents. While there are some riders who are careless and can cause accidents, not all are like this. In some situations, drivers of bigger vehicles don’t check their blind spots for riders, or they cut in front of the motorcycle as the rider is making a left-hand turn.
Why Choose Us
If you are dealing with a motorcycle accident, our legal team at Leverty & Associates is here to help. We can review the facts of your case and start building a case to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Our legal team has represented clients just like you for years. Because of this, we are here to provide you with access to the same resources and expertise that we offer every client we serve. If you want to know more about your case or if you have questions, reach out to us today. It all starts by calling (775) 322-6636 to schedule a free consultation.
Don’t underestimate the factors that will impact your case. Our legal team is here to help. Our goal is to help you recover the maximum amount of compensation possible for your claim to help you fully recover.
Attorney Patrick Leverty
With his master’s in insurance law, Patrick routinely helps individuals and businesses who are having issues with their insurance company. He also has extensive experience with personal injury actions, complex tort actions, product liability matters, and class actions. Patrick Leverty is rated AV by Martindale Hubbell (the highest rating) and has been granted membership in the Million Dollar Advocate Forum, and Multi-Million Dollar Advocate Forum. Patrick Leverty has been certified as a Personal Injury Specialist by the State Bar of Nevada. [ Attorney Bio ]
