As with any vehicular collision, a motorcycle accident can be a frightening, traumatic, and tragic event. Riders can be burdened with expensive medical bills for injuries to their bodies as well as having to pay the costs of repairing the damage to their motorcycles. That is why it is important to seek a qualified New Orleans motorcycle accident lawyer after you are involved in an accident.
Oftentimes motorcycle accidents are not the fault of the motorcycle rider, and the victims of the accident may legally be entitled to reparations from the individual that caused the accident. If your motorcycle is damaged in a crash or you've received physical injuries that require expensive medical care, contact a New Orleans motorcycle accident lawyer who will help you get the compensation that you deserve.
Here are a few tips that will help you avoid making mistakes after your motorcycle accident:
What You Should NOT Do
DO NOT Say It Was Your Fault: Never admit fault for an accident until you speak with a lawyer. Involvement in a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation can lead to a person becoming emotional, which can result in a victimized motorcycle driver erroneously apologizing to the other party or parties involved in the crash.
It's difficult to correctly assess the circumstances of a crash, and you don't want to give anyone the impression that you caused the accident. Even if you believe that both parties were equally at fault, the first thing you should do is consult a lawyer. It can be detrimental to your case if you take the blame for the accident. Your lawyer will advise you on what to do.
DO NOT Talk to Insurance Adjusters: Insurance adjusters will try to talk to you immediately after the accident in order to obtain any information that they can to undermine your case. They are trained to ask you questions that don't seem threatening, while they are really attempting to get you to incriminate yourself.
Let them know that you won't talk to them until you've consulted with a lawyer. This will get them to back off while your New Orleans motorcycle accident lawyer advises you on what you should do. Most importantly, unless your lawyer is present, do not sign anything from insurance companies.
Things You SHOULD Do
Do Document Everything: You may have a hard time remembering things clearly after you've been involved in a motorcycle accident. That's why it's very important that you document anything and everything you can. You want to provide an accurate description of events, damages, and injuries to your New Orleans motorcycle accident lawyer.
Photograph your injuries and keep your medical reports, but do not share descriptions or pictures on social media websites. It is important not to allow the opposition to scrutinize any possible discrepancies.
Do Help Yourself: Make sure to attend your doctor appointments and follow medical advice. You want to show the court that you are honestly doing your best to recover after the accident. You don't want them to think that you're attempting to garner pity by delaying the healing process--the last thing the court wants to see is someone looking for free compensation. Also, if you don't seek proper medical treatment, insurance companies will blame you for the worsening of medical conditions you are trying to get them to pay for.
It can be inconvenient and frighteningly traumatic to be involved in a motorcycle accident. Getting the proper damages can help you recover the cost of medical bills and motorcycle repairs. Following the above advice and contacting a qualified New Orleans motorcycle accident lawyer can help get you the compensation that you deserve.
The New Orleans motorcycle accident attorneys at The Lambert Firm provide experienced assistance to those in need. If you were injured in an accident, schedule a free consultation with one of our New Orleans injury lawyers today.