If you've been hurt in a Sacramento motorcycle accident, you need to know how to protect your rights.
When a motorcycle accident occurs, it's important that you know what to do if you've been injured because of someone else's negligence. Following these steps after a motorcycle accident in Sacramento can ensure that your rights are protected.
1. Get Medical Help
Because of their smaller size, motorcyclists are at much greater risk of sustaining serious injuries or death in an accident compared with other motorists. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately half of all motorcycle accidents involve a collision with another vehicle or object. These types of collisions can result in serious injuries, including lacerations, broken bones, traumatic brain injury, organ damage and internal bleeding. Seeking medical care should be your number one priority following a Sacramento motorcycle accident. Even if you don't think you've been hurt, you still need to see a doctor to check for injuries. In some cases, an injury can take days or even weeks to become apparent following a motorcycle accident.
2. Create a Record of Your Injury
If you're injured because of someone else's negligence, you may be entitled to monetary damages for your medical bills, time away from work and pain and suffering. If you were hurt in a motorcycle accident in Sacramento, it's important to maintain a record of the events following your injury. This could include collecting copies of all your medical bills, retaining receipts associated with transportation costs, documents from your insurance company, copies of your medical records, a copy of the official police accident report and a personal journal detailing your injuries and your recovery. You should also get a letter from your doctor detailing any restrictions on your abilities if you're unable to return to work.
3. Contact a Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Filing a personal injury lawsuit can be a complicated legal process and it's not one that you should undertake without first seeking the advice of an experienced Sacramento personal injury lawyer. An attorney can evaluate the circumstances of your accident to determine whether you're eligible to receive compensation for your injuries and in what amount. An experienced injury lawyer can also communicate with the insurance companies on your behalf. In many motorcycle accident cases, the negligent party's insurance company will try to settle the case for as little as possible. A Sacramento motorcycle accident lawyer will act as an advocate on your behalf to ensure that you get the maximum amount of compensation possible.
Nadrich & Cohen, LLP specializes in representing Sacramento motorcycle accident victims and their families. For more information on filing a Sacramento 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.
