As a motorcycle rider, you already know that you have to pay more attention than other drivers around you. You must carefully balance the rules of the road with the potential actions of other drivers. When those drivers fail to pay appropriate attention or to exercise due care around you, you may quickly end up in an accident. Unfortunately, your motorcycle offers little protection from the road or from the much larger, heavier vehicles around you. If you suffered injuries in a motorcycle crash, you need an attorney to fight to help you secure compensation for your injuries. Contact the Las Vegas Motorcycle Accident Lawyer at Benson & Bingham Accident Injury Lawyers, LLC today at (702) 382-9797 to learn more.
If you suffered a motorcycle accident in Nevada, you may have questions about your rights following an accident. To get answers that take into consideration your specific circumstances, contact an experienced Nevada motorcycle accident attorney, and ask for details about how to seek compensation and the process you need to follow. An Injury litigation lawyer in LV can provide additional insights and represent your interests effectively throughout the legal proceedings.”
Motorcycle accidents, like other auto accidents, should involve relatively straightforward resolutions. In a perfect world, you would contact the insurance company, and it would issue payment based on your injuries. Unfortunately, all too often, accident victims find themselves struggling with inadequate communication and cooperation from the other driver’s insurance company. At Benson & Bingham Accident Injury Lawyers, LLC, we have recovered more than $127 million for clients in a wide range of accidents, including:
$4,250,000 in a motorcycle delivery vehicle accident in 2023
$1,250,000 in a motorcycle accident in 2018
$2,650,000 in a semi truck accident in 2008
$3,300,000 in a defective product in MVA in 2013
If you suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle accident, you may wonder if you really need to retain an attorney and how much one will cost. At Benson & Bingham Accident Injury Lawyers, LLC, we start with a free consultation. We take personal injury cases on a contingent fee basis, which means you will not pay us until you receive compensation for your injuries. If you retain us, we provide many services. Oftentimes, we substantially increase the compensation our clients receive while providing valuable legal advice that often helps our clients move through the claims process more smoothly.
Many victims suffer serious injuries in motorcycle accidents —often injuries that stay with them long-term or for the rest of their lives. These injuries might include:
Traumatic brain injury. While helmet use may decrease traumatic brain injury symptoms, it may not eliminate it completely.
Spinal cord damage, often causing paralysis. Paralysis may occur at any point in the spine but usually limits movement either below the waist or below the beck.
Amputations
Burns
Broken bones
Soft tissue damage, including ligament and tendon damage
Organ damage
What should I do after a Nevada motorcycle accident?
Your first priority after a Nevada motorcycle accident should be to seek medical care. Your second priority: get in contact with an experienced Nevada motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible.
In a motorcycle-car accident, the car and its passengers usually fare better. Motorcycle riders often have comparatively little protection from the road. If you suffered a spinal cord injury or broken bones at the scene of an accident, you may know immediately that you suffered a serious injury. On the other hand, if you suffered a traumatic brain injury, but you did not lose consciousness at the scene of the accident, you may not immediately realize the full extent of your injuries. Likewise, adrenaline can conceal the pain from many types of injuries.
Seeking medical care ensures that you receive treatment for your injuries and that you have a record of when those injuries occurred. Working with a Nevada motorcycle accident attorney ensures that you understand your rights and can seek the compensation you need for your injuries.
I wasn’t wearing a helmet at the time of my Nevada motorcycle accident. Can I still seek compensation?
Motorcycle helmets generally prove about 67 percent effective in preventing traumatic brain injury, so we advise people to wear them. They also help minimize the extent of your injuries, making it less likely that you will suffer severe damage and more likely that you will retain the ability to perform your usual job responsibilities and handle self-care tasks. Always wear a helmet and other protective gear when riding your motorcycle.
If you weren’t wearing a helmet at the time of your motorcycle accident, however, you can still seek compensation for your injuries, including traumatic brain injuries. If someone else caused your accident, you can still seek compensation for your expenses related to the accident, because failure to wear a helmet does not excuse another driver from crashing into and injuring you.
Who pays the medical bills after a Nevada motorcycle accident?
Ben J. Bingham, Nevada Motorcycle Accident Attorney
If you suffered injuries in a Nevada motorcycle accident, you must pay the bills related to those injuries. However, you have several options that may offer vital compensation to cover those medical costs.
Your health insurance might help pay for your medical bills. Provide your health insurance information to your doctors as you pursue treatment. Contact your health insurance company to notify it about the accident and ask any questions you may have about how your coverage will cover the costs of your motorcycle accident.
A Nevada motorcycle accident claim can help provide compensation for your medical expenses. If you cannot pay your medical bills without the money from your Nevada motorcycle accident claim, an attorney can write a letter of protection that will let your doctors know that you plan to pay, but need to wait for that vital compensation to arrive.
After Your Motorcycle Accident: Understanding Your Claim
If you had your way, the insurance company would likely pay you quickly after your motorcycle accident, and the company would provide adequate payment for your injuries, your pain and suffering, and all of your future expenses. Unfortunately, in many cases, the claims process can prove quite difficult and complicated.
How will the insurance company attempt to fight the claim?
Some insurance companies will attempt to reduce their financial responsibility by disputing your claims and refusing to offer fair compensation. For example, the company might:
Try to prove that you, not the other driver, caused your motorcycle accident. If you share liability in the accident, it may reduce your compensation.
Attempt to prove that you’ve exaggerated your injuries. Can you participate in activities that your injuries should limit? Did you attend events that you claimed you could not participate in? These things can limit your claim and decrease the company’s liability.
Offer you a low settlement immediately after your motorcycle accident. Soon after the accident, you may not know how much your medical bills will cost or even understand the full extent of the funds you should receive, but you may be tempted to accept immediate cash. You should speak with an attorney before accepting any insurance offer.
What damages should you claim?
Each personal injury case, including motorcycle accidents, looks a little different. Your compensation may vary based on your injuries, the insurance company’s policies, and liability for the accident. However, most people claim the following:
Medical expenses. All the medical costs associated with your accident, from the ambulance trip to your physical therapy, are recoverable. Keeping track of your medical bills can make it easier to arrive at a final number for your medical bill claim.
Pain and suffering. You can receive compensation for the suffering that you experienced in the aftermath of your motorcycle accident. Pain and suffering compensation goes beyond physical pain to include elements like missed activities, general embarrassment, and PTSD.
Lost wages. Your motorcycle accident may prevent you from returning to work until you heal. If you remain in the hospital, you may not be able to attend work at all. Claiming lost wages can help you receive compensation for those lost hours and that lost income.
Lost earning potential. Did you suffer permanent injuries in your motorcycle accident that will prevent you from ever returning to your previous job? Lost earning potential represents your future inability to provide for yourself and your family through your previous employment.
Who bears responsibility for your accident?
To determine how to file your claim, you need to first determine who bears responsibility for your accident. Often, you may assume that, as the motorcycle rider and likely the person with the worst injuries, you should automatically receive compensation from the other party. However, liability may vary based on the situation surrounding your accident. For example, did you:
Drink and drive?
Fail to wear a motorcycle helmet?
Fail to properly follow the rules of the road, including allowing adequate room on the road for other vehicles or adhering to traffic signs and signals?
Drive recklessly?
If the other party caused the accident, his or her insurance company will likely cover the fees associated with your injuries. On the other hand, if you contributed to the accident, you may share liability for the damages. If you share liability, the insurance company may reduce your compensation by the percentage of the responsibility you bear. Other entities, including vehicle manufacturers, may also share liability for your accident if parts failed or vehicles failed to perform as expected on the road. Talking with a lawyer can help you more effectively determine all parties who may share liability for your accident.
Who bears liability for a Nevada motorcycle accident?
Several parties may share liability for a Nevada motorcycle accident. Most obviously, the other driver’s actions—including reckless driving, driving under the influence, and driving distracted—may have contributed to the accident, but other parties may share liability for the accident and, therefore, share financial liability.
These parties may include:
The company that employs a driver on the clock at the time of the accident
A mechanic that recently worked on a vehicle that had a mechanical failure
The owner of the vehicle, when different from the driver
The manufacturer, in the case of a mechanical defect that led to an accident
An experienced Nevada motorcycle accident attorney can help evaluate all of the factors that contributed to the accident and identify all liable parties, which will help increase the potential sources of compensation.
The at-fault party’s insurance company offered me a settlement. Should I take it?
Before taking a settlement offer from the insurance company that covers the liable driver or any other entity that contributed to your accident, consult with our experienced Nevada motorcycle accident attorneys. Often, that settlement offer fails to reflect the full compensation you need to cover the costs of your injuries, especially if you have significant injuries and substantial medical bills. An attorney can help you understand the compensation you deserve for your injuries and prevent you from mistakenly accepting an offer that may ultimately minimize your compensation.
How much compensation should I expect after a Nevada motorcycle accident?
The compensation you receive for your injuries will depend on who caused or contributed to your accident and the extent of your injuries. Nevada drivers must carry a minimum of $25,000 in bodily injury protection insurance. Commercial drivers, including Uber and Lyft drivers, may carry policies with substantially higher limits, which offer more protection in the event of an accident.
Most people, when filing a Nevada motorcycle accident claim, include the following:
Medical expenses
Lost wages from work missed due to the accident
Pain and suffering
Do You Need a Nevada Motorcycle Accident Attorney?
If you’ve suffered serious injuries in a Nevada motorcycle accident, whether in Boulder City or elsewhere, you may need an attorney to help you file your claim or better understand the damages you should seek given your injuries. Call Benson & Bingham Accident Injury Lawyers, LLC today at (702) 382-9797, or contact us online, to discuss your claim, set up a free consultation at one of our four convenient office locations in Southern and Northern Nevada, and learn more about your rights following a motorcycle accident.
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“My case manager was Michelle, whom was my previous attorney in another accident. She was very efficient and helpful with quick responses and multiple ways to contact her. She worked around my schedule as well as my location, considering they have different offices around the valley. Michelle also ensured that my repairs would be done in a timely manner with a reputable mechanic. All in all, this experience was, once again, very seamless.” -Legekins
