Motorcycle Accidents
As motorcycle riders and collectors ourselves, our attorneys understand the thrill that comes with riding a motorcycle. Unfortunately, we also understand the risk and see the horrible injuries that can result from being involved in a motorcycle accident. According the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists are 35 times more likely to experience a deadly accident on the road than those traveling in passenger cars. Between 2001 and 2008 there were 34,000 motorcyclists killed in accidents across the United States and over 1 million reported motorcycle related injuries. There are roughly 7 million motorcycles registered in the United States meaning that the average motorcyclist has a 1 in 7 chance of being injured in a motorcycle accident.
Being involved in a motorcycle accident can be a very traumatic experience which can change your life in an instant. If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident contacting an attorney is essential to protecting your legal rights and ensuring that you receive compensation for your losses.
Victims of Motorcycle Accidents Frequently Require Legal Assistance with:
- Obtaining Compensation for Motorcycle Repairs
- Establishing Liability
- Phone Calls Not Being Returned by Insurance Companies
- Unpaid Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
- Recovering Losses from Uninsured/Underinsured Drivers
- Alternative Transportation Arrangements/Payment
- Inability to Obtain Medical Treatment
- Motorcycle Towing or Storage Expenses
- Other Expenses
Many motorcycle injuries and fatalities are the result of negligence or misconduct by another driver. In 2009 the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported that: more than half of all motorcyclist deaths involved at least one other vehicle. 42% of fatal motorcycle accidents involved a vehicle turning left while the motorcycle was going straight or passing the other vehicle. When a motorcyclist is injured as a result of another’s misconduct or negligence Washington law establishes your right to be compensated for your injuries and losses.
Motorcycle Accidents Frequently Result From:
- Drivers Failure to Notice Motorcyclists
- Poor Road Design
- Defective Equipment
- Drivers Failure to Yield
- Drivers Taking Left Turns in Front Motorcyclists
- Improperly Marked Speed Bumps
- Open Grating
Motorcycle accidents can result in serious injuries including: head injuries, broken bones, amputation, paralysis, and even death. At Dann D. Sheffield & Associates we know that serious injuries and fatalities to motorcyclists are generally not random accidents. More often than not someone is responsible for your injuries and loss. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured, or a loved one has been killed in a motorcycle accident, you need a skillful and responsive legal team that is fully committed to fighting for your rights. Our attorneys will fight for your rights and for the compensation you need to put your life back together. If another’s negligence has caused you to suffer injuries, lost wages, or property damage, the attorneys at Dann D. Sheffield & Associates can help you each step of the way to manage the recovery process and ensure that you receive the maximum compensation you deserve.
What to do if You Have Been involved in a Auto Accident?
- Call 911 and insist on a police investigation. In many cases there are no witnesses to the accident, and without a police investigation, liability may be contested later even though liability was admitted at the scene. Physical evidence of how the accident occurred may be lost after the driver leaves the scene.
- Before you leave the scene of the accident, be certain you exchange information with all other drivers involved. Record the vehicle license number and drivers licenses of the other driver(s). Obtain the names of all witnesses. Witnesses can determine the outcome of your claim!
- Be certain to obtain the insurance information of the other driver(s).
- File an accident report with the State of Washington within 24 hours of the time of the accident if someone is injured or property damage exceeds $700.00. (If a collision is not investigated and reported by an officer, the operators of any involved vehicles must submit their own independent traffic collision report as stated in RCW 46.52.030 and WAC 446-85-010)
- Immediately contact your insurance representative. Your insurance representative will be of assistance in explaining the coverage(s) contained in your policy.
- Obtain an estimate to repair your vehicle and photograph the damage to your vehicle and the accident scene.
- Do NOT discuss your claim with anyone but your family, you insurance agent, your doctor, or a Attorney. Be certain not to sign any release forms or make recorded or written statements to the other driver’s insurance representative.
- If you were injured, be certain to go to the doctor as soon as possible. Explain to the doctor that your injuries were the result of an automobile accident, and take photographs of any visible injuries (i.e. cuts or bruises)
- Prior to any contact with the other driver’s insurance company, notify your attorney. The outcome of many cases is affected by obtaining competent legal advice prior to opening a claim.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT
- Call 911 and insist on a police investigation. In many cases there are no witnesses to the accident, and without a police investigation, liability may be contested later even though liability was admitted at the scene. Physical evidence of how the accident occurred may be lost after the driver leaves the scene.
- Before you leave the scene of the accident, be certain you exchange information with all other drivers involved. Record the vehicle license number and drivers license(s) of the other driver(s). Obtain the names of all witnesses. Witnesses can determine the outcome of your claim!
- Be certain to obtain the insurance information of the other driver(s).
- File an accident report with the State of Washington within 24 hours of the time of the accident if someone is injured or property damage exceeds $700.00. (If a collision is not investigated and reported by an officer, the operators of any involved vehicles must submit their own independent traffic collision report as stated in RCW 46.52.030 and WAC 446-85-010)
- Immediately contact your insurance representative. Your insurance representative will be of assistance in explaining the coverage(s) contained in your policy.
- Obtain an estimate to repair your motorcycle and photograph the damage to your motorcycle and the accident scene.
- Do NOT discuss your claim with anyone but your family, you insurance agent, your doctor, or a Attorney. Be certain not to sign any release forms or make recorded or written statements to the other driver’s insurance representative.
- If you were injured, be certain to go to the doctor as soon as possible. Explain to the doctor that your injuries were the result of an automobile accident, and take photographs of any visible injuries (i.e. cuts or bruises)
- Prior to any contact with the other driver’s insurance company, notify your attorney. The outcome of many cases is affected by obtaining competent legal advice prior to opening a claim.
- Contact Dann D. Sheffield & Associates
You May Be Entitled To Recover For:
- Soft Tissue Injuries
- Paralysis
- Head Injuries
- Burns
- Amputations
- Wage Loss
- Medical Expenses
- Etc...
Practice Area
Call Us Toll Free
- No Recovery, No Fee
- Language Translators Are Immediately Available
- 24 Hour Phone Consultation
- Same Day Appointments
- Free In Person or Phone Consultation
- Home, Office, or Hospital Appointments
