Some people think that most motorcycle accidents are caused by the reckless behavior of the operator. The fact is that more than half of them that involved a fatality occurred when the motorcycle was hit by another vehicle.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that about 5,000 people are killed and tens of thousands more are injured each year in motorcycle accidents. When these deaths and injuries occur due the negligence or recklessness of another driver, the motorcycle operator will file a claim for the resulting personal injuries.
The first step is to visit a personal injury lawyer who has experience handling motorcycle accident cases. After going over the details of your case, he will be able to tell you whether or not you have a good case. If he takes the case, he will first try to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company of the other driver.
The majority of these accident claims result in a settlement. A settlement occurs when both parties agree on a certain dollar amount in exchange for the injured party agreeing to bring no further legal action.
If a settlement cannot be reached, a lawsuit can be filed. In litigation you will need to prove that the other driver was responsible for the accident and that the injuries or losses that you suffered were the direct result of their negligence.
It’s important to choose an accident attorney with experience handling motorcycle accident cases and who has a proven track record of winning.