Motorcycle accidents often lead to serious injuries, with many triggering personal injury claims against the at-fault driver. If you were injured in a motorcycle crash in St. Charles, Illinois, you may be wondering how a lawyer can help. A St. Charles motorcycle accident lawyer will protect your rights, handle the legal aspects of your claim, and pursue the full compensation you deserve.
Here’s what a motorcycle accident lawyer does:
Investigate Your Accident to Gather Evidence and Identify All Liable Parties
One of the first and most important tasks of a motorcycle accident lawyer is conducting a thorough investigation of the crash. In these cases, insurance companies may attempt to blame the rider or dispute the severity of your injuries.
A lawyer works to understand the facts surrounding the accident and gather evidence showing that the other party was at fault for your collision. This investigation may include reviewing police reports, analyzing crash scene evidence, obtaining traffic or surveillance footage, and interviewing witnesses.
Your attorney may also work with accident reconstruction experts to determine how the collision occurred. Additionally, a lawyer will identify all potentially liable parties, which could include other drivers, employers, or even car or part manufacturers. Under Illinois comparative fault law, identifying every responsible party helps increase the available insurance coverage and provide greater compensation for your injuries.
Track and Calculate Your Damages
Motorcycle accident injuries often result in significant financial and personal losses for the injured rider. A St. Charles motorcycle accident attorney will carefully document and calculate the full extent of your damages.
You may be entitled to economic damages for your medical bills, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and property damage, among other things. Your attorney will gather medical records, employment documentation, and expert testimony to accurately assess these losses.
In addition to financial damages, your lawyer will also identify your non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. These losses are personal and can be harder to quantify than economic losses. However, they often represent a large portion of your injury award.
Handle All Communications and Negotiations with the Insurance Company
Dealing with insurance companies after a motorcycle accident can be discouraging. Insurers often attempt to minimize their liability by blaming the rider or questioning whether certain medical treatment was necessary. When you hire a motorcycle accident lawyer, they take over all communications with the insurance company.
Your motorcycle crash attorney in St. Charles will handle phone calls, written correspondence, and settlement negotiations on your behalf. They understand insurance tactics and will counter lowball offers that don’t fully account for your losses. Having a lawyer involved also prevents you from making statements that could be taken out of context and used to weaken your claim.
Your lawyer will also help you avoid other common mistakes such as signing a medical records release that enables the insurance company to fish for preexisting conditions. Your attorney’s goal is to pursue a settlement that fairly compensates you for both your current and future losses.
Take Your Case to Trial If a Settlement Can’t Be Reached
While many motorcycle accident claims resolve through settlement (around 95%), some cases require court intervention before they can be resolved. If the insurance company blames you or refuses to offer appropriate compensation, our St. Charles motorcycle accident lawyer at Feagans Law Group will take your case to trial.
At trial, your attorney will present evidence of the other party’s negligence and how it led to your damages. Preparing a case for trial also strengthens your position during negotiations, as insurers are more likely to make reasonable offers when they know your lawyer is ready to litigate. Ultimately, a motorcycle accident lawyer’s job is to pursue the outcome that best protects your future, whether through settlement or trial.
If you’ve been injured in an accident and want the help of an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer, call Feagans Law Group for a free consultation.