You don’t have to accept the lowball settlement offered by the insurance after a motorcycle accident. Instead, get the full compensation you deserve by working with a San Francisco motorcycle wreck attorney.
When you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident and need compensation to cover your damages and injuries, the deck is often stacked against you. It shouldn’t be this way, but bikers have an uphill battle ahead of them when it comes to getting fair treatment from an insurance company.
The last thing you need in this situation is for an insurance company to start playing games with your rights—which is why we’re here.
A San Francisco motorcycle accident lawyer from Haffner Law can help you prove who caused the motorbike crash, assess how much your claim is worth, and simplify the legal process. An attorney from our firm will be the legal advocate you need, and we’ll never stop fighting for your best interests.
Get Fair Treatment from the Insurance Company
As a motorcyclist, you’re almost certainly already aware of the unfair stereotypes most bikers have to deal with. Unfortunately, many motorcycle riders are surprised to discover that insurers are willing to use these same cultural biases against them after an accident.
The insurer might try to portray you as a “reckless biker” because convincing a jury that you caused the crash will reduce the amount of compensation they have to pay you. They might even be able to completely get out of compensating you.
Motorcycle accident injuries are often serious, and you simply can’t risk this happening to you. By working with a San Francisco motorcycle crash attorney, you’ll be able to keep the insurer and their legal team honest.
No matter what tactic they come up with, we won’t be intimidated into backing down. Our firm can build a compelling case that proves who was truly at fault for what happened and exactly how much money they need to pay you in compensation.
Proving Who Caused the Motorcycle Crash
In order to build the strongest case for compensation possible, we’ll need to collect all of the available evidence that can be used to prove who was at fault and why you aren’t liable for the damages caused.
The insurance will be conducting their own investigation, which is why it’s critical that your personal injury case be stronger than the case they build against you. Remember, they’re looking out for their own bottom line, and that means pushing blame onto you so that they can settle your claim cheaply.
When you work with our firm, you’ll be getting a motorcycle accident attorney who knows how to conduct a complete investigation that fully utilizes all of the evidence. These are just a few of the potential causes that we’ll consider when developing your case:
- Distracted Driving
- Speeding and reckless driving
- Driver intoxication
- Defective motorcycle parts and tires
- Aggressive driving and tailgating
- Dangerous road conditions, such as potholes, uneven lanes, and steep shoulder drop-offs
Countering the Defense’s Case
A common defense used by car and truck drivers is that they either didn’t see the motorcyclist or that they thought the biker was farther away. Because motorcycles have such a small profile, it can make it easier to overlook a nearby biker or misjudge the distance between the two vehicles.
This is no excuse, however, and if the other driver said any of this to you after the wreck, it might be used as evidence to prove his or her fault. For example, because motorcycles are harder to see, distracted drivers are particularly dangerous to bikers, and if a driver claimed he or she didn’t see you, it might provide your lawyer with a place to start looking for evidence.
Likewise with a driver who was tailgating you or failed to see you while you were riding in his or her blind spot. Just because your vehicle is easier to miss, it doesn’t absolve other drivers of their responsibility for paying attention to the road and the traffic around them.
Motorcycle Crash Injuries and Monetary Compensation
Proving who was at fault doesn’t mean that your case is out of the woods yet, however. Even when insurers can’t blame someone else for an accident, they still try to limit their financial liability by producing lowball settlement offers.
Their hope is that you’ll assume they have your best interests at heart and have made a good faith offer to fairly compensate you. In truth, most insurers only include the most obvious damages in these initial offers, leaving many injured bikers paying out of pocket for future expenses that weren’t their fault.
Your San Francisco motorcycle accident lawyer will work hand-in-hand with your doctor to determine exactly how much money your settlement should include in order to be comprehensive. We’ll also work with you to identify how your quality of life has been negatively impacted by the motorcycle collision.
Listed below are just a few of the financial and non-economic damages that you might be able to seek compensation for:
- Current and future medical bills for checkups, procedures, medication, and equipment
- Lost wages, income, and earning ability
- Motorcycle repair or replacement
- Transportation expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and disfigurement
- Lost enjoyment of life
San Francisco Motorcycle Accident FAQ
Few traffic accidents are as likely to result in serious injuries as motorcycle crashes. You probably have a number of concerns you’d like to have addressed, so we’ve answered a few of the most common in the space below. If you don’t see the answer you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to contact us directly.
Am I at fault in a motorcycle accident if I wasn’t wearing a helmet?
Possibly, but it depends on the circumstances of your crash and the injuries you suffered. If your head, brain, face, or skull were damaged and you weren’t wearing a helmet, you might be considered partially at fault for your injuries, but this won’t prevent you from seeking compensation from the party who actually caused the wreck. It could reduce your potential compensation, however.
Who’s at fault if my motorcycle accident was caused by a pothole?
While cars and other four-wheeled vehicles can drive over most potholes without a problem, a pothole could easily cause a motorcycle to flip or otherwise crash. When a pothole causes an accident, the entity responsible for maintaining the road might be held responsible.
Should I talk to the other driver’s insurance company after a motorcycle wreck?
Definitely not. Any statement you provide will almost certainly be used in an attempt to pin blame for the accident onto you. Instead, let your attorney handle all of the communication with the other driver’s insurer.
Contact a Motorcycle Accident Attorney in San Francisco
At Haffner Law, we have the in-depth knowledge of motorcycle accident law and practical experience that you need on your side. We know how to get full compensation, and we’ll never stop fighting for the damages you’re entitled to.
To explore your legal options with a San Francisco motorcycle accident lawyer, simply schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. Just give us a call at 1-844-HAFFNER (423-3637) or complete the contact form found at the bottom of this page.
