Were you injured in a motor vehicle crash in Florida? Read about the 4 things you need to know about motorcycle accidents, then call us today.
1. After a Motorcycle Accident
When you get hurt in a motorcycle accident in Nassau County or Duval County, the first thing you ought to do is get medical care. Because whether you have a case or not, you’ve been hurt. Get medical care, even if you don’t think you’re hurt. On a motorcycle accident, there’s no such thing as a minor motorcycle accident. There are cases where a motorcyclist may think he or she’s not hurt, but then injuries surface later on. Go get checked out. If you don’t, you may lose important benefits that are available to you. If you don’t get checked out, you may not get early intervention that will enhance your ability to get well. That’s the very first thing you should do.
Next, call a lawyer early on because we can preserve evidence. We can navigate you through the myriad of insurance questions that you may have. Many times, this is the first time someone’s been involved in a motorcycle accident and they don’t know exactly what to do.
2. Case Value
The mechanics of putting a value, or more accurately, a value range, on a case doesn’t happen overnight. Lots of things go into factoring what the value range of your case is. That involves the nature and the extent of your injuries, whether they are permanent or disabling and whether they impair your ability to do your normal functions of life. It also includes whether you have any out of pocket expenses such as medical bills, and whether you have lost time from work. Cases sometimes are not clear cut about whose fault it was, as well, which further complicates things. There may have been someone who’s not even a party to the case who’s got some responsibility.
All of that affects the recoverable value of your case. It’s a determination we don’t make until late in the case because lots of things have to be gathered first. Lots of evidence has to be evaluated and preserved, medical records collected, pictures of the scene taken, etc. A lot of collection has to occur. If we’re in the lawsuit, depositions and statements are taken, and we spend some time sizing up who we’re dealing with. All of those intangible things get factored into a value range. So, when people ask us, we don’t answer them with any kind of a firm answer.
3. Case Timeline
Although every case is a little bit different, 9 to 14 months. If we have to file your lawsuit against the responsible party, add another year to that process. The court systems have gotten clogged up again. It is taking us a very long time to get to trial. If the case has any complexity to it, it can last longer than that.
The main thing we impress upon clients is that it’s not going to be over in a couple of weeks. The main thing they should focus on once they have that timeframe in their head is getting better. Concentrate on doing what your doctor tells you to do. Maximize your recovery so that you can get back on your feet as best you can.
4. Insurance Investigation
People often ask if they should talk to the insurance company. There are two answers, yes and no, depending upon which insurance company it is. With your own insurance company, the answer is yes. In a motorcycle case, many times you’ll be covered under a policy. You have a duty to cooperate. You want to cooperate with your own insurance company. They will want to take a statement from you, so give them a statement. They’ll send you a good deal of information, either online or through the mail, that you’ll have to complete, too. You’ll want to do that because that provides the basis for getting your medical bills paid and getting your wages paid partially. So, yes, talk to your own insurance company.
Beyond that, the answer is no. In our first meeting, we always tell clients to forward all queries from the other side’s insurance company to us. Once the insurance representative knows that you are represented by a lawyer, it is illegal for them to talk to you. They know that, and all the information will come and go through our office at that point.
Were you or a loved one seriously injured in a motor vehicle crash in Florida and have questions about the 4 things you need to know about motorcycle accidents? Contact an experienced Nassau County motorcycle accident lawyer at Paul Boone Law today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
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