If you choose to work with an attorney, your motorcycle accident lawyer will deal with the insurance companies for you. This includes speaking with the insurance companies on your behalf, filing paperwork with them, and negotiating with them in settlement negotiations. If an insurance company tries to contact you while you have representation, you can refer them to your lawyer instead of engaging with them.
If you or a loved one was involved in a motorcycle accident, you know medical bills and other costs can quickly add up. Fortunately, you may be able to recover many accident-related expenses through an insurance claim. A motorcycle accident lawyer can help you with this process.
Understanding the Automobile Insurance Claims Process
In Ohio, if you are in an automobile accident, financial responsibility for the crash rests with the at-fault driver. In most cases, your first step in pursuing compensation is filing an insurance claim with the liable driver’s insurance provider. According to the Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI), Ohio law requires all drivers to carry:
- $25,000 per person in bodily injury coverage, or $50,000 per accident
- $25,000 per accident for property damages
How a Lawyer Can Assist with Your Insurance Claim
A motorcycle accident lawyer can help you through every step of the insurance claims process, starting with making sure your claim is promptly filed. Most importantly, your attorney will represent you during negotiations and attempt to secure you a settlement that covers all of your damages.
Big insurance companies may have teams of people reviewing motorcycle accident claims. Often, part of an insurer’s job is to look for reasons to reduce or deny payment to claimants. You do not have to face this adversity on your own when you work with a motorcycle accident lawyer.
Your attorney will work to prove the accident was not your fault. They will do this by providing evidence to back your claims. This may include police reports, eyewitness statements, video footage, photographs, medical records, and records of vehicle damages.
Your lawyer can handle all of the negotiations and legal work in your case so that you can focus on getting better. If the insurance company makes you a settlement offer, your lawyer will present it to you so you can decide whether to accept or reject it.
Compensation in Motorcycle Accident Cases
Insurance settlements may include compensation for economic damages. These are the actual, calculable expenses related to your motorcycle accident, such as:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Rehabilitation services and/or physical therapy
- Lost wages
- Long-term nursing care
- Hospitalizations
- Surgeries
- Mobility aids
- Vehicle repairs or replacement
- Household expenses
Your lawyer may also be able to help you negotiate payment for non-economic damages related to your pain and suffering. This may include awards for long-term physical and mental disabilities, emotional harm, and reduction in your quality of life.
If You Cannot Resolve Your Case Through the Insurance Company
Sometimes, even with an attorney on your side, you may not be able to settle your case outside of court. If your injuries are severe, the at-fault driver may not have sufficient coverage to meet your financial needs. In other instances, the at-fault driver may not have insurance at all. If your claims are underpaid or refuted, your lawyer may be able to assist you with a lawsuit.
If it is necessary to pursue your case in court, you typically have two years from when you were injured to file a personal injury lawsuit, according to Ohio Revised Code § 2305.10.
As with an insurance claim, your attorney will see you through every stage of your lawsuit, from filing your case to arguing on your behalf in trial, if needed. They will gather evidence, build your case, review settlement offers, and make sure necessary laws and procedures are followed. No matter the route, the end goal is achieving compensation for your damages.
Work with the Fitch Law Firm LLC on Your Case
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Columbus, the Fitch Law Firm LLC can help take the headache out of the insurance claims process. Let a motorcycle accident lawyer from our firm deal with the insurance companies for you. You are not alone, and you do not need to feel overwhelmed or intimidated by big insurers.
The Fitch Law Firm LLC offers prospective clients free, no-obligation consultations, and you pay us nothing unless we win your case. For more information, call our motorcycle accident team today at (614) 545-3930.