At Hollis Law Firm, our Topeka motorcycle accident attorneys have significant experience in personal injury law, including representing clients who’ve been in motorcycle accidents. We strongly believe that if you’ve been injured due to no fault of your own, you deserve fair compensation to cover your injuries and losses while you focus on recovery. If you would like to learn more about what actions you can take after your motorcycle accident, please continue reading for our complete breakdown.
How Is Fault Calculated in a Topeka Motorcycle Accident?
In Missouri, fault is distributed based on pure comparative fault. This means that if your motorcycle accident occurred within Topeka, your damages may be reduced depending on how much of the fault is attributed to you. You and the other involved parties may receive a percentage of fault, which directly correlates to the compensation you might be eligible to receive.
For example, suppose Party A is a motorcyclist and Party B is a truck driver. If the truck driver is distracted while driving, they may collide with Party A, which may result in serious injuries. If the motorcyclist is not at fault for the accident, the truck driver may receive 100% of the fault. Therefore, the truck driver would be responsible for up to 100% of Party A’s damages.
Depending on the circumstances, more than two parties might be involved. All parties may be partially responsible for the accident and may also be responsible for a certain percentage of everyone’s damages.
Compensation You May Be Able to Receive
You may be eligible for compensation if you’ve been in a motorcycle accident. There are many damage types, and each of these might increase the value of your case. You may be able to receive compensation for any of the following damages:
- Legal fees
- Medical expenses
- Loss of wages or wage-earning potential
- Property damage
- Mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of financial support
- Wrongful death
If you’re interested in maximizing your compensation, it’s a good idea to hire a Topeka motorcycle accident lawyer. Your lawyer may be able to fully assess the situation, determine which damages apply to your case, and negotiate higher compensation to hold the at-fault party accountable for their actions.
Next Steps to Take After a Motorcycle Accident
If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident and plan on taking legal action, we have a few suggestions you might find helpful.
Seek Medical Attention
If there’s any chance you might have been injured in your accident, our Topeka motorcycle accident lawyers strongly encourage you to seek medical attention. A medical professional can help assess the situation, treat any injuries, advise you on how to prevent your situation from worsening, and refer you to specialists who might be able to help further.
Avoid Discussing Your Case
We also recommend that you avoid discussing your case with anyone except your Topeka motorcycle accident lawyer. This includes close friends and family, as anything you say may be held against you. It’s also essential you avoid social media as much as possible, as anything you post may be connected to your case and used against you in court.
Hire a Lawyer
If you’re planning on taking legal action, it’s a good idea to hire a lawyer to assist you with your case and compensation. Your Topeka motorcycle accident lawyer can help you by:
- Offering legal knowledge and negotiation skills
- Handling insurance companies and the other party’s legal representation
- Working to maximize compensation
- Joining or leading investigations
- Collecting and analyzing evidence
- Strategizing any next steps
- Referring you to medical and other professionals
- Providing helpful resources
- Reducing stress levels
Whenever you take legal action, Topeka motorcycle accident attorney strongly recommends you avoid representing yourself. Your lawyer is more likely to favorably represent your side of the case and win you the maximum compensation.