I've Been Hurt in a Motorcycle Accident — Do I Need a Lawyer?

If you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle accident in Hamilton, Ontario, you may wonder if you need legal help. Hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer can help you get fair compensation for your injuries. 

Many motorcycle accident victims try to manage their claims alone. They think they can save money. However, this often leads to lower settlements and missed opportunities. 

This article will look at why hiring a lawyer is often in your best interest, how legal representation can affect your compensation, and what to expect when working with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in Ontario.

Why Motorcycle Accidents Are Different

Motorcycle accidents create unique challenges that don’t exist with car accidents. Due to their lack of protection, motorcyclists face higher risks of serious injury than car occupants.

Motorcycle accident injuries are often severe. Road rash, broken bones, head injuries, and spinal cord damage are common. These injuries often need extensive medical treatment and long recovery periods.

Insurance companies know that motorcycle accident victims face high medical bills. They often make lowball offers, hoping victims will accept unfair settlements.

When You Need a Motorcycle Injury Lawyer

Certain situations make legal representation essential for motorcycle accident victims. 

These situations include:

  • Head injuries, brain trauma, or loss of consciousness
  • Spinal cord injuries or paralysis
  • Multiple broken bones needing surgery
  • Injuries needing hospitalization or extensive rehab
  • Permanent disability or disfigurement
  • Death of the motorcyclist

These severe injuries create complex damage calculations. Insurance companies will fight hard to minimize them.

Liability Issues

Motorcycle accidents often involve complicated liability questions, which require legal expertise to resolve properly. Determining fault can be challenging when multiple vehicles or road conditions contribute to the crash.

Ontario’s Insurance Act creates specific rules for motorcycle accident claims, which differ from those for other vehicle accidents. Understanding these rules requires legal knowledge that most accident victims lack.

Comparative negligence rules in Ontario can reduce your compensation if you’re found partially at fault. Insurance companies will try to blame the motorcyclist as much as possible. This reduces their payout obligations.

A motorcycle accident attorney understands these liability issues. They can build a strong case to establish the other party’s fault while protecting you from unfair blame.

Insurance Company Tactics

Insurance companies use specific tactics against motorcycle accident victims, making legal representation crucial. These companies have teams of adjusters and lawyers working to minimize payouts.

Common insurance company strategies include quick settlement offers before you understand the full extent of your injuries. They may also request recorded statements designed to trap you into admissions that hurt your case.

Insurance adjusters often downplay injuries. They may suggest that pre-existing conditions caused your problems rather than the accident. They may also delay processing your claim, hoping you’ll become desperate and accept a low offer.

A motorcycle accident law firm knows these tactics. They can protect you from insurance company tricks while negotiating for a fair settlement.

Medical Evidence

Proving the extent of your injuries needs proper medical evidence, documentation, and expert testimony. Motorcycle accident lawyers work with medical professionals. They establish clear connections between your accident and your injuries.

Insurance companies often challenge medical treatment as unnecessary or excessive. Having legal representation makes sure that your medical needs are properly documented. It also defends against insurance company challenges.

Future medical needs are particularly important in motorcycle accident cases. This is due to the severity of typical injuries. A motorcycle attorney can work with medical experts to project future treatment costs and include them in your claim.

Lost Income

Motorcycle accidents often result in significant time away from work due to the severity of injuries. Calculating lost wages requires more than just adding up missed days from work.

Self-employed individuals face particular challenges in documenting lost income. A motorcycle injury lawyer can work with financial experts. They establish accurate income loss calculations.

Severe injuries may permanently affect your ability to earn an income. Calculating future lost earning capacity requires expert economic analysis, which considers your age, career prospects, and injury limits.

Insurance companies typically offer minimal money for lost wages. They rarely account for future earning capacity losses without legal pressure.

The Claims Process

Motorcycle accident claims often take longer to resolve than other personal injury cases. This is due to their complexity. Understanding the timeline helps set realistic expectations for your case.

Ontario’s limitation periods require that lawsuits be filed within specific timeframes. Missing these deadlines can bar your claim entirely. This makes early legal consultation crucial.

Settlement negotiations can extend the process further. This is particularly true when significant money is at stake.

Contact the Ontario Personal Injury Lawyers at Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today

If you’ve been injured in an accident in Hamilton, Brantford, Burlington, or St. Catharines, contact the experienced personal injury lawyers at Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation.

We proudly serve clients throughout Southern Ontario and the surrounding communities.

Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers – Hamilton, ON
20 Hughson St S #510
Hamilton, ON L8N 2A1
(905) 522-9799

Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Hamilton 
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 43.2553232,-79.8684531

Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers – Brantford, ON
325 West St #102a
Brantford, ON N3R 3V6
(905) 522-9799

Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Brantford 
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 43.1537191,-80.2585384

Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers – Burlington, ON
2349 Fairview St
Burlington, ON L7R 2E3
(905) 522-9799

Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Burlington 
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 43.3446451,-79.8017007

Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Catharines, ON
55 King St Suite 207
St. Catharines, ON L2R 3H5
(905) 522-9799

Our firm is located near you. We have an office in St. Catharines 
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 43.1578472,-79.2471584