Seattle Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, motorcycles only make up three percent of road users in Washington state, yet they accounted for 15% of all fatalities and 19% of serious injuries in crashes occurring between 2013 and 2017. The Commission reports that about one in five motorcycle collisions results in serious injury or death and on average 75 riders die every year in collisions on Washington roads. If you look at statistics as far back as 2005, you’ll see that these figures don’t change. Riding a motorcycle in Washington state is exhilarating, but it is also risky. In a crash with another motor vehicle, the rider on the bike is likely to suffer serious injuries or worse.
After a serious motorcycle accident, the most pressing things on your mind are likely your physical recovery and how you are going to deal with the enormous costs associated with the crash, including medical bills and lost income from time missed from work. You can’t effectively deal with an insurance claim while you are in the hospital, in a rehab facility, or recuperating at home. But you also can’t let the matter go by unattended. The days and weeks after a motorcycle crash are critical periods for investigating the collision, gathering facts, and taking steps to preserve and maximize your claim, even if a potential lawsuit is months or years down the line.
The aggressive personal injury attorneys at Emerald Law Group are ready to step in and take on the burden of handling your insurance claim so you can focus on recovering your health and getting your life and household back in order. Without legal help, you are more likely to get taken advantage of by the insurance company or lose out on your claim entirely. Our law firm has years of experience successfully resolving accident and injury cases like the one you are facing now, whether it involves serious or catastrophic injury or wrongful death. Let us help you get the compensation you need and deserve. Contact our experienced Seattle motorcycle accident lawyers today.
How Can Our Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Help?
In any accident involving two motor vehicles, the insurance company representing the negligent driver is likely to try and point at least some blame for the accident on the injury victim. This tactic is even more likely to occur in the case of a collision between the negligent driver of a car and a motorcycle accident victim. Motorcycles have a reputation in the public imagination for being fast and highly maneuverable, giving the impression that they could easily be involved in an accident. Even worse, motorcycle riders themselves are often thought of as reckless or even outlaws. At Emerald Law Group, we know this isn’t the case and that the truth is most motorcycle riders are responsible, skilled, experienced and trained riders who probably put more time and effort into learning to ride safely than most automobile drivers do.
Our Seattle motorcycle accident lawyers take the time to thoroughly investigate the accident. We know what to look for when it comes to determining fault and other important factors related to a personal injury claim. We gather the facts, apply the law, and present a solid case that proves who was to blame. We trust insurance company claims adjusters, and ultimately juries, to make decisions based on clearly demonstrated facts and not unfounded bias.
Accidents With Uninsured Drivers
All automobile drivers in Washington state are required to carry liability insurance or proof of financial responsibility sufficient to cover $25,000 in personal injury damages they cause someone in a wreck, up to $50,000 if more than one person is injured, plus $10,000 for property damage they cause. Despite this law, over 20% of drivers don’t carry insurance, making Washington the number five state in the nation for having the most uninsured drivers. What happens, then, if your motorcycle crash is caused by a negligent, uninsured driver?
Until recently, motorcycles were exempt from the mandatory insurance law. However, since 2019, motorcycles must carry the same 25/50/10 liability coverage as autos. No-fault (PIP) coverage, however, is not often available for motorcycles, and when it is, it is usually prohibitively expensive. The good news is that auto and motorcycle liability insurance frequently comes with Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage as well. If you have UM on your motorcycle insurance policy, then you can make a claim with your insurance if you are hit by an uninsured driver.
Our motorcycle accident attorneys at Emerald Law Group can pursue your UM claim on your behalf while you focus on your medical recovery. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can negotiate a fair settlement with your insurance company by yourself. Even though they represent you and not the other driver, they can (and will) still try to lowball your settlement or blame you for the accident, which can lower the amount they have to pay or exclude your claim altogether. We’ll work just as hard on a UM claim as a fault-based claim to prove the other driver’s fault, the extent of your damages, and your right to a full measure of compensation for the harm done to you. If you don’t have UM coverage, we’ll discuss with you the potential for pursuing a claim against the at-fault driver personally, along with any other options you might have.
Contact Emerald Law Group Today
If you have been hurt in a motorcycle accident in the Puget Sound region or the Pacific Northwest, or if you lost a loved one in a fatal motorcycle crash caused by another driver’s negligence, the personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at Emerald Law Group are here to make sure you get the care and compensation you need. Call our experienced Seattle motorcycle accident lawyers today.
