Van Riper & Nies, a Stuart motorcycle accident law firm, represents individuals and families in Martin and St. Lucie counties who have suffered injuries while operating a motorcycle, or lost loved ones, due to the negligence, carelessness or reckless of other drivers. Our Stuart personal injury attorney, Tim Nies, an Army Ranger Veteran and former insurance company lead trial attorney, and Chris Van Riper, a former felony and DUI prosecutor are known as legal warriors in fighting for their clients’ futures.
Causes of Motorcycle Crashes
Motorcycle accidents, or crashes, occur chiefly because automobile and truck drivers are not careful in maintaining a proper lookout for motorcycles sharing the road. In a collision between a motorcycle and a motor vehicle, the motorcyclist does not stand a chance.
Damages Incurred in Motorcycle Crashes
The severe, life-changing injuries that likely arise from such collisions result in serious financial losses to the motorcyclist and his or her family, chiefly caused by the inability to work and incredibly high medical bills. Under Florida Law, an injured motorcyclist has the right to recover his or her damages from the responsible party. Such damages include, but may not be limited to, past and future medical expenses, past and future wages, funeral expenses, and other economic losses.
Injured motorcyclists are also entitled to recover for the pain and suffering, mental anguish, inconvenience, and disfigurement caused by the crash and his/her injuries. The husband/wife of an injured motorcyclist is entitled to recover for the loss of the services and loss of consortium of his or her spouse. Although a monetary recovery can never repair the damage that is done to the individual and family after a motorcycle crash, it can at least ease the financial burdens created by the accident.
Insurance Company Tactics in Motorcycle Crashes
The insurance company for the motor vehicle causing the motorcycle accident, whether a car or a truck, will start an investigation of the crash immediately. The adjuster for the insurance company will try to limit the recovery of the injured motorcyclist to the lowest possible amount. Accordingly, these insurance companies have established very specific and complex procedures for handling motorcycle crash claims, especially in the early stages of the claim. Make no mistake, the insurance companies representing negligent or careless drivers regularly delay, deny and defend motorcycle accident crash cases.
Immediately after a motorcycle crash, the insurance adjuster for the car or truck that crashed into the motorcyclist will take recorded statements from the persons involved in the motorcycle accident, have the motorcycle and other involved vehicles inspected and obtain the police report.
The tactics of motor vehicle insurance companies vary from company to company; however, most insurance company adjusters try to reach a quick settlement with an injured motorcyclist before the motorcyclist has retained an accident attorney. Their purpose for offering a quick settlement is to have the operator sign a release and avoid responsibility for future medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages that are likely to develop. Further, they often have the motorcyclist sign a release releasing every party from liability. This is a trap that an injured motorcyclist must avoid. When a person is injured in a motorcycle crash, it very often takes months to completely assess the person’s injuries. At that point, the person may need surgery or other extensive treatment. If a release has been signed, the insurance company is no longer responsible.
The injuries sustained during a crash may leave the motorcyclist permanently disabled even after corrective surgery. Therefore, the true value of a motorcycle crash claim can only be assessed after a trained physician has established a firm prognosis. Therefore, it is important to receive the medical treatment you need before any settlement with an insurance company.
Value of Motorcycle Accident Cases
Determining the appropriate value of a claim for damages resulting from a motorcycle crash is complex. An evaluation involves the extent and seriousness of the injuries, economic losses, and issues relating to liability. Insurance companies for autos and trucks involved in crashes with motorcycles have experienced adjusters whose job it is to obtain the lowest possible settlement. Therefore, if you have been injured in a motorcycle crash in Martin or St. Lucie county, it is important for you to retain a personal injury attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights. Van Riper and Nies Attorneys stand ready to help you.
How Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Help
The trial lawyers at our Stuart motorcycle accident law firm, spend countless hours preparing clients for depositions, defense medical examinations (DME/IME), mediations, hearings and jury trials. This is the key to a successful resolution of claims. If you speak with other Stuart FL personal injury law firms and are only able to meet wit so-called “investigators” or assistants, do not hire that law firm. To those law firms, you are simply just a number.
All our personal injury cases are taken on a contingency fee basis, which means that we do not take a fee or charge any costs unless we win.
For more information about Stuart Motorcycle Accident Law and our veteran-owned law firm, please call attorney Tim Nies at 772-283-8712 day or night.From our Stuart FL law firm at 900 SE Ocean Boulevard, Suite 140-E, Stuart, Florida 34994, our Stuart motorcycle accident law firm represents injured motorcyclists in Stuart, Hobe Sound, Jensen Beach, Jupiter, Juno Beach, Sewall’s Point, Indiantown, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce and Vero Beach. Our lawyers will meet you at your home if it is too painful to come to our office fo an appointment.