Dedicated Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Austin, Texas

The extent of your injuries will dictate your next steps after a motorcycle accident.

If you can, take photos of the crash scene, your bike, and your injuries before seeking medical care. Be sure to record any witness statements and contact information that can be referenced later. Next, seek medical care right away to ensure each of your injuries is accurately diagnosed. Do not leave any detail to chance. Speak up and report any injuries, no matter how insignificant you think they might be, as they can become problematic later and should be attributed to your crash. Be sure to follow all medical advice and attend every doctor’s appointment and follow-up requirement until you are released.

Finally, contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney in Texas who is dedicated to our biker community and will do everything possible to pursue the best outcome for your unique case.
If you cannot meet with our experienced attorneys right away do not admit fault for the collision or sign anything provided by the at-fault party’s insurance company to preserve your rights until we can take the lead.

The protocol for all motorcycle accidents similar, whether the at-fault party stays at the scene. Take pictures of the bike and your injuries, record any witness information and details about the vehicle that hit you, seek medical care, and contact our motorcycle accident lawyers in Texas.

The process for pursuing the financial recovery you deserve will work differently and will require our attorneys to pursue the motorcyclist’s insurance provider to recover compensation for their injuries and any expenses.

Yes. Here is why: Insurance companies are only interested in protecting their bottom line. Even if all the evidence points to their policyholder being at fault for your collision and injuries, they are not going to simply admit it on their own.

Do not leave your recovery to chance. Discuss the details of your claim with an experienced Texas motorcycle attorney who is dedicated to protecting our riders and knows how to deal with the insurance companies to ensure that you receive the full compensation to which you are entitled.

Our dedicated Texas motorcycle accident attorneys do not receive any payment until your case is settled, which allows you to fully focus on your recovery. We will outline your complete legal costs at the beginning of your claim, including court costs, investigation expenses, attorney fees, and medical treatment that may be deferred until the case is settled, so understand the bottom line of your claim.

Never believe what the insurance adjuster says. He or she may tell you that you do not have a claim, or that their policyholder was not at fault. They will also try to manipulate your statement to outright deny your claim. Talk to our dedicated motorcycle accident attorney in Texas before speaking with the insurance company to ensure your rights are protected from the beginning of your claim.

What are the most important factors affecting the amount of my insurance settlement or outcome of my motorcycle injury case?

1. There are 40 to 50 things to look at, but the Number #1 thing is liability,meaning who is at fault. Typically, an insurance adjuster will look for somecontributing factors, so they can try to diminish your claim. Or they willeven say that you wereatfault, in whole or in part. And in some states, ifyou are 1% at fault,you get nothing!But what we have found are that jurieswill tend to look past that. And whoever was mainly at fault will be the onesthat are made to pay, if you have hired an attorney to represent you and theadjuster knows there’s a chance your case will go to a jury!

2. Number #2 is, the amount of available insurance –the policy limits of theinsured and any umbrella coverage. The policy limit is the maximumamount of insurance coverage the other driver has. Umbrella policies areinsurance policies some drivers have that kick in if they are sued and thedamagesare more than the auto policy. This can be a complicated analysis,but an experienced lawyer is trained to sort this out and determine allavailable insurance policies. Was the person that caused the accident anuninsured driver? Or were they driving a work vehicle covered by a businesspolicy? Many times it requires investigation to discover all of the insurancecoverage available to you.

3. Number #3 is your attorney. Studies done by insurance companies show thatvictims of accidents who are represented by an attorney get over 2.5 timesmore in theirpocket after attorney feesthan those who go it alone. Not only are they going to ask if you have a lawyer, but more importantly, they want to know what trial experience your lawyer has. Is this somebody that does motorcycle injury cases regularly? Is this somebody that’s not afraid to go to court? Most large insurance companies keep records of which lawyers file lawsuits. They know which lawyers are good at depositions and jury selection. They also know who is able to convince a jury to overcome their bias and set aside the perception that jurors have that bikers must be crazy to get on a motorcycle and should assume the risksif they get hurt. They are also aware of whichlaw firms have the resources to win multi-million dollar cases, and they are much more likely to offer a fair settlement if your lawyer is somebody who has the capability of hitting a home run with large juryverdicts–because that’s what makes them nervous.

What do insurance companies look at when evaluating your injury claim after you‘vebeen in a motorcycle accident?

1. Number #1is, they look at your injuries. Did you have a complete recovery?Or are your injuries permanent in nature? Do you have any scarring or softtissue damage? Do you have complete or partial disability? Will you requireshoulder or back surgery 10 to 15 years from now? Are your injuries goingto require ongoing medical treatment or future medical care and if so, howmuch? The insurance adjuster calculates the medical bills that you’ve had upto the time you get released from the doctor… and then they look at what it’sgoing to cost to take care of your additional medical bills in the future.Inmany cases, you will need an economist or a life care planner in order tocome up with those figures.

2.Next, they look at their own insured–the person who hit you. They look atthe same things:Will they come across wellto a jury? Do they have a goodwork history? Do they have a criminal background?If it’s a preacher or anice old lady, the jury is going to be a lot more sympathetic.Also, werethere any aggravating factors? Was theirdrinking involvedor distracteddriving?Did the police issue a DUI or take the driver to jail?

3.Then they look at you as the plaintiff. They look at what kind of person youare. They look at whether or not you will come across wellto a jury inexplaining your injuries and the pain you’ve suffered. Are you believable and sympathetic? They also look at your work history. Have you had a solid work history, or has it been spotty? Then they look at your criminal background. Do you have a clean record with only a few speeding tickets here and there? Or do you have felonies and drug charges?

4.They also look at the pain you suffered. Is it a serious injury withexcruciating pain? Did you have broken bones? Did you require a hipsurgery or have pins put in your legs? Was their traumatic brain injury?These are the type of things they’re looking at.

5.Next, they look at your lost wagesor loss of business.Not just what youhave lost since the accident,but also if you’ll have future lost wages. Areyou going to have future diminished earning capacity? Maybe you’re notdisabled, but you can’t go back to the old job that you had. Or you’ll have towork part–time or take a job making half as much. That’s what we calldiminished earning capacity. Are the injuries that you have going to forceyou to retire early or are you going to have to get on disability earlier than ifyou had not been in this accident?

1. Put it in writing.

Demand the insurance company state, in writing, that the other driver was responsible for the crash to ensure they do not claim comparative negligence later.

2. Demand a copy of the at-fault party’s insurance policy limits.

You will need something in writing to tell you the policy limits of the at-fault party’s insurance coverage, so you can pursue the maximum recovery for your claim.

3. Ask for the at-fault party’s recorded statement.

There is no doubt the insurance company has taken their policyholder’s statement reflecting their version of the accident (and yours). Ask for it. You are entitled to hear it.

4. Restrict access to your medical records.

Never sign a blanket approval for the insurance company to access your medical records. They should only have access to the medical records that pertain to your current, crash-related injuries, not anything before that, as they will try to blame a pre-existing injury or condition on your current medical problems.

5. Ask for copies of all witness statements.

If there were witnesses at the scene of the crash, or named in the police report, the insurance company has spoken with them. Ask for copies of their statements. You are entitled to them.

6. Ask if the liable party has secondary insurance coverage or an umbrella policy.

If the insurance company is not aware of any additional coverage, ask their policyholder to sign an affidavit stating the same.

7. Request a copy of any personal, medical, or additional information they have obtained about you.

The internet, databases, and background checks make personal – even medical – information accessible to anyone willing to pay for it.

8. Ask if they have run a credit check on you.

Insurance companies often access financial information about the injured online, so they know exactly what you owe, to whom, and when, so they can leverage negotiations in their favor.

9. Are you asking questions about me?

Insurance companies are not above talking to your neighbors, coworkers, family, or friends to see what they think about the legitimacy of your injuries. If they have acquired statements about you, they must provide you with a copy.

10. Are you following me?

Insurance companies may find it worthwhile to investigate your movements and surveil your every move to ensure your injury claims are legitimate. Ask if they are watching you, and if so, to share the reports, photos, or videos they have obtained.

11. Ask what their reserve amount is for your case.

The reserve is the amount they have set for your case, not where they will begin negotiating. Ask what it is. Even if they will not tell you, they at least know you understand the process.

If you are not given straight answers to any of these questions, your compensation may be in jeopardy.

Learn More Now by Downloading Your Free Legal Guide to Motorcycle Injury Compensation, What Bikers MUST Know About Insurance Claims, Settlements & Jury Verdicts, or Speak with an Attorney by calling (512) 883-5217 today.

Strategy #1: Take photos of the crash scene, including the road, any traffic signs or signals, skid marks (or lack thereof), and where your bike and the vehicle stopped, your injuries, motorcycle damage, and the vehicle that hit you.

Strategy #2: Pursue medical care immediately, and ask for a full-body diagnosis, so you can identify all injuries immediately. The adrenaline from the crash will initially mask your pain. Do not let it keep you from understanding each injury and outlining its corresponding treatment plan. If you wait to assess your injuries, the insurance company will claim they happened elsewhere, and that may stand up to scrutiny.

Strategy #3: Follow all doctor’s orders, without fail. Attend all physician, therapy, and follow-up appointments on schedule and on time. Once you are there, be honest about each level of pain you are feeling for each injury, so there is a true medical record of your progress.

Strategy #4: Hire the necessary experts to help recover financial compensation for your property damage and injuries.

Next, you will need to understand how your injuries are impacting you physically, emotionally, and financially. The first two require the appropriate physicians to oversee your assessment and treatment plan. From a monetary standpoint, you will need to talk to an expert economist who can provide a complete valuation for your lost wages, future lost wages, diminished earning capacity, or permanent disabilities that will require a lifetime of care.

Strategy #5: Negotiate your medical expenses, including hospital, physician, and therapy bills down to the minimum payment amount.

Bonus Strategy: Hire an experienced motorcycle accident attorney in Texas who will implement each of these strategies automatically. 

Learn More Now by Downloading Your Free Legal Guide to Motorcycle Injury Compensation, What Bikers MUST Know About Insurance Claims, Settlements & Jury Verdicts, or Speak with an Attorney by calling (512) 883-5217 today.

Mistake #1: Providing the insurance company with a recorded statement. 

Your recorded statement will be used against, thanks to the insurance company’s long-used – and almost always successful – manipulation techniques. Do not give them a recorded statement.

Mistake #2: Taking the insurance adjuster’s word for anything. 

The insurance company is not interested in giving you anything, so they are going to initially deny their policyholder was responsible until you can prove it. If there is proof, they may offer a lowball settlement to mitigate their losses. Do not take their word for either option.

Mistake #3: Failing to take picture of the scene, your injuries, the damages, or other evidence from the collision. 

Try to preserve all the evidence you can, as pictures and videos tell the story. Continue to take pictures as you heal, so there is a timeline associated with the process, which can be translated into how the collision has impacted your day-to-day activities and your quality of life.

Mistake #4: Missing any doctor’s appointment. 

Your injuries are the core of your case’s success. The minute you miss a single appointment, even if it is a checkup, the insurance company will know about it and insist you were not injured enough to continue your treatment plan.

Mistake #5: Do not try to take on the insurance company alone. 

Your focus should be on your physical and emotional recovery. Allow an experienced motorcycle accident attorney to take the lead in your case, so you can avoid all potential mistakes and ensure your rights are protected while you put your life back together in private after the crash.

Learn More Now by Downloading Your Free Legal Guide to Motorcycle Injury Compensation, What Bikers MUST Know About Insurance Claims, Settlements & Jury Verdicts,  or Speak with an Attorney by calling (512) 883-5217 today. 

1. What are the liable party’s insurance limits, so I know the maximum amount I can pursue for my complete injuries?
2. Do you have the authority to write me a check for damages, so I know I am talking to the right adjuster?
3. What is the settlement reserve, so I know what you are willing to pay?
4. Is there more insurance coverage available from the negligent driver, outside of the policy you hold?
5. May I have a copy of your insured person’s recorded statement, so I can hear his/her side of the story?

Learn More Now by Downloading Your Free Legal Guide to Motorcycle Injury Compensation, What Bikers MUST Know About Insurance Claims, Settlements & Jury Verdicts, or Speak with an Attorney by calling (512) 883-5217 today. 

1. There is a financial reserve – an amount they are willing to pay – they are required to set by the state’s insurance commissioner to ensure there are adequate funds available for the case.
2. They already know their insured person’s side of the story because they have his/her recorded statement.
3. Their insured has very clear policy limits associated with their coverage – or other policies that can be pursued – they just do not want you to know what they are, so they can offer you less.
4. Your every move is being watched, whether on social media, under an adjuster’s watchful eye, or even by a private investigator, so they counter the legitimacy of your injuries.
5. Hiring an experienced motorcycle accident injury lawyer has been proven in studies conducted by the National Insurance Council to reach over 2.5 times the settlement or jury verdict you may have received without one.

Learn More Now by Downloading Your Free Legal Guide to Motorcycle Injury Compensation, What Bikers MUST Know About Insurance Claims, Settlements & Jury Verdicts, or Speak with an Attorney by calling (512) 883-5217 today.