Novato Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Motorcycles are popular throughout Northern California, and the area has some of the best weather and locations for riding. However, motorcycles are also dangerous for several reasons, and even experienced riders face significant risks whenever they use their bikes. If you own a motorcycle in the Novato, CA, area, it’s vital to understand the risk of motorcycle crashes happening and causing severe injuries. It’s also important to know your legal rights when such accidents occur because of the negligent actions of others.

Representing Motorcycle Accident Victims in Novato, CA

Rush Injury Law provides comprehensive and client-focused legal representation to motorcycle accident victims in the Novato, CA, area. If you have sustained injuries in a motorcycle accident in Novato or anywhere in Marin County, personal injury representation is likely to be your best asset when it comes to securing compensation for your damages. Even seemingly straightforward personal injury claims can be challenging to navigate, and our team can provide the legal counsel you need to approach a motorcycle accident claim with confidence.

Is It Worth Hiring a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?

You may wonder whether you really need legal representation to secure compensation for your losses from a motorcycle accident. If liability seems perfectly obvious after your motorcycle accident, you may feel tempted to simply file an insurance claim against the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy. While insurance is typically the first step toward recovery after any motor vehicle accident, motorcycle accidents tend to cause devastating injuries, and available insurance may not fully cover your damages.

You may be able to calculate some of your immediate damages after a motorcycle accident claim, but you’re likely to discover that your claim is worth much more than you anticipated if you hire an experienced Novato motorcycle accident lawyer to represent you. If you were to attempt to handle your claim on your own, you would not only need to do so while managing the aftermath of the accident, but you would also discover that you face unforeseen challenges you are likely unprepared to address effectively.

Hiring an attorney will not only increase the chances of succeeding with an insurance claim and a personal injury claim following your motorcycle accident but also increase the likelihood that you will maximize your compensation. Rush Injury Law has years of experience handling difficult motor vehicle accident claims, including motorcycle accident claims that entail substantial damages. We can handle your legal proceedings on your behalf so you can focus on your recovery with peace of mind.

How Long Does It Take to Recover From a Motorcycle Accident?

Recovery from motorcycle accident injuries will vary case by case. Some people manage to emerge from motorcycle accidents with relatively minor injuries that will eventually heal with treatment and time, while others suffer more substantial injuries that may leave them with permanent disabilities and medical complications. One of the most important things anyone should do immediately after a motorcycle accident is to seek medical care. When an accident causes obvious traumatic injuries, the victim will likely be transported to a hospital for emergency care. The medical report from the attending medical team will outline the full scope of the victim’s damages and include the doctor’s prognosis for likely future medical complications.

The length of time required for you to reach maximum medical improvement from your injuries will undoubtedly influence the legal proceedings you face following the accident. If you suffered severe injuries, you could face years of extensive medical treatment and inability to work, and your damages will likely eclipse any available insurance coverage from the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy. If you need to take further legal action beyond insurance, a Novato motorcycle accident attorney will be a crucial asset in holding the party responsible for your injuries accountable through a personal injury claim.

Who Is Liable in a Motorcycle Accident?

Determining the fault for your motorcycle accident is the vital first step in obtaining compensation for your damages. You and your Novato motorcycle accident lawyer will need to carefully review all available evidence to discern who is responsible for causing the accident. Motorcycle accidents happen for many reasons, but when a driver’s negligence or recklessness directly causes an accident, that driver absorbs liability for all the resulting damages.

It’s important to remember that California enforces a pure comparative negligence statute when it comes to personal injury claims. This means a plaintiff could potentially bear liability for causing their own damages, and the judge overseeing the case would assign the plaintiff a fault percentage based on their level of contribution to causing the damages in question. California’s pure comparative negligence law does not bar plaintiff recovery at any threshold of fault. It’s technically possible for a plaintiff to be 99% at fault and still recover damages, but they lose a percentage of their case award equal to their fault percentage. Your Novato motorcycle accident lawyer will help you disprove allegations of comparative negligence from the defendant to maximize your recovery.

Dealing With Insurance After a Motorcycle Accident

You will need to file an insurance claim against the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy as the first step in your recovery process after an accident. While all insurance carriers have a legal obligation to process claims in good faith, many will do everything they can to justify denying a claim or coercing a claimant into accepting a lowball settlement offer. If you want to maximize the insurance compensation you receive for your motorcycle accident claim, it’s best to have an experienced Novato motorcycle accident lawyer assist you in drafting your claim letter and handle correspondence with the insurer on your behalf. This will significantly reduce the chance of the insurer pushing back against your claim unfairly.

Even if you succeed in securing the maximum amount of compensation available from the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy, this amount may still be insufficient for covering the full scope of your claimable damages. Your attorney can then assist you in filing a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver so you can obtain the remainder of your damages that insurance didn’t cover.

Damages and Compensation for Your Novato Motorcycle Accident Claim

California state law allows any personal injury plaintiff to claim compensation for all damages sustained due to a defendant’s negligence. These damages typically include:

• Medical expenses, including those you incur immediately following the motorcycle accident, as well as any long-term treatment costs you are likely to face in the future for necessary ongoing medical care.
• Lost income, including lost future earning capacity. Your motorcycle accident could leave you unable to work for an extended time, and you can add the wages lost during this time to your claim. Additionally, if you are left permanently disabled and cannot return to work at all because of your injuries, your attorney can help you secure compensation for the income you would have reasonably expected to earn in the future if you were able to continue working.
• Property damage. Motorcycles are often totaled when they have accidents with larger vehicles. A plaintiff can recover vehicle repair or replacement costs as well as property damage compensation for any other personal property damaged or destroyed in the incident.
• Pain and suffering. You have the right to seek compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress you experienced from your accident. The amount you can claim typically hinges on the severity of your injuries and whether you developed any permanent medical complications from them.

When you choose to represent you in a Novato motorcycle accident claim, we will explore every available avenue of recovery in your claim. Our goal is to maximize your recovery to the greatest extent allowable under California law.

What to Expect From Your Novato Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

It’s natural to feel uncertain when you are facing any type of personal injury claim, especially one likely to include substantial damages like a motorcycle accident lawsuit. Rush Injury Law will first assist you in proving fault for your accident and establishing the entire scope of your claimable damages. Once we know what your claim is truly worth, we will guide you through the recovery process. Typically, this begins with filing an insurance claim on your behalf. However, if the at-fault driver does not have auto insurance or if their insurance cannot fully cover your damages, we will assist you in filing a personal injury claim against them.

The vast majority of personal injury claims filed in Novato, CA, settle outside the courtroom. Private settlement offers significant benefits to both the defendant and the plaintiff in a motorcycle accident case, allowing the defendant to put the situation behind them more quickly while enabling the plaintiff to secure the compensation they need much faster than a trial would allow. Rush Injury Law will guide you through settlement negotiations and ensure the result is satisfactory for covering the full scope of your losses. However, we are not afraid to take your case to litigation if that is what is necessary for ensuring your recovery.

It’s essential to act swiftly to ensure your recovery from a motorcycle accident. The sooner you connect with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer, the better your chances are of securing the compensation you deserve after another driver has injured you and caused substantial economic losses for you and your family. Rush Injury Law can provide the legal representation you need in this challenging situation. Contact us today to schedule a complimentary case review with an experienced Novato motorcycle accident lawyer.