- Remsen Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorneys
- Phone: 641-792-3595
- Directions
When accidents occur, motorcycle injury lawyers stand as unwavering advocates for riders. Specializing in motorcycle accidents, they navigate the legal system to ensure injured riders receive deserved justice and compensation.
Why You Should Talk to a Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Remsen
When a motorcycle accident occurs, the immediate focus of the victim and their family is often on the victim’s injuries and recovery. Legal action might not seem like a priority amidst the emotional and physical turmoil. However, consulting a motorcycle accident attorney in Remsen is a crucial step to take as soon as possible after an accident. Here’s why.
Damages from Serious Injuries
Motorcycle accidents can result in severe injuries, even when proper safety gear is used. Common injuries include:
- Head and brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Burn injuries requiring skin grafts
- Soft tissue injuries
These injuries can be costly, and the financial burden is often compounded by prolonged recovery times, loss of income, and the need for specialized therapy or healthcare. An attorney can help you recover damages for these expenses, ensuring that you are adequately compensated.
Gathering the Right Evidence
Proving the fault of the other party is essential for recovering damages. This requires comprehensive evidence, such as:
- Physical evidence from the accident scene and photos
- Medical documents, doctors’ statements, and medical bills
- Eyewitness testimony
- Police reports
- Information about the other driver’s history of driving offenses
- Proof of the other driver’s intoxication, if applicable
An attorney can help gather and present this evidence effectively, strengthening your claim.
Negotiating with Insurance Companies
Determining who pays for your damages—whether it’s your insurance company or the other driver’s—depends on various factors, including fault and the type of insurance coverage. Insurance companies often attempt to settle claims for less than they are worth. An experienced attorney can handle negotiations, ensuring you receive a fair settlement.
A Legal Resource
An attorney serves as a valuable resource for any legal questions you have about the accident, fault, and the types of damages you can claim. They can guide you through the process of filing a personal injury lawsuit if it’s in your best interest and help you understand Iowa’s statute of limitations, which is two years.
Properly Fitting Motorcycle Helmets: A Guide
Ensuring your motorcycle helmet fits correctly is crucial for safety and comfort. Here are some essential fit checks to keep in mind:
1. Forehead Gap: If you can slip your pinky between your forehead and the helmet, it’s too big. The helmet should be snug with no extra room.
2. Lifting the Helmet: When the chin strap is secure, you shouldn’t be able to lift the helmet off your head from the front or back.
3. Red Marks or Pressure Points: A helmet should be snug but not cause red marks or deep indentations.
4. Side to Side Head Shake: Your skin should move with the helmet when you shake your head. If the helmet moves independently, it’s too big.
5. Room for Face Shields: There should be enough space between your face and the shield to avoid contact with your nose or chin.
Never use a helmet involved in a previous accident, as unseen damage can reduce its effectiveness.
How Helmet Use May Affect a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Iowa
Iowa is one of three states without a motorcycle helmet law. However, choosing not to wear a helmet and then suffering a head injury in a crash can impact your liability and the damages you can recover.
Accident Scenarios and Liability
Helmet use affects liability primarily in head or brain injury cases. If you sustain such injuries and weren’t wearing a helmet, you might be considered partially negligent. Conversely, wearing a helmet can demonstrate caution and care, potentially aiding your case.
Comparative Fault Laws in Iowa
Iowa’s comparative fault laws reduce your recoverable damages proportionally to your degree of fault. If your lack of a helmet is deemed negligent, your compensation may be diminished. Therefore, proving the other party’s fault and the inevitability of your injuries regardless of helmet use is crucial.
Proving Negligence of the Other Driver
To prove the other driver’s negligence, gather the following evidence:
- Police reports
- Lab tests indicating intoxication
- Witness testimony
- Photo and video evidence
- Physical evidence
Securing representation and medical documentation immediately after an accident is vital.
Consulting a Motorcycle Accident Attorney
The toll from severe motorcycle injuries can encompass substantial medical expenses and long-term care costs for victims and their families. Lost wages may compound matters, especially if employment becomes unrealistic for an extended period. Getting help from a motorcycle accident attorney allows the pursuit of comprehensive compensation, from financial damages and emotional distress such as pain and suffering.
Victims of these accidents should seek consultation with a motorcycle accident attorney, as damages may be extensive and recovery of compensation is important.
At Walker, Billingsley & Bair, our motorcycle accident attorneys can represent you in dealings with your insurance company, or when filing a personal injury claim. Set up your consultation now by calling 641-792-3595.