You get hurt in a motorcycle accident caused by a negligent motorist or another at-fault party. At this point, seek legal help from a Royal Oak motorcycle accident lawyer. Together, you and your attorney can hold a liable party accountable for the incident.
To date, White Law PLLC has recovered more than $1.4 billion in damages in personal injury lawsuits. Our Royal Oak personal injury lawyer is available to discuss your motorcycle accident case. Schedule a free case consultation.
Who Is Responsible for a Motorcycle Accident?
A driver, motorcycle parts manufacturer, or another party may be liable for your accident. To figure out who is at fault, consult with a Royal Oak car accident lawyer. Your attorney can examine the facts of your accident and identify any at-fault parties.
Although insurance is a requirement for riding a motorcycle in Michigan, your insurer will not cover your losses if someone else is liable for your accident. Auto insurance is considered no-fault coverage across the state. Alternatively, motorcycle insurance is at-fault coverage, which means you may have to pursue damages from an at-fault party or their insurer.
White Law PLLC has a team in place that understands how to sue someone personally for a motorcycle crash. Our Royal Oak motorcycle accident attorney can evaluate your case and explain your legal options in detail. Contact us to get started.
Your Fight Is Our Fight
Damages You Can Recover After Your Accident
Organ damage, spinal cord injuries, and brain injuries are three common motorcycle accident injuries. Following your accident, you could recover damages for costs to treat these and other injuries you suffer. In addition, you can request economic and non-economic compensation for many reasons, including:
- Repairing or replacing your motorcycle
- Covering your lost income
- Pain and suffering you experience
- Emotional trauma that keeps you from enjoying your life
A motorcycle accident attorney in Royal Oak, MI learns about you and your case. They calculate your losses and prepare an argument designed to show a judge or jury that you deserve compensation for them. Your motorcycle accident lawyer in Royal Oak also gathers evidence on your behalf.
We know how to get our clients the results they need in the toughest legal arenas.
Evidence You Can Use in Your Lawsuit
A motorcycle accident lawyer in Royal Oak can teach you about preponderance of the evidence, the standard of proof in civil cases, and how it relates to your case. If you have an overwhelming amount of proof, it becomes difficult for the defendant in your case to argue against you. As part of their work, your attorney may incorporate many pieces of evidence into your body of proof, including:
- Photos and videos from the accident scene
- Doctor’s notes and other medical records
- Pay stubs highlighting your lost wages
- Statements from witnesses who saw your accident happen
Your proof can make it clear to a judge or jury that you are in no way liable for your motorcycle accident. At the same time, it may make a defendant doubt their case against you. In one of the best-case scenarios, your evidence could convince the defendant to offer a fair settlement.
We know how to get our clients the results they need in the toughest legal arenas.
How to Prove Someone Is Liable for Your Accident
Your evidence can help you show a judge or jury that you deserve the maximum damages available in Michigan personal injury cases. Along with this, your proof may help you show a liable party was negligent. To prove liability, you must verify that the following elements of negligence were present at the time of your accident:
- Duty of Care: This refers to a legal requirement in which a party is expected to take reasonable care to avoid doing anything that could put you or others in danger.
- Breach of Duty of Care: When a party violates their duty of care, they do something that could hurt you and others.
- Causation: In your accident, you got hurt because a party had a duty of care and chose to breach it.
- Damages: Following your accident, you face economic or non-economic losses as a result of someone else’s actions.
Your lawyer wants to prove the defendant in your case is 100% liable. Otherwise, you could receive only a portion of the damages you request. Or, if you are found to be primarily responsible for your accident, you may not be able to recover damages.
You will always work directly with your attorney throughout your case.
How Comparative Negligence Applies to Your Case
A motorcycle accident attorney in Royal Oak can explain Michigan’s comparative negligence law and all that it entails. Based on this law, you can share the blame for your motorcycle accident with someone else. How much you are to blame for the incident determines if you can still receive compensation.
With comparative negligence, you can be up to 50% liable and get damages. As an example, a judge or jury rules you are 20% liable for your motorcycle accident. The defendant pays 80% of the damages you requested, and you are responsible for your remaining losses.
Now, consider what can happen if a judge or jury finds you to be more than 50% at fault. In this situation, you are more at fault for your accident than the defendant. Therefore, the defendant will not have to pay you damages.
When to File a Lawsuit
The Michigan statute of limitations for motorcycle accident cases is three years. This means you may have up to three years from the date of your accident to ask an at-fault party to cover your losses. After three years, you may be ineligible to file a lawsuit based on your accident.
Your lawyer can submit your request for damages right away. Leading up to your trial, they can negotiate a settlement. If the defendant in your case makes an offer, your attorney will let you know.
With a settlement offer, you decide what to do with it. If a proposal is less than what you want, you do not have to accept it. Instead, you can decline, and you and your Royal Oak motorcycle accident lawyer can keep searching for ways to strengthen your case.
Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Who Makes Your Fight Their Fight
At White Law PLLC, fighting for our clients is our top priority. Give us the opportunity to represent you in your motorcycle accident case, and we will do everything we can to help you secure damages. Request a free case consultation with our team.
We’re Experienced. We Care.
We Exceed Client Expectations.
