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Sunny days and the wide-open road often call to motorcyclists who want to get out there and enjoy a day on their motorcycles. But with one mishap or one wrong turn, a motorcycle ride can turn deadly. This is often because motorcycles are so much smaller and lighter than passenger vehicles and trucks, and when the two collide, motorcycles are usually on the short end of the stick. Motorcyclists are 27 times more likely to die in a crash than are occupants of a passenger car per vehicle mile traveled. A motorcycle accident lawyer in Puyallup is all too aware of these dire statistics.
If you or a family member have been injured or killed in a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation.The law recognizes that motorcyclists, often through no fault of their own, can sustain extremely severe wounds in a crash – including traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and road burns causing deformities. That’s why courts award damages to compensate for medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation, future impairment, and pain and suffering.
A motorcycle accident lawyer in Puyallup can file a lawsuit on your behalf. The skilled and experienced personal injury attorneys at Greene & Lloyd, PLLC Law Firm will fight aggressively on your behalf to get the justice you deserve. For a free initial consultation about your case, call us at 253-770-0808.
Find the best motorcycle accident lawyer at Greene & Lloyd
Choosing a motorcycle accident lawyer in Puyallup will be one of the most important decisions you make. All attorneys are not created equal – some are just better than others. The motorcycle accident lawyers at Greene & Lloyd, PLLC have represented hundreds of clients injured in crashes and successfully secured financial compensation through settlement agreements and jury awards. We are also home to an outstanding car accident lawyer in Puyallup. Whatever your needs, our attorneys will gather evidence, interview witnesses, review police reports, and examine the law in an exhaustive effort to build an effective and powerful case on your behalf. Let us do the legal heavy lifting while you focus on recovering and getting better.
Puyallup motorcycle accident attorney suggest steps to take after a crash
By following these important steps after a crash, you can ensure your health is prioritized and your legal rights are preserved.
- Seek medical attention right away. Your health is the No. 1 priority immediately after a motorcycle crash, and the actions you take in the minutes and hours after the accident can make a difference in whether you are maimed for a lifetime. Follow the directions of EMTs responding to the scene, including riding in an ambulance to the emergency room of a hospital if needed. If you are able to walk away from the motorcycle crash, go directly to an urgent care center or doctor’s office to get checked out. Following the directions of medical personnel will prevent further injury and create a “paper trail” documenting your injuries. These will be important when you file a legal claim.
- Call the police so they can file a report. Immediately after a motorcycle accident, call 911. A police officer will respond to the scene. You will need a police report to file a claim with your insurance company, and a police report will be a valuable document in any future lawsuit you file.
- Get contact information from the other driver and witnesses nearby. Write down the name, phone number, driver’s license and insurance information of the other driver in the car, truck or SUV. If there are witnesses who saw the crash happen, ask for their names and phone numbers, too. Your lawyer may need to contact these witnesses.
- Take pictures of your injuries and the crash site. If you are able, use your mobile phone to take pictures of the crash site and damage to your motorcycle. Take pictures of the other vehicle, too. Next, document your injuries by taking pictures of lacerations, road burns, torn clothing and other harm you sustained in the wreck. Photographs will be used as evidence in your lawsuit. It is especially important to take photos of skid marks, guard rails, and other location-specific evidence before this evidence is lost or removed.
- Say nothing that acknowledges fault and say little else to the people present at the scene. Answer police officers’ questions briefly and politely. Say very little to the other driver. The less you say the better where a future legal claim is concerned. You don’t want your words to be twisted and used against you in court.
- Do not sign anything. If you are contacted after the accident by the other driver’s insurance company, do not sign anything. If they want to ask questions, refer them to your lawyer.
- Hire a motorcycle accident lawyer in Puyallup right away. A skilled attorney can gather evidence, interview witnesses, read police reports, and build a powerful legal claim on your behalf. A Tacoma motorcycle accident lawyer at Greene & Lloyd, PLLC has the resources to hire an expert witness, if needed.
Motorcycle accident attorneys in Puyallup work on contingency
Wondering how to pay for motorcycle accident attorneys in Puyallup? This is not something you have to worry about. At Greene & Lloyd, PLLC, our motorcycle accident lawyers work on contingency, which means you don’t need any money up front to hire us. We get paid when you get paid because our legal fees are covered by the defendant as part of a settlement agreement or jury award. If for any reason your case is not successful, then you owe us nothing. A lack of funds should never be a reason not to hire a motorcycle accident lawyer in Puyallup. To find out more about how we can help, call us at 253-770-0808. The initial consultation is free.
Common causes of motorcycle accidents
There are thousands of motorcycle accidents every year across the United States. In 2017, 5,172 people died in motorcycle crashes nationwide. This figure was down 3 percent from the 5,337 killed in motorcycle crashes in 2016, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). NHTSA is a U.S. government agency that is part of the Department of Transportation, and it collects national traffic safety statistics. Motorcyclists were 27 times more likely than car passengers and drivers to die in a crash (per vehicle mile traveled) in 2017, according to NHTSA.
Common causes of motorcycle accidents include:
- Low visibility of motorcycles. Because motorcycles are much smaller than cars – and certainly trucks – it is often hard for drivers in other vehicles to see them. Whether it is a steep curve, a passing lane or a blind corner with a turn signal, motorcycle accidents can happen when other drivers fail to see a motorcyclist and collide with them.
- Driver distraction due to talking, texting or fidgeting with a radio. Drivers can take their eyes off the road when they are texting, talking to children in the backseat, tuning in a radio station, or looking for directions. This can spell disaster for a motorcyclist. Many states now have laws making it illegal to text or talk on the phone while driving.
- Driver impairment due to drugs or alcohol. Thousands of accidents are caused every year by drunk driving and drivers impaired by drug use. Even a glass or two of beer or wine can significantly diminish a driver’s response time and judgement. Unfortunately, motorcycles come out on the short end of the stick when they are hit by a drunk driver.
- Bad weather. Ice, thunderstorms, high winds and snow can severely limit visibility and cause difficult driving conditions. These are dangerous for cars and even more dangerous for motorcycles.
- Motorcycle defects. Defective tires, brakes, turn signals, seats and handlebars can cause serious motorcycle accidents. Either by causing motorcycles to slide and collide with trees and guardrails, or by causing motorcycles to veer into oncoming cars, these manufacturer defects can be deadly.
- Road conditions. Gravel, potholes, missing road signs, construction sites, and other debris on the road can spell disaster for motorcyclists. Because motorcycles are relatively lightweight and require skill to maneuver, poor road conditions can cause serious and even fatal motorcycle accidents.
Contact a motorcycle accident lawyer in Puyallup today
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a crash, a motorcycle accident lawyer in Puyallup can fight for the financial compensation you deserve. Your injuries can last a lifetime and may require lengthy rehabilitation. In the case of a wrongful death, we understand that no amount of money will bring back your loved one, but it can provide for family members in the future. Motorcycle accidents often result in traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, severe lacerations and road burns that disfigure skin. These injuries mean time off work, lost earnings, mounting medical bills, and sometimes lifelong disability. These costs could bankrupt you without financial help, which is very unfair if the crash was not your fault. A motorcycle accident lawyer in Puyallup can fight for your rights by filing a lawsuit on your behalf to seek damages. To learn more about how the motorcycle attorneys at Greene & Lloyd, PLLC can help those throughout Puyallup, Olympia, Tacoma, Kirkland, Ellensburg, Moses Lake, Spokane, and Kennewick, call us for a free consultation at 253-770-0808.