Motorcycle Injuries & Safety Tips
Motorcycle accidents are far too common, and, unfortunately, they often lead to severe injuries. Those injuries can result in life-altering medical…
Getting into a motorcycle accident can leave you with severe emotional and physical injuries. To add to your stress, you’re likely facing hefty medical bills and possibly lost wages, the loss of your transportation, and more. Working with a motorcycle accident attorney from Swanson, Lathen, Prestwich, PC is vital. Located in Salem, our law firm will advocate tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve.
MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS
Bounce Back from a Motorcycle Accident
No matter your skill as a driver, motorcycle accidents happen. And when they do, they can leave you with immediate and lasting physical and emotional damage.
After a motorcycle accident, you can suffer from neck and spine injuries, broken bones, cuts and lacerations, bruising, scarring, disfigurement, and more. The trauma of being in an accident can also leave you with depression, PTSD, and other emotional scars below the surface.
On average, in Oregon, moderate to severe motorcycle accidents can cost as much as $1.4 million. That’s an incredible financial burden for an accident that wasn’t your fault.
The Swanson, Lathen, Prestwich, PC team believe you shouldn’t bear this burden alone. We advocate for you to help you get the insurance payout you deserve.
Supporting You in Your Time of Need
Personal injury cases must prove negligence and its correlation to your present injuries. Here’s how a Swanson, Lathen, Prestwich, PC motorcycle accident attorney supports you.
Step One
File Your Claim
We start by helping you file your insurance claim and gather evidence of the accident. We walk you through the claims process to ensure nothing is left out.
Step Two
Make a Demand and Negotiate Offers
Once you have recovered or are medically stationary, we’ll gather together all the evidence and make a demand on the insurance company. Once submitted, the insurance company’s legal team will review your claim and come back with an offer. Rather than accepting their first offer for a quick conclusion, our team keeps negotiating until the offer is fair to you. We’re determined to get you the best compensation possible.
We’ll take things to court if we can’t settle the dispute. As motorcycle accident attorney specialists, we will advocate for you to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Step Three
Get Compensated
When a settlement is reached, you’ll receive compensation for your injuries to help you move forward and return to your feet after this debilitating experience.
You deserve to be fairly compensated for your traumatic experience. Contact the legal team at Swanson, Lathen, Prestwich, PC to get the help you need.
FAQs About Motorcycle Accident Claims
Motorcycle accident claims can be complicated because the injuries frequently are serious. We’ve created a list of frequently asked questions to make things easier for you.
How are motorcycle and car accident claims different?
Although motorcycle and car accidents are vehicle-related incidents, they differ. Because motorcyclists are exposed to the road or other objects when they crash, the injuries tend to be much more severe.
As a result, many motorcycle accidents can result in higher compensation. You should speak directly with a motorcycle accident attorney to ensure you don’t miss out on anything. We’ll help you ensure you get the type of compensation you deserve.
What should I do if I am involved in an accident on my motorcycle?
If you’re involved in a motorcycle accident, the first thing to do is move away from the traffic flow. Then, alert law enforcement and medical services of the accident.
Next, you should take photos of the scene of the accident. This will serve as evidence of the accident and help back up your case.
Finally, it’s time to file a claim. You can get a motorcycle accident attorney involved to make the process easier and to ensure you receive an award for any damages.
How do my medical bills get paid if I am injured in a motorcycle accident?
After a motorcycle accident, the first thing to check is whether you have a personal injury clause under your motorcycle insurance policy. Many times, your insurance company will cover some of your medical bills.
However, that’s not always enough. Sometimes, you can also work with a motorcycle accident attorney to seek additional damages. This can help you pay your medical bills and get you on the road to recovery after this staggering accident.
What are some of the most common and dangerous causes of motorcycle accidents?
Some of the most dangerous causes of motorcycle accidents include:
- Lane changing: Lane changing can be tricky, and motorcycles often get into cars’ blind spots, leading to accidents.
- Left-turning vehicles: Many motorcycle accidents occur because cars make left-hand turns that cross a motorcycle’s path.
- Head-on collisions: accidents can occur when vehicles leave their lane to move into oncoming traffic. The majority of motorcycle accidents happen because of this.
- DUIs: intoxicated drivers often lead to serious accidents and fatalities.
- Speeding: driving too fast, either on the part of the car or the motorcyclist, can cause serious accidents.
- Road Hazards: hazards on the road, in combination with any of the other incidents on this list, are common causes of motorcycle accidents.
- Lane splitting: driving in between lines of traffic can put motorcyclists in blind spots and can lead to accidents.
- Cell phone use: Also not legally permitted, many people drive while using their cell phones and become distracted, which makes them especially dangerous to motorcyclists.
There are many other causes of motorcycle accidents out there, too. Speaking to a motorcycle accident attorney can help determine whether your accident warrants a lawsuit.
Are insurance companies biased against motorcyclists?
Unfortunately, insurance companies do often show bias against motorcyclists. This — in combination with other biases stemming from age, veteran status, and other factors — can cause motorcyclists to take the blame in accidents that are not their fault. In our experience, motorcyclists are some of the safest drivers on the road. They operate in a safe manner. Don’t let the insurer try and blame you for an accident that’s not your fault.
If I get into an accident on my motorcycle, should I get a lawyer to help me?
Although you can navigate a motorcycle claim on your own, this isn’t always the best idea. Involving a lawyer can help you get more complete compensation and receive the support and assistance you deserve.
On top of that, motorcycle accident attorneys have experience negotiating tough claims. They can ensure you’re fairly represented against insurance companies and parties that are biased against motorcyclists.
Client Reviews
I was involved in an accident, and was having difficulties dealing with my insurance company.One of my neighbors recommended me to Brian Lathen, after a very prompt meeting I retained his services.Durring a long and tiring process, the staff at Swanson Lathen and Prestwich made me feel so much more comfortable, and helped greatly in getting through it.Along with now having a trusted lawyer/allie to call if anything unexpectedly happens in the future. I feel like I had made a friend.Thank you.
Swanson Lathen Prestwich is a Godsend!I was in a terrible car crash, literally caused by another person who admitted fault to the police, to their own insurance, to my insurance and I STILL had to fight for fair compensation. Realizing I needed to get a lawyer involved, an acquaintance recommended Travis Prestwich.After meeting Mr. Prestwich, I was immediately at ease. He was very knowledgeable, kind, welcoming and realistic. I appreciated that he actually listened to me and provided information that helped me get into the right mind frame. Travis was very patient and kind and responded to questions rather quickly. I appreciated his realistic approach and learned quickly that other lawyers, judges and community members, highly respect him; which was a huge sign that he was the right person for my situation!His staff, Carrie Meeker and Jennifer Hiser were equally phenomenal during the process! They were also very kind, empathetic, knowledgeable and responded to inquires in a timely manner and were just wonderful to work with. As odd as this sounds, I really enjoyed talking with them and knew that once my case with over with that I would miss all three of them.When the time came, and I had to go through a settlement hearing, Travis was by my side the whole way through. The unknown always frightens me but he found a way to keep me at ease with his calm demeanor. This review doesn’t even do this trio justice! They are wonderful people and did a phenomenal job on my case.I pray I never have to go through this process again however if I do, Travis will be the very first person I call. I HIGHLY recommend Swanson Lathen Prestwich and Travis Prestwich, Carrie Meeker and Jennifer Hiser!! I wish there were more people out there like them! I give them an A+++
Mr. Prestwich and his entire staff were nothing but kind, supportive and professional through the entire process of helping me with my car accident settlement. The outcome was exactly what I had hoped for and it was all because of the hard work that was done by this office.
Myself and my family have worked with Keith Swanson since the late 80's.Unfortunately when an accident occurs you need to make good decisions.You can't go wrong with Keith.He's an amazing man. Honest, straight forward and well respected in the industry.Not to mention one of the best accident attorneys in the profession.Thank you Keith, and Chris.
Great Services! Helpful reception. Brian Lathen was great and helped a lot.
Let Us Help You
We offer free consultations to all prospective clients and if we take your case on, there is no fee unless we win. Let us know how we can help you!