Motorcycle crashes, their immediate aftermaths, and the following weeks are equally distressing for victims. While you heal from bad injuries, let our lawyers initiate your case and preserve evidence at most risk of being destroyed, like footage from nearby security cameras.
Right away, we will confirm your filing deadline so you do not miss it. Then, we can start getting evidence that proves fault, like photos and videos depicting the crash. Eyewitness and expert witness testimony also helps, as does a victim’s statements. Victims can confirm what happened during the crash and discuss their pain and suffering since. Before filing, we will estimate what your case is worth so you appreciate its value and do not accept a bad settlement.
Call the Law Office of John J. Sheehan at (617) 925-6407 for a free and confidential case discussion with our motorcycle accident lawyers.
How Long Do I Have to Sue After a Hopkins Motorcycle Accident?
Massachusetts has a strict statute of limitations for motorcycle accident lawsuits, limiting how long victims have to file. Miss the deadline, and you also miss your chance to get compensation.
Your filing deadline will most likely be three years from the date of the accident. Hit-and-run accidents, extended hospital stays, and other factors make filing on time challenging for some.
Three years is not as long as it seems. It takes time to appreciate a victim’s damages, collect evidence, and build a case. Delaying your case only delays your access to compensation, so do not wait to contact our lawyers.
Evidence Our Attorneys Use in Hopkinton Motorcycle Accident Lawsuits
Defendants in motorcycle accident cases often argue comparative fault, claiming motorcyclists were also negligent. If successful, defendants only have to pay a percentage of a victim’s damages or none at all if the victim is more at fault. We need compelling evidence to undermine comparative fault arguments and prove the other driver’s full liability.
Photos
Photographs are concrete evidence of property damage. Take pictures of your motorcycle and the at-fault driver’s car. You can also photograph your injuries to prove you were hurt at the scene. Take pictures of car parts, glass, and other debris left on the road, too.
Videos
Our motorcycle accident lawyers can reach out to local business owners or homeowners with surveillance systems nearby. When cameras film motorcycle accidents, we may get footage showing the defendant speeding, tailgating, or otherwise driving recklessly and hitting you. Footage often gets deleted with time, so we will get it immediately.
Eyewitness Testimony
Eyewitness testimony confirms the facts we present in your case. We will record what witnesses saw, preserving their statements. Ask witnesses for their contact information at the scene if you can. If you cannot, we can learn it from the police accident report.
Victim Statements
Your account of the accident is useful evidence, as is your testimony about “non-economic damages.” These are the subjective harms you experience, like the physical pain of your injuries, mental anguish, and emotional distress. You know your pain and suffering better than anyone, so your testimony helps greatly.
Expert Testimony
We also get accident reconstruction experts to review photos, police reports, and eyewitness statements. These experts can present their findings in court, confirming that the defendant initiated the crash. Experts can also calculate each driver’s speed and make other determinations. Their statements help compel better out-of-court offers or prove liability at trial.
Medical Records
We need accurate and complete medical records for lawsuits. If you are at all injured, go to the hospital right after the crash. If you notice injuries hours or days later, get assessed immediately.
Medical records help prove when and how you were injured. They also prove the extent of your injuries and outline the required treatment.
Attend all scheduled doctor appointments, as missing them creates gaps in your medical records. Gaps can raise questions about your injuries and need for compensation, so do not let them form.
How Much is My Motorcycle Accident Case Worth in Hopkins?
You need to know what your case is worth before filing so you do not accept a bad settlement offer right away. We will consider all damages from the accident, both economic and non-economic.
Medical Damages
Even when motorcyclists wear helmets and other protective gear, they can suffer bad injuries in accidents. Low-speed and high-speed collisions regularly end in road rash, displaced fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord damage.
All of these are expensive to treat. We will compile all medical bills throughout your treatment so you have an accurate tally of these expenses. All medical damages are recoverable, including future damages. Your physicians can testify about ongoing physical therapy or upcoming surgeries, and we can estimate their cost.
Lost Wages
Bad injuries keep victims from working, sometimes for months or years. Lost wages factor into your case’s value, and we can calculate them based on income records. In their statements, physicians can discuss when you might return to work, if ever. If you can work again, it might be at a lower earning level, which also affects your case’s value.
Tell us about other out-of-pocket expenses you incur, like childcare or transportation costs.
Non-Economic Damages
As mentioned, victims can get non-economic damages after motorcycle accidents. Massachusetts does not cap non-economic damages for personal injuries. Juries can give however much they see fit when cases go to trial. Getting enough non-economic damages from settlements is not impossible, but it can take time. When defendants do not offer enough in settlements, victims may claim non-economic damages from jury awards.
Like economic damages, non-economic damages can continue accruing after lawsuits. When assessing your claim’s value, we can factor in the long-term pain and suffering of permanent or disfiguring injuries.
Call Our Hopkinton Lawyers About a Recent Motorcycle Accident
Call the Law Office of John J. Sheehan at (617) 925-6407 for a free case evaluation from our motorcycle accident lawyers.