PITTSBURGH MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYERS

First, ensure personal safety by immediately calling 911 to report the accident and get emergency assistance if anyone is injured. Then, move to a safe location off the roadway.

Here are the other vital steps you should take to preserve the integrity of your potential case:

1. Don’t admit fault for the accident, and don’t blame anyone else.
2. Take pictures and video of the scene as well as any injuries.
3. Exchange insurance, contact information, and other information with others at the crash scene.
4. Document details of the crash while they’re still fresh in your mind, including weather conditions and time of day. Write them down on a piece of paper or record them on your smartphone’s voice recording app.
5. Don’t give a written or verbal statement to the insurance companies without carefully considering the consequences.
6. Contact Edgar Snyder & Associates and our motorcycle accident team for a free consultation.

INFO TO GATHER TO HELP US EVALUATE YOUR CLAIM

Our experienced motorcycle accident lawyers will take the lead in gathering most of your essential case information, including sending our investigative team to the scene of the accident. But before we meet, please try gathering the following information to assist in our evaluation of your claim:

1. The accident report (if you have it)
2. Any notes or information you used to document the accident
3. Your motorcycle insurance policy
4. Your medical or disability insurance policy
5. Any pictures or video, including of the scene and your injuries
6. All correspondence you’ve received from your insurance company
7. Medical bills

INSURANCE COMPANIES: PROCEED WITH CAUTION

Insurance companies are all about profit, even your own. That’s why they may offer you a low settlement or even deny your claim. For the best possible chance to win your case, you should never provide a recorded statement that can be used against you, give them medical authorization, or discuss your medical condition. Instead, call Edgar Snyder & Associates to handle the hassles and deadlines so you can concentrate on recovering.

DAMAGES YOU MAY RECOVER IN A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT CASE

Motorcycle accident victims often suffer injuries that can, unfortunately, create a lasting ripple effect through many aspects of their lives. If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle crash, an Edgar Snyder & Associates attorney will work tirelessly on your behalf to help ensure your motorcycle accident claim includes the full breadth of damages to which you are rightfully entitled. Common economic and noneconomic damages that motorcycle victims may recover include:

• Property Damage – Any damage to your motorcycle, property you were carrying on your motorcycle or on your person, and protective gear or clothing you wore at the time of the accident.
• Medical Expenses – Include hospital stays, transportation, emergency room visits, long-term outpatient care, physical therapy, or medication.
• Lost Wages – Any lost income from work missed due to injuries suffered in an accident and diminished earning capacity.
• Pain and Suffering – Mental or psychological suffering, such as grief, anxiety, depression, PTSD, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium or companionship, as well as physical pain, suffering, scarring, and disfigurement.
• Wrongful Death – Compensation for surviving spouses, minor children, parents, or a representative of the deceased person’s estate.

Motorcycle accidents can cause injuries ranging from minor damage to catastrophic and life-altering. Unfortunately, motorcycle crashes are far too often fatal. If you have experienced any of the following commonly occurring injuries in a motorcycle crash, consider seeking the help and support of a motorcycle crash attorney.

• Traumatic Brain Injuries – Traumatic brain injuries are among the most severe consequences a motorcyclist can face in an accident and often result in fatalities. These injuries can vary from mild to catastrophic, affecting various aspects of a victim’s life, such as sleep patterns, cognitive abilities, personality, mood, mental health, physical well-being, and employability. The severity of traumatic brain injuries underscores the critical necessity of consistently wearing a helmet while riding or being a passenger on a motorcycle.
• Spinal Cord Injuries – Motorcycle accidents can fracture vertebrae. When fractured vertebrae compress or sever the spinal cord, victims may suffer paralysis of the body below the point of injury. These injuries, unfortunately, are often permanent and may require patients to rely on wheelchairs and other assistive devices. This can necessitate reliance on others and dramatically impact the victims and their loved ones’ quality of life.
• Internal Injuries – The blunt force trauma suffered in a motorcycle crash may cause internal bleeding, abdominal injuries, and damage to organs such as the spleen, liver, or kidney. These injuries are extremely dangerous as they can sometimes be challenging to detect but, in some cases, may be life-threatening.
• Psychological or Emotional Trauma – Motorcyclists involved in a crash often face symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), including anxiety, depression, mood swings, irritability, and more. Some victims may be so traumatized they choose never to enjoy a ride on their motorcycle again or have difficulty coping with other aspects of their lives, which can affect personal relationships, quality of life, and earning potential.
• Fractures and Broken Bones – Broken bones rank among the most common types of injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident, with broken leg bones prevailing as the most common type of bone fracture. Broken wrists, ribs, arms, and collarbones are also common bone fractures that motorcyclists suffer in crashes. While bone fractures typically do not result in permanent disfigurement, they do pose a risk of organ damage. They can cause severe external or internal bleeding.
• Road Rash - Road rash is a prevalent motorcycle accident injury that occurs when a motorcyclist’s exposed skin grates against the ground when they slide across the pavement. Road rash injuries can be severe, and victims may sometimes need skin grafts to recover fully.
• Burns – Motorcycle accidents may involve fires or explosions, putting anyone involved in the accident at risk for severe burns, including second-degree, third-degree, and catastrophic burn injuries. Severe burn injuries may result in hospitalization over a several-month time frame, and some victims may even fall into comas or need reconstructive surgical procedures because of their injuries.