In the aftermath of a motorcycle accident, you may experience some minor cuts and bruises. You may feel fine, but you are experiencing minor aches due to your fall. You wore your helmet, so you are confident that nothing can seriously be wrong. With no noticeable symptoms, you may skip getting a medical evaluation. In the days following your crash, you may notice slight dizziness, nausea, and fatigue. Not sure what is going on, you make your way to urgent care to find out that you suffered a brain injury. By waiting, you may have prolonged the healing process.
A motorcycle accident can result in serious injuries, with symptoms sometimes appearing days afterward. By waiting to seek medical treatment, you may prevent yourself from recovering the full worth of your accident case. If you or a loved one has recently been injured, the Gettysburg motorcycle accident attorneys at Shollenberger, Januzzi & Wolfe are here to assist you.
Seek Medical Attention Promptly
Internal injuries are known as the “silent killer,” with symptoms often not presenting until it is too late. Delayed symptoms are perilous to your health since they only come to the surface after your body is in distress. If you begin to notice unusual symptoms a day or two after a motorcycle accident, seek medical attention. If you are experiencing respiratory distress, severe abdominal pain, an intense headache, or numbness or tingling back pain, head to the ER.
If your symptoms include disorientation, dizziness, or nausea, go to an urgent care center. Wherever you choose to seek treatment, make it clear to your provider that you were just in a motorcycle accident. Be sure to tell them when the symptoms started and all of the symptoms you are currently experiencing.
Track Your Costs
After a motorcycle accident, keeping meticulous records of all expenses related to your injuries and recovery is crucial. These documents will support your claim and ensure you receive fair compensation for your financial losses.
Medical Bills
Various costs may be incurred in a motorcycle accident, including medical bills, lost wages, and the cost to repair or replace your motorcycle. Anytime you seek medical treatment, be sure to keep invoices, receipts, and other paperwork to document your expenses. Medical expenses incurred from a motorcycle crash may include visits to an emergency room or urgent care provider, medical imaging, surgeries and/or treatments, prescriptions, and physical therapy. By seeking reimbursement for the cost of your care, you will be more easily able to pay your everyday bills and medical expenses.
Our legal team recommends that you do not agree to a settlement until you reach maximum medical improvement, or MMI. MMI is the point at which medical improvement will no longer be made, despite continuing treatment. Your treating physician will determine the point at which you reach MMI after giving you a complete medical evaluation. Only after you reach MMI will you know the full extent of your medical bills and projected future costs.
Motorcycle Repairs and/or Replacement
While taking care of yourself, you may be eager to repair your bike. If possible, obtain three quotes from qualified mechanics. By doing so, you will put yourself in a better position to negotiate your settlement if insurance comes back with a low settlement offer. If the cost to repair your motorcycle exceeds its actual cash value (ACV), insurance will determine it to be a total loss (or totaled).
What constitutes a total loss may vary from one insurance company to the next. Also, insurance companies are not always accurate when it comes to evaluating the ACV of motorcycles, so you should speak with an attorney who can guide you on your next steps.
Track Lost Wages
If you had to miss work due to your injuries, retain your pay stubs. Lost wages are a common form of damages recovered in motorcycle accident cases, accounting for a large portion of economic losses. Even if you must take on lighter job duties but were still able to work, you can seek damages for the income that you have lost.
Keep a Pain Journal
Not all motorcycle accident injuries are physical, with many injuries impacting our emotional and mental state. A pain journal may be submitted as evidence to help you recover non-economic damages. Non-economic damages are the intangible losses from an accident that affect your quality of life.
A pain journal will help you to organize your thoughts, documenting your pain level each day and your physical and emotional limitations. A pain journal can provide valuable insights into your mood, offering further understanding of how you are emotionally coping during this time.
Speak with Our Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Today
The recovery journey is not linear; instead, it is marked by ups and downs. At Shollenberger, Januzzi & Wolfe, we believe that the at-fault party should be held responsible in a motorcycle crash, which is why we work tirelessly for our clients. Our Gettysburg motorcycle accident lawyers are dedicated to securing the maximum compensation possible for each of our clients, taking a personal interest in every case. To arrange your free consultation, contact us online or call (717) 229-6580 today.