If you were recently involved in a motorcycle accident in Tennessee, you might be wondering whether you actually need to hire a lawyer. While you’re not technically required to have one, the reality is that having experienced legal help on your side can significantly affect how your case turns out. Motorcycle accident claims come with unique challenges that most people aren’t prepared to handle on their own, some of which could lead to dramatically reduced compensation.
Read on for a closer look at what an experienced Nashville motorcycle accident lawyer can do for you and why it’s often worth making the call.
Protecting You From Unfair Blame
Motorcyclists face a bias that other drivers don’t. Insurance adjusters and juries sometimes assume the rider did something wrong, regardless of what actually happened. That kind of bias can be used against you to inflate your share of the fault and reduce your compensation.
This is dangerous in Tennessee, where the state’s modified comparative fault law bars you from recovering anything if your fault reaches 50% or higher. A motorcycle accident lawyer can push back on these assumptions by:
- Gathering evidence that tells the full story of what happened
- Working with accident reconstruction experts when the facts are disputed
- Responding to blame allegations with documentation and testimony that supports your version of events
Without legal help, you’re leaving the door open for the insurance company to pin more of the blame on you than you deserve.
Dealing With the Insurance Companies
Insurance companies have one goal after an accident: to pay you as little as possible so that they can maintain their profits. The tactics they use to this end are well-practiced. They’ll take steps like asking for a recorded statement, making a quick settlement offer before you know the full extent of your injuries, and looking for any excuse to devalue your claim.
A motorcycle accident attorney can take over that entire process on your behalf. They can handle all of the communications and make sure you don’t say or sign anything that could hurt your case down the road.
Maximizing the Value of Your Claim
Motorcycle accident cases can be worth a lot more than many people initially anticipate. A successful claim can lead to both economic and non-economic damages that can often reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars or more.
An experienced lawyer will know how to calculate all of these damages and present them in a way that holds up during negotiations or in the courtroom at trial if necessary. They can also bring in medical experts, vocational specialists, and other professionals to document the true impact the accident has had on your life.
Meeting Tennessee’s Tight Filing Deadline
Tennessee has one of the shortest statutes of limitations in the country for personal injury cases. In most cases, you only have one year from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit.
A personal injury law firm Nashville can make sure every deadline is met and that your case is moving forward while you focus on getting better.
Contact a Tennessee Motorcycle Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
The benefits of hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer come down to one thing: you’re far more likely to get a fair result with experienced legal help than without it. Schedule a free consultation with Woodard Injury Law today to get started with your case by calling (615) 640-3648 or by reaching out online. We’ve won millions of dollars for our clients across 19 years of experience.