Tips to maximize your recovery after an Ohio motorcycle accident Part 10

Hire a lawyer experienced in motorcycle and car accident cases.

Earlier, we wrote about insurance adjusters who negotiate settlements every day. They're good at it because it's their profession. That's why you'll need a lawyer to handle your case. Your lawyer not only will deal with the insurance adjuster, but he'll navigate you through the complex world of personal injury litigation.

 Armed with knowledge of the law and the ploys of adjusters, a lawyer can help you obtain a fair settlement for your case. Numerous studies have shown that you're far more likely to end up with more money at the end of a case if you hire a lawyer rather than trying to settle the case on your own. By virtue of handling injury cases every day, lawyers develop a sense of how much a case is worth.

Furthermore, you're not likely to have experience with the types of arguments you're going to hear from insurance adjusters. Hiring a lawyer lessens the amount of hassles you'll face and you'll almost certainly net more money, even after attorney fees and expenses are subtracted.

 

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, contact our Swanton, Ohio motorcycle accident attorneys for your free copy of The Ohio Motorcycle Accident Book

Tips to maximize your recovery after an Ohio motorcycle accident Part 9

Don't exaggerate the impact of your injury.

You're entering a world you likely didn't know existed. As we've said earlier in this book, insurance companies prosper by paying accident victims as little as possible.  In an effort to do that, they'll resort to what you may regard as underhanded behavior. They may hire a private investigator to spy on you, they may have someone engage you in conversation about your injuries, or they may videotape you as you go about your day.

We know of one case - fortunately not one of ours - where an insurance company investigator placed a video camera in a gym bag to record a supposedly injured accident victim teaching an aerobics class. Needless to say, the attorney handling that case dumped it immediately - and should have. People like that aerobics instructor give insurance companies reason to be skeptical. The problem is they seem to be skeptical of everyone, even people with legitimate claims.

So, if you exaggerate the extent of your injuries by doing something like hobbling around on crutches when you can walk just fine, and then you're filmed running a marathon, don't be surprised when your case collapses. Don't play games when it comes to dealing with your injury case.

 

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, contact our Toledo, Ohio motorcycle accident attorneys for your free copy of The Ohio Motorcycle Accident Book

Tips to maximize your recovery after an Ohio motorcycle accident Part 8

Don't hide information from your lawyer.

This tip goes hand-in-hand with our advice about being honest. You'll be making a big mistake if you hide information that is embarrassing or that you think will hurt your claim. You may get away with it, but usually the truth comes out. And if it comes out at the wrong time in a deposition or at trial, your case may be damaged beyond repair. Your lawyer can only help you if she has the complete picture. If there's something awkward to be dealt with, he'll handle it. But don't put your lawyer in a bad situation by hiding something.

 

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, contact our Findlay, Ohio motorcycle accident attorneys for your free copy of The Ohio Motorcycle Accident Book.

Tips to maximize your recovery after an Ohio motorcycle accident Part 7

Honesty is the best policy.

Be honest when it comes to dealing with your injury claim. Be honest with the insurance adjuster, be honest with your doctor, and be honest with your lawyer. Nothing will kill your claim faster than being caught in a lie. Your credibility will be crucial in resolving your case, particularly if you have to go to trial.

If you're not in pain, don't get unnecessary medical treatment to drive up your bills. That doesn't mean you shouldn't follow your doctor's orders, but don't exaggerate the extent of your injuries. The truth eventually will come out, and when it does your case might become worthless. If your case goes to trial, your credibility with the jury carries tremendous value. If jurors feel you're not being honest, they won't give you the fair compensation you deserve.

You also have to be straight with your lawyer, who won't handle your case if he thinks you're lying. The attorney needs to know what's really happening with your case in order to represent you fairly and aggressively.

 

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, contact our Bowling Green, Ohio motorcycle accident attorneys for your free copy of The Ohio Motorcycle Accident Book.

Tips to maximize your recovery after an Ohio motorcycle accident Part 6

Start a file to document everything connected to your case.

Make sure you keep every bill, police report, and document connected to your motorcycle accident claim. The insurance company has a right to see evidence of medical bills for which you're seeking reimbursement. Keeping track of your bills also ensures that you won't settle your claim without making sure you've been compensated for all of your expenditures. This is true even if you have health insurance because you may have to repay your provider for any bills they've paid on your behalf if there's a settlement.

In addition to documenting your treatment, keep track of any wages you've lost because you've been unable to work. Don't assume you'll automatically get reimbursed for your lost wages. You have to get a note from your doctor if you miss work because of the injuries from the accident and you'll have to get documentation from your employer about your rate of pay and how much money you lost because you weren't able to work.

 

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, contact our Perrysburg, Ohio motorcycle accident attorneys for your free copy of The Ohio Motorcycle Accident Book.

Tips to maximize your recovery after an Ohio motorcycle accident Part 5

Don't sign any medical authorization forms at the request of an insurance company.

Insurance companies often try to get accident victims to sign and return authorization forms that allow them to obtain your medical records. The forms usually are drafted so the insurer gains access to all of your medical information, not just information relating to your accident.  It allows an insurance company to go on a fishing expedition for any other medical problems that might explain the pain you're experiencing.

If your injuries are serious, you should consult an attorney to deal with these issues. Your attorney will ask you to sign medical authorization forms that will be used to obtain the information that's related to your accident. Only the information relevant to your accident or injury will be sent to the insurance company so your claim can be evaluated. This protects you from having personal information winding up in the wrong hands.

 

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, contact our Toledo, Ohio motorcycle accident attorneys for your free copy of The Ohio Motorcycle Accident Book.

Tips to maximize your recovery after an Ohio motorcycle accident Part 4

Don't provide a statement to the adjuster.

If an insurance adjuster contacts you, don't make any statements about the accident, your physical condition, and whether you're being treating by a doctor. The adjuster may be recording your conversation and certainly will be taking notes. You can settle any claims dealing with the damage to your motorcycle, but any statements you make about your injuries could come back to haunt you. Simply thank the adjuster for calling, tell her that you don't want to make any statements, and that you don't want her to call back. Tell the adjuster you'll initiate a conversation when you're ready. You don't have to be rude, but you need to be firm. The adjuster can't make you talk.

It's a foreign concept to most people, but you have to view your injury case with the idea that it could go to trial. Most cases don't, but you don't want to hinder your negotiating strength by making a statement to an adjuster that can be misconstrued or twisted. The concern about making a statement is that you may not know the extent of your injuries right after an accident. It's not uncommon for people to feel worse in the weeks or months following the accident than they do in the immediate aftermath.

One way to avoid awkward conversations with an adjuster or making statements that could hurt your case is to contact a lawyer to represent you. Your lawyer will stop the adjuster from having any further contact with you.

 

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, contact our Findlay, Ohio motorcycle accident attorneys for your free copy of The Ohio Motorcycle Accident Book.

Tips to maximize your recovery after an Ohio motorcycle accident Part 3

Don't underestimate the insurance adjusters who contact you.

This tip goes back to what we discussed in the introduction. Insurance adjusters handle claims for a living. They're judged by their bosses by how they settle claims and how much money they save for the company. This doesn't make them bad people; they're just doing their jobs and looking out for the best interests of their employers. It's up to you and your lawyer to look out for your interests.

It's no shock that insurance companies often own the tallest skyscrapers in a city. They have powerful lobbies throughout the country and, along with other business interests, have done their best to get legislation passed that makes it hard for accident victims to be fairly compensated. They've gotten rich by collecting as much money as possible from all of us while trying to avoid making fair settlements with people suffering from accidents they didn't cause.

So, when an adjuster representing the person who caused the accident gives you a call, keep in mind where their loyalties lie. They'll likely be extremely pleasant, but they have one goal: to settle your claim as cheaply as possible. They do this for a living, all day and every day. Because this is probably the first time you've been an accident victim, you are at an obvious disadvantage. Be smart when you're dealing with them - or better yet, hire a lawyer who deals with insurance companies on a daily basis. After all, the insurance companies have professionals working for them, so you should too.

 

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, contact our Swanton, Ohio motorcycle accident attorneys for your free copy of The Ohio Motorcycle Accident Book.

Tips to maximize your recovery after an Ohio motorcycle accident Part 2

Don't rush to settle your claim quickly.

If you're reading this book because you were recently involved in an accident caused by another driver, you may already have received a call from an insurance adjuster trying to settle your claim. Typically, an adjuster will wave a few thousand dollars under your nose to settle the claim quickly. It sounds good until you realize you're hurt more seriously than you anticipated or your medical bills end up eating into that money.

If you're tempted to settle your case below its value just because you need money for your medical bills, hold off. If you hire an attorney, the attorney usually will be able to work out an arrangement with your health-care provider for your provider to be paid out of the proceeds of your settlement. The doctor or chiropractor will continue to treat you without requiring payment after receiving what's called a "letter of protection" from your lawyer. This allows you to continue getting the treatment that you need, while ensuring the doctor is paid at the end of your case.

Settling your case quickly doesn't allow you to be fully compensated for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages. It only benefits the insurance company because it won't have to pay out the full value of your case.

 

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, contact our Bowling Green, Ohio motorcycle accident attorneys for your free copy of The Ohio Motorcycle Accident Book.

First tip to maximize your recovery after an Ohio motorcycle accident

Seek treatment immediately.

The best thing you can do for both your physical and financial health is to get the proper medical treatment for your injuries. This isn't a time to tough it out and hope that you'll miraculously heal. Returning to health should be your top priority. You need to go to your family physician or to the emergency room to make sure that you get the treatment you'll need to recover from the injuries you suffered in the accident.

Once you go to the doctor, follow his or her orders so you can make the best recovery possible. If your doctor tells you to go to a physical therapist, do it. If you visit a chiropractor, complete the recommended treatment plan.

This makes sense not only for your physical health, but for your financial health as well. An insurance adjuster is going to base any settlement offer to you on the medical care you've received because it provides a way to measure your injuries and resulting pain. Getting treatment demonstrates to the insurance company that you're not faking your injury and that you're taking the process seriously. Compensation for the pain and suffering you've endured as a result of your motorcycle accident will be based to some degree on the amount of your medical bills.

Once you've started treatment, see it through to the end. Don't stop the second you start to feel better if your doctor has recommended that you complete a certain amount of rehabilitation. If you stop early, you may not be fully healed. Resuming treatment months after you've stopped sends a message to the insurance company that you may not have been hurt in the first place or that you're trying to take advantage of the process.

 

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, contact our Toledo, Ohio motorcycle accident attorneys for your free copy of The Ohio Motorcycle Accident Book.

Top reasons for hiring an attorney after your Ohio motorcycle accident Part 5

Motorcycle injury lawyers know how to protect your rights

Lawyers help level the playing field between you and insurance companies. As we wrote earlier, insurance adjusters handle claims for a living. Naturally they have a tremendous advantage over most people when negotiating a settlement. This is true even if you are very sophisticated in other areas of your life.

Injury cases are far more complicated than they often appear. The number of legal issues that arise even in seemingly straightforward cases can be tricky for even for lawyers who specialize in representing injured people.

For example, we've handled numerous cases where it appears that there isn't enough insurance money to compensate the injured client. Because of our experience, we've been able to find coverage that allowed our client to receive compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We've also been able to help families who have lost a loved one obtain financial stability.

Delaying in hiring a lawyer simply doesn't make sense when considering the complicated nature of most motorcycle injury claims.

 

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, contact our Fremont, Ohio motorcycle accident lawyers for your free copy of The Ohio Motorcycle Accident Book.

Top reasons for hiring an attorney after your Ohio motorcycle accident Part 4

Settling claims before consulting an attorney can be a major mistake

Rushing into a settlement with an insurance company could cause serious financial harm to you and family. Insurance companies often try to contact people who have been injured in an accident or the family members of those who have been killed within a few days of the accident in order to settle the claim quickly.

The money may look good at first when you're lying in a hospital bed unable to work. The problem is that once you settle your claim, it's settled forever. Even if you end up being more injured than you initially thought, you won't receive more compensation.

You also likely have no idea what a fair settlement would be. An experienced motorcycle accident attorney understands the many different factors that go into evaluating the value of your claim. Settling the claim too quickly could cause you and your family significant financial harm.

Do not be in a hurry to settle the case. Just inform the insurance adjuster that you're going to consult with an attorney to make sure your rights are protected. They won't like this, but just be firm and polite.

 

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, contact our Findlay, Ohio motorcycle accident lawyers for your free copy of The Ohio Motorcycle Accident Book.

Top reasons for hiring an attorney after your Ohio motorcycle accident Part 2

Important evidence may be lost or destroyed

After an accident, injured riders must focus on making the best medical recovery possible. The treatment can be long and hard, often involving hospital stays and physical therapy. It's natural that your first thought isn't hiring a lawyer.

But if you're reading this book because you've been injured in a motorcycle accident, you should consult a lawyer as soon as possible to avoid the loss of crucial evidence that may be critical to your case.

An attorney understands that the only way to prove a case is through the presentation of evidence. Preserving evidence before it gets lost or destroyed can make or break a case. While certain documents or items may not seem important to you, an attorney may realize that they must be gathered and saved, and sometimes may require immediate legal action.

In some cases, it's important to have your motorcycle inspected before it's repaired or destroyed. In other cases, the attorney may want to preserve evidence from the vehicle that struck you. And witness statements must be gathered while memories are still fresh.

In motorcycle cases, experienced attorneys know the critical importance in documenting the severity of the injuries. In our office, we have a sophisticated digital camera that we use to take photos of the wounds caused by an accident. In some circumstances, we hire professional photographers to take the images. Photos of injuries often are worth a 1,000 words of clinical descriptions in medical records.

Photographing the scene as soon as possible, hiring an accident reconstructionist, and retaining a private investigator to assist with evidence gathering may be critical to the success of your case. An experienced attorney will understand what evidence will be necessary to help you receive fair and just compensation.

 

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, contact our Toledo, Ohio motorcycle accident lawyers for your free copy of The Ohio Motorcycle Accident Book.

Top reasons for hiring an attorney after your Ohio motorcycle accident Part 3

Signing medical authorization forms could damage your claim

Signing documents before consulting a lawyer could sink your motorcycle claim. When representatives of insurance companies ask you to sign certain documents shortly after you've been injured, alarm bells should be going off in your head.

Insurance companies often will ask you to sign authorization forms that allow them to access all of your medical records. They'll pass it off as something that's routine and necessary if you want to make a claim. What they don't tell you is that signing authorization forms allows them to dig through your personal medical history that has nothing to do with your motorcycle accident injuries. This not only violates your privacy but could damage your case.

An experienced injury attorney will stop the insurance company from having any contact with you. Your attorney will gather your medical records and present only the information that has to do with your case to the insurance adjuster. This is another example of why it's a mistake to wait before consulting a lawyer.

 

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, contact our Toledo, Ohio motorcycle accident lawyers for your free copy of The Ohio Motorcycle Accident Book.

Number one reason for hiring an attorney after your Ohio motorcycle accident

Missing crucial deadlines can destroy your motorcycle injury case!

In any accident case, the injured person needs to understand that there are important deadlines that cannot be missed. The most crucial deadline is the date by which a lawsuit must be filed, which is called the statute of limitations. If this deadline is missed, you will be forever barred from making a claim.

In a typical motorcycle accident case involving injuries or death, the statute of limitations is two years. If a lawsuit hasn't been filed within that two-year period, no claim can ever be made.

Injury claims involving children under 18 years of age are handled differently. Minors who have been injured have until two years past their 18^th birthday to file a claim.

Please understand that delaying hiring a lawyer could destroy your motorcycle injury case.

 

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, contact our Bowling Green, Ohio motorcycle accident lawyers for your free copy of The Ohio Motorcycle Accident Book.

Four more tips every Ohio motorcycle rider should know | Bowling Green, Ohio motorcycle accident lawyer

1.Honesty is the best policy - Be honest about your injuries. Nothing will kill your claim faster than being caught in a lie.

 

2.Don't hide information from your lawyer - Your lawyer needs to know the good, the bad, and the ugly about your case to properly represent you.

 

3.Don't exaggerate your injuries - Exaggerating the extent of your injuries could come back to haunt you if the insurance company films you participating in an activity you shouldn't be able to do.

 

4.Hire a personal injury lawyer - Insurance companies employ professionals who deal with personal injury cases every day. Shouldn't you?

 

 

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, contact our Bowling Green, Ohio motorcycle accident lawyers for your free copy of The Ohio Motorcycle Accident Book.

Three more tips every Ohio motorcycle rider should know Part 2 | Sylvania, Ohio motorcycle accident lawyer

1.Don't provide a statement to the adjuster - Don't make any statements about your case until you consult with a lawyer.

 

2.Don't sign medical authorization forms - Don't sign authorization forms that allow an insurance company access to your private medical records. Only sign forms completed by your lawyer.

 

3.Document everything - Start a file for all police, medical, and insurance documents related to your case.

 

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, contact our Sylvania, Ohio motorcycle accident lawyers for your free copy of The Ohio Motorcycle Accident Book.

Three tips every Ohio motorcycle rider should know Part 1 | Perrysburg, Ohio motorcycle accident lawyer

1.Seek treatment immediately - The best thing you can do after an accident is to seek medical treatment immediately and follow your doctor's orders.

 

2.Don't rush to settle your claim - Don't settle your claim before you complete your medical treatment. A few thousand dollars may sound good until you realize it doesn't come close to compensating you for the injuries you've suffered in your motorcycle accident.

 

3.Don't underestimate the insurance adjuster - Insurance adjusters have a huge advantage over you because they settle claims every day. You need a lawyer to help deal with them.


If you or someone you know has been injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, contact our Perrysburg, Ohio motorcycle accident lawyers for your free copy of The Ohio Motorcycle Accident Book.

Every Ohio motorcycle rider is at risk Part 2 | Swanton, Ohio motorcycle accident lawyers

The issue of helmet use is controversial in Ohio and throughout the country. Some riders feel they can hear and see better without a helmet, while others simply like letting their hair blow in the breeze. Many motorcyclists, though, don't feel as safe or secure without a helmet. It's an issue of personal preference.

            Regardless of how you feel about the issue, statistics show it's safer to ride with a helmet. In 2007, 63 percent of the motorcyclists killed were not wearing a helmet, according to the Ohio Department of Public Safety. In 2006, 70 percent of riders killed had no helmet. Of those who were injured, roughly 51 percent weren't wearing a helmet.

            Statistics don't always tell the whole story and we don't offer them to alarm you, but they do give us all an idea of how dangerous it can be to ride a motorcycle. Many times, motorcyclists aren't responsible for the accidents in which they've been involved. In those situations, they need a lawyer to guide them through the often-complicated personal injury process.

 

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, contact our Swanton, Ohio motorcycle accident lawyers for your free copy of The Ohio Motorcycle Accident Book.

Every Ohio motorcycle rider is at risk Part 1 | Toledo, Ohio motorcycle accident attorneys

The allure of hitting the open road on a motorcycle isn't just the stuff of Hollywood movies. Riding is fun and exciting. But anyone who has ridden knows it's undeniably dangerous. Bikers know there's a risk every time they roll out of their driveways, often from the actions of car and truck drivers.

In 2007, 190 people were killed, and 4,053 were injured in motorcycle accidents, according to the Ohio Department of Public Safety. Of the riders killed, 13.7 percent were between 21 and 25 years old, the highest percentage for any age group that year. The next highest groups were 36 to 40 year olds and 51 to 55 year olds, both tied at 12.1 percent.

Riders between the ages of 41 and 45 years old sustained the most injures in 2007 at 13 percent. Riders 46 to 50 comprised 12.9 percent of those injured, with 21 to 25 year olds close behind at 12.6 percent.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, contact our Toledo, Ohio motorcycle accident attorneys for your free copy of The Ohio Motorcycle Accident Book.

First time riding your Ohio motorcycle PART 2 | Ohio motorcycle accident attorneys

Getting ready to ride a motorcycle for the first time can be overwhelming. That’s why www.msgroup.org has offered tips on what to do the first time you get out on the road. Charles E. Boyk Law Offices, LLC and the Motorcycle Safety Site recommend that you successfully complete the beginner’s MSF class before getting on your first motorcycle:

After you are familiar with how your motorcycle works, start the engine. Remember that as long as you are squeezing both levers, you are in control.

Now do the beginners MSF exercise - ease the clutch lever out until it just enters that friction zone and the bike tries to move forward. Allow the bike to move forward slightly, then squeeze that clutch lever and then use your legs to pull the bike back to where it started. Keep in mind that you are only able to steer at slow speeds.

Slow speed control is almost entirely in the left hand. While riding in a straight line the clutch lever belongs fully released.

Remember to check traffic with your eyes NOT your mirrors. Keep your eyes up while riding. Danger is primarily in front of you.

Most importantly, make sure to pay attention to traffic, signals, how the bike ’sounds’, and how it reacts to throttle and brake usage.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, you need information. Order your FREE copy of The Ohio Motorcycle Accident Book to learn your rights. Our Sandusky, Ohio accident attorneys are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and we have six locations in northwest Ohio where we can meet with you – for free – to discuss your case.

First time riding your Ohio motorcycle PART 1 | Bowling Green, Ohio motorcycle crash lawyers

Getting ready to ride a motorcycle for the first time can be overwhelming. That’s why www.msgroup.org has offered tips on what to do the first time you get out on the road. Charles E. Boyk Law Offices, LLC and the Motorcycle Safety Site recommend that you successfully complete the beginner’s MSF class before getting on your first motorcycle:

Before riding your motorcycle, make sure that you get familiar with the instruments and controls. Sit on the saddle and practice lifting the bike off the side-stand, kicking it back out of the way, balancing (get a feel for heft) and then ‘find’ the side-stand and push it into place and locked. Use your eyes to confirm that it is properly in place and locked there before you let the weight of the bike rest on it. Practice squeezing both levers and ‘work them’ to get a feel for how much pressure your hands have to use.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, you need information. Order your FREE copy of The Ohio Motorcycle Accident Book to learn your rights. Our Findlay, Ohio auto accident attorneys are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and we have six locations in northwest Ohio where we can meet with you – for free – to discuss your case.

Jackie Bartrom of Oak Harbor injured while riding motorcycle | Ohio motorcycle accident lawyers

According to the Toledo Blade, Jackie Bartrom of Oak Harbor was seriously injured last Friday after he was struck by an SUV while riding his motorcycle.

The SUV alledgedly ran a stop sign, causing the Ohio motorcycle accident that resulted in Jackie Bartrom being life-flighted to the University of Toledo Medical Center.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, you need information. Order your FREE copy of The Ohio Motorcycle Accident Book.