Protecting The Rights Of Motorcyclists

Motorcycle AccidentsThankfully, Alaska has one of the lowest rates of motorcycle accidents in the United States. However, they still happen and, because motorcycles are inherently more dangerous and offer less protections than automobiles, trucks, etc., the injuries are often more severe.

This can lead to high verdicts and settlements. For example, 2015 saw a $2,000,000 settlement arising out of an incident involving a high-speed motorcycle crash. Although not typical, these types of verdicts and settlements are possible.

In part, this is because, as an Alaska Motorcycle Accident Lawyer will know, there are multiple people to sue in a motorcycle accident. If there is a collision with another vehicle, that driver can be held responsible. If the other vehicle was owned by a company, that company can be sued. If the road was not smooth, the municipality and whoever owned or was responsible for the roadway can be named a defendant. In a construction zone, any person and company involved may be subject to liability.

In general, there are four elements that a victim must show in order to prevail. These include (i) that the law required the defendant to be reasonably careful, (ii) he or she was not careful, (iii) that lack of care caused the motorcyclist’s injuries and (iv) the motorcyclist suffered damages as a result of the incident. There are defenses a plaintiff must overcome in any motorcycle case. The most common is that the rider of the motorcycle was the negligent one.

Finding the Right LawyerWith the thousands of lawyers in Alaska, how do you know which Auto Injury Accident Attorney could yield you the best results?

There are certain qualities most good lawyers have. These include, but are not limited to:

They are able to identify with different types of people. The attorneys who come across as elitists and give you a bad impression are likely not going to identify well with judges, jurors and other attorneys, something that is likely to prevent a positive result.

They have overcome their own personal adversity. Nothing helps ground a person better than having dealt with their own prior issues. An attorney that appreciates what they have worked hard to achieve and can also empathize with a client going through a difficult time is going to be a better advocate.

Never admitting weakness. An attorney, in court and in front of adversaries, must always project strength. Instead of justifying actions, standing firm is a positive trait.

Not getting pushed around. Again, strength is important to project.Experience. Not only experience, but positive experience. Any attorney can go to court, but those who are good have a track record of achieving positive results for clients.

Attention to detail. So many cases are fact-specific and, as a result, can turn on one item. The best attorneys are the ones who find that detail and use it to the client’s advantage.

In sum, there are lots of attorneys in Alaska and many deal with all sorts of personal injury accident cases. These may include motorcycle accidents, where you will want an experienced accident lawyer to prosecute your claim. For other types of car accidents, you should seek out an auto accident injury lawyer that has the experience you need to achieve the maximum amount of recovery for your injuries.

Are you a victim of medical malpractice? If you are looking for accident claims advice, the author recommends the Crowson Law Group.