The injuries caused by motorcycle accidents can forever change victims’ lives, creating mobility problems, chronic pain and other severe physical limitations and disabilities. Accident victims are encouraged to contact the licensed Green Bay motorcycle accident lawyers at Sigman, Janssen, Sewall, Pitz & Burkham to discuss the merits of their claim. We may be able to pursue compensation to help with the recovery process. Our attorneys have recovered significant compensation for motorcycle accident clients, including a $500,000 settlement obtained by attorney Mark Sewall on behalf of a motorcycle rider who suffered a leg injury.
If you were injured in a Green Bay motorcycle accident, you can contact us right now for a free legal consultation and we do not bill for providing legal representation unless you are fairly compensated at the end of the legal process.
Have a question? Call (877) 888-5201.
Is There a Deadline to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim?
If you are looking to obtain compensation for the losses you have incurred, it is generally a wise decision to call a lawyer as soon as possible after your accident. Many personal injury lawsuits must be filed within just three years from the date of the crash. This is the deadline set by Wisconsin’s personal injury statute of limitations.
There are exceptions to this three-year deadline though. The deadline for your claim depends on the specifics of your situation. Sometimes lawsuits can be filed after the three years have passed and other times they must be filed before the three-year deadline. For example, when injury victims are minors, the statute of limitations gets extended until their 20th birthday.
Our Green Bay motorcycle accident attorneys can answer your questions about the statute of limitations. If you are unsure about how much time you may have to take legal action, we are here to help you.
Compensation Available for Wisconsin Motorcycle Accident Victims
If you have a valid motorcycle accident case, you may be eligible for compensation. The types of compensation and amount that may be pursued depending on the specifics of your accident and how it has affected you. Our attorneys can consider several factors when trying to value your claim, such as:
- Medical expenses – These expenses include all health care costs caused by your injuries, such as emergency services, hospital stays, surgeries, medications, doctors’ visits and therapy.
- Loss of wages – Your injuries may prevent you from working while recovering. You may be compensated for any income, including benefits, that you lost after the accident.
- Property damage – This includes any repair or rental costs, including recovering the fair market value of a motorcycle if it is wrecked beyond repair.
- Pain and suffering – Your physical pain and mental suffering may be the most significant injuries you experience. If you have a case, our attorneys can help calculate a fair value for these damages as they are very subjective and difficult to monetize.
Our experienced attorneys are committed to protecting the rights of motorcycle accident victims and helping them obtain the compensation they deserve.
We are available to discuss your potential case during a free consultation.
How Do I Prove Someone Else is Responsible for the Accident?
Should you decide to pursue a damages claim, the team at Sigman, Janssen, Sewall, Pitz & Burkham will help to recover the information that we need to build a robust argument for your damages claim. However, it must be established that the other party was negligent, and there are commonly four components needed to demonstrate that negligence:
Existence of Duty of Care
It must be established that the at-fault party had a legal duty to take reasonable steps to protect himself or herself and others from injury. Taking reasonable steps means doing what a reasonable person would do in a similar situation.
Breach of Duty
Your attorney can help you determine if the at-fault party failed to uphold a duty of care during the accident.
Causation
There must be a direct link between you suffering an injury and the at-fault party breaching the duty of care. Your medical records and the police report may be used to try to prove this link exists.
Damages from Your Injuries
There must be sufficient evidence that associates your injuries to a tangible cost – for example, medical expenses and pain and suffering.
Do I Still Have a Case if I Was Not Wearing a Helmet?
Yes, you still have a case. However, we encourage you to contact our legal team today so that we can review your situation and better determine the value of your case.
We have detailed knowledge about Wisconsin laws on motorcycles and can answer your questions about motorcycle accident claims. Call us for a free consultation.
What to Do in the Aftermath of a Motorcycle Accident
Even though every motorcycle crash is different, there are some standard steps you can take in the aftermath to try to protect your health and safety and begin building a potential case.
Get to the Hospital
The most important thing after a collision is that you are seen by a skilled doctor to evaluate what happened and the injuries you suffered. Any injuries need to be stabilized and properly dealt with to help prevent more problems. You may think your injuries are not that bad, but a doctor can tell you what is really going on.
Search for Evidence
In many cases, motorcycle crash victims are incapacitated and unable to walk around and gather evidence. They are also focused on their injuries, and for good reason.
However, when possible, accident victims should try to take pictures at the scene. You want to document the damage to your bike and the car that hit you. You also want to show your injuries and damage to the roadway and surrounding area.
It is also important to collect information on all involved parties, including drivers and passengers. You need their names, contact information, insurance companies, driver’s license numbers and license plate numbers.
Ask Witnesses What Happened
You had one view of the crash because you were involved. However, witnesses may have seen things you did not that can add clarity to the situation. Take notes on your conversations with witnesses and ask for phone numbers or email addresses. This will allow your lawyer to contact them later for more information or to verify what they said.
Talk to an Attorney
We recommend contacting one of our Green Bay motorcycle accident attorneys before filing an insurance claim. If the insurance company contacts you asking for a recorded statement, you can decline and discuss it with us. Insurance companies want you to give a statement right away so they can use it against you and try to devalue your claim.
Our attorneys have decades of combined experience and, if you have a case, we can handle the legal process on your behalf. This includes talking to the insurance company, obtaining medical records and police reports, and determining the value of your damages. We have a track record of obtaining fair compensation for injury victims.
Call us today at (877) 888-5201.
Motorcycle Insurance Requirements in Wisconsin
When another driver causes a motorcycle accident, the victim may be able to pursue compensation from that driver’s insurance policy. Wisconsin law says at-fault drivers have financial responsibility for damages in accidents they cause. This means you may be able to file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. You could also file a claim with your insurance company, which will likely contact the other insurance company to collect compensation.
If the other driver is complying with the law, he or she should have a few coverages you may be able to draw compensation from for your damages. The minimum amounts required by law are:
- At least $25,000 to pay for injury to one person in one crash
- $50,000 at minimum to cover injury or death of two or more people in one accident
- Property damage coverage of at least $10,000 to pay for damage to your motorcycle from the accident
The first two coverages are for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering the victim suffers.
Unfortunately, sometimes the driver who hits a motorcyclist does not have insurance or lacks enough coverage to pay for the full cost of damages. This is why the state requires motorists, including motorcycle riders, to have uninsured motorist coverage. The minimum amounts required by law are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. A Green Bay motorcycle accident lawyer from our firm can answer your questions about these kinds of situations because they can be very complicated.
You can reach us by phone at (877) 888-5201.
Common Examples of Motorcycle Crashes
There are certain motorcycle crashes that are often caused by the negligence of other drivers. Victims of these crashes should seek out a qualified attorney to review their possible options.
Left-Turn Accidents
Motorcyclists can get hit making a left turn or when passing through an intersection. Drivers are often at-fault because they do not look for motorcycles or think they can make it through the intersection before a motorcycle.
Rear-End Crashes
Distracted drivers often do not look up in enough time to realize they need to stop, and they are unable to avoid hitting the stopped motorcycle in front of them.
Lane-Change Crashes
Drivers often fail to look for motorcycles when changing lanes, which increases the risk of these crashes.
If you were involved in any type of motorcycle crash caused by negligence, you may be eligible to pursue financial compensation.
You can discuss the situation with a Green Bay motorcycle accident lawyer. Contact us for a free legal consultation right now. Call (877) 888-5201.
Contact a Green Bay Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today
Recovering from a motorcycle accident can be a long process. Having a reputable law firm on your side can help to ease the burden of knowing that your rights are being protected.
Contact our Green Bay motorcycle accident lawyers today to learn more about how we may be able to help you. If you decide to move forward with your case, we can manage the entire legal process on your behalf and let you focus on getting healthy. Your initial consultation is 100 percent free, and since we operate on a contingency basis, there are also no upfront attorney fees to worry about. What this means for you is that you pay nothing at all unless we are successful in recovering compensation.
Contact our attorneys at (877) 888-5201.