subject: Motorcycle Accident Attorneys: Ease Their Task By Avoiding These Mistakes [print this page] Even the best motorcycle accident attorneys in the country can't work against both the defendants and their own clients. Sadly, it is the victim who more often than not reduces his or her own chances at recovering a decent settlement by making crucial errors along the way. It isn't an intentional sabotage, of course; most people have no clue how the legal system works and what they should and should not say on their own behalf. Unfortunately, the opposing lawyers will often try to get you to say the very things you shouldn't. To avoid this mess, here are some mistakes you should not make.
Keep Quiet
You have to talk to the police when they come to the scene of the accident, but you don't need to talk to the person who hit you, his or her insurance company, or any other witnesses in the area. You don't need to go home, get on the phone, and talk to everyone you know about the crash. Most motorcycle accident attorneys will advise you to keep your mouth closed as much as possible. The more people you talk to and the more information you give out, the easier it will be for your opponents to find a misstep. Even harmless, meaningless statements can sound really bad in front of a jury.
Get Medical Attention
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is refusing medical attention at the scene. Get checked out. In a worst-case scenario (financially), nothing is wrong with you and your insurance company has to pick up the bill. Just because you feel fine after the crash doesn't mean you are fine. And if you realize a few hours later (or worse, a few days later) that maybe you aren't OK after all, it's going to look suspicious to a jury. Motorcycle accident attorneys have an uphill battle to fight when their clients initially refused medical attention.
Don't Make Assumptions
Even with all of the evidence to the contrary, most people like to believe that they live among humans who share their values for common decency and a passion for doing the right thing. You may soon find that when the rubber meets the road, those idealistic values go flying out the window. Don't make assumptions about what the case will bring, especially as it pertains to your opponent's actions. Motorcycle accident attorneys have all seen endless cases where fault is as obvious as daylight, yet the driver at fault refuses to admit that he or she should take the blame. Similarly, there have been plenty of cases where the call for compensation is clear, yet the insurance company refuses to pay. If everyone did the right thing, there would be no reason for civil lawyers to exist.
