Motorbikes offer a fine way to get around the greater Coastal Bend area. But whether you’re meandering down the Galveston coast, navigating high-traffic areas of Houston, enjoying scenic roads in The Woodlands, or driving in Katy or Pearland, TX, conditions sometimes cause an accident. Afterwards, you begin the long process of recovering from the crash. You’ve got to recover your health, get your bike fixed, and recover the money to pay your accident costs.
Chances are that the insurance company or the person who caused your wreck might make you a settlement offer in a Texas motorcycle accident. Defendants and insurers prefer to make you a quick cash offer before you’ve hired an attorney or really had a chance to think about the long-term costs of your accident. They know wrecks cause motorcyclists to bleed green as well as red, and that financial wounds accompany the physical ones. An unfair settlement saves them money. And once you’ve accepted it, you’ve released your right to sue them for more.
To avoid getting bitten by your need and their greed, here are some questions to ask before accepting any settlement offer:
· Do you have an attorney to protect your rights and your interests in the accident?
· Do you know all of the potential and long-term costs of the wreck yet?
· How clear-cut is your case?
· Who all is at fault for your collision, and what share of the blame does each person bear?
· How good and how convincing is your evidence?
· What evidence do the opposing parties have, and how good is it?
· What are your chances of winning your case at trial?
· Can you financially afford to wait out a trial to receive compensation?
· Does the settlement offer cover the full costs from your accident?
· How well funded is your opposition?
· Do juries in your area tend to make small or large compensation awards?
· How does the public’s generally negative perception of bikers affect your case?
You might be surprised how strongly the answers to some of these questions may influence the amount of your settlement offer. An experienced motorcycle accident attorney can help you understand the strengths and weaknesses of your case and what you should know before you settle. If defendants or insurers will not agree to offer you a fair amount, then taking them to trial may be your best option. You’ll need a trial attorney who’s willing and able to take you through the litigation process. Be wary of the “settlement mills” that refuse to undertake litigation. At Denena & Points, our experienced, Board Certified personal injury attorneys could help you negotiate a fair settlement for your case or ably tackle a trial on your behalf if that’s what it takes to extract fair compensation for your accident. Call us with your questions at (877) 307-9500; we have answers.