Santa Fe Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Santa Fe Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Motorcycles are popular throughout the Santa Fe area, and all riders understand the inherent risks they face on the road while riding these vehicles. A motorcycle offers no physical protection in a crash, and if you or a loved one experiences this type of accident, it is likely to result in severe injuries. A Santa Fe motorcycle accident lawyer can help you recover from the aftermath of an accident another driver caused.

Representing Motorcycle Accident Victims in Santa Fe, NM

The team at Youngers Law, PA, has extensive professional experience representing Santa Fe clients in a wide range of personal injury cases, including those arising from motor vehicle accidents. While motorcycle accidents are less common than passenger car accidents, they tend to result in far worse damages. Determining fault and collecting compensation for this type of accident is often more challenging than the average person initially expects.

With our team’s assistance, you can focus on your recovery and your personal obligations while we handle your legal affairs efficiently. You will be able to rest and recover with peace of mind, knowing that our firm will be ready to assist you with any concerns or answer any questions you may have about your case, your recovery options, and the compensation you may be able to collect from the driver who caused your accident.

Any accident claim in Santa Fe has the potential to evolve into a complex legal matter that the average person will not be able to effectively navigate alone. You need legal counsel you trust for your case, whether you expect to recover with an auto insurance claim, file a personal injury suit, or pursue a combination of different recovery efforts in order to secure compensation for the losses you suffered.

Maximizing Compensation After a New Mexico Motorcycle Accident

Our goal is to help you get full and fair compensation after a collision. There are several things you can do to help your claim shortly after the collision.

1. Help Gather Evidence: You can help your case by gathering information that can lead to evidence. Properly documenting the scene after your accident can be an invaluable resource in your claim. You or someone you know may have taken photos or videos of the accident scene. You also may find out who might have witnessed the crash, get their names and contact information, and find out what they may have observed. In addition, it can be helpful to take photos of your injuries.
2. Track Medical Records and Providers: You will want to keep track of all your medical records and providers. Taking notes or keeping a journal about your treatment and how you are feeling can be very helpful in later explaining not only what your injuries were, but also how they impacted you in all aspects of your life. You should also make a note and record of all financial burdens related to your injury. It’s important to consider all the active and potential long-term effects, as well as the physical and emotional toll on you.
3. Get Legal Support: One of the next most important steps is to work with an attorney who understands how to negotiate with and navigate the insurance companies and others involved with your case. Youngers Law can help you do this. We are highly skilled and ready to advocate for you. We can help you determine and prove who was at fault for your accident and we will help ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

These initial steps may increase your chances of success with the recovery efforts you pursue. The determining factor as to whether you can seek compensation for your damages from another party is if another party is clearly responsible for your accident. You will need to establish fault for your motorcycle accident before seeking compensation through auto insurance and/or a personal injury suit.

Proving Liability for Your Motorcycle Crash in Santa Fe

Motorcycle accidents most often occur because of driver negligence, such as speeding, moving violations, or distracted driving. They may also happen when drivers break the law by driving recklessly and/or while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The state upholds a fault-based system for resolving all vehicle accidents, so proving fault is necessary before you can seek compensation for the damages you suffered.

Your Santa Fe motorcycle accident lawyer can help you secure the evidence you will need to prove fault, some of which you may be unable to obtain on your own. Every driver in the state is required to have auto insurance that meets minimum coverage requirements, and when a covered driver causes a crash, their insurance will pay for the resulting damages. However, dealing with insurance companies is often challenging.

Your attorney can help you navigate the insurance claim filing process, ensuring your claim is handled in good faith. If insurance will not fully cover your losses, or if the at-fault driver does not have insurance, you will need to file a personal injury suit in order to collect compensation. The standard of proof for proving liability in a personal injury case is a preponderance of the evidence, meaning the evidence must show the defendant is more likely than not at fault.

Damages and Compensation in a Motorcycle Accident Case

If you are able to prove that another driver is directly responsible for causing your motorcycle accident, it is possible to hold them accountable for the economic and non-economic damages you suffered because of their actions. The economic damages you may be eligible to claim could include vehicle repair or replacement costs, medical expenses, and lost income if you are unable to work due to your injuries.

New Mexico personal injury law also allows an injured plaintiff to seek compensation for their non-economic damages, specifically pain and suffering. It may sound difficult to assign financial value to things like physical pain and emotional distress, but your attorney will help you determine a fair amount based on the severity of your experienced. Youngers Law, PA, will do everything we can to help you maximize compensation for your damages.

FAQs

How Do You Prove Fault for a Motorcycle Accident in Santa Fe?

You can prove fault for a motorcycle accident in Santa Fe by gathering evidence such as cell phone records, vehicle computer data, photos of the accident scene, and traffic camera footage. If anyone saw the accident happen, their witness testimony could be invaluable to your case. An experienced Santa Fe motorcycle accident lawyer can help you gather the evidence you will need to prove liability for your accident and the resulting damages.

What Happens if I Share Fault for a Motorcycle Accident?

If you share fault for your motorcycle accident, you will face a diminished recovery under the state’s pure comparative negligence statute. Whenever a plaintiff in a personal injury case shares liability for their damages, whatever percentage of fault is assigned to them will be the percentage of their total compensation, they lose as a penalty. Your attorney can explain how comparative negligence may influence the outcome of your case.

What Happens if a Motorcycle Accident in Santa Fe is Fatal?

If a motorcycle accident in Santa Fe is fatal, you may have the right to file a wrongful death claim against the party who caused the accident. If you lost a loved one due to another party’s act of negligence or illegal misconduct, this could form the basis of a wrongful death suit. This type of personal injury claim seeks compensation for the losses suffered by the family of the victim and damages incurred by the estate of the deceased.

How Much Compensation Can I Claim for a Motorcycle Accident?

The amount of compensation you can claim for a motorcycle accident will depend on the scope and severity of your damages. You have the right to claim full repayment of your economic losses, such as property damage, medical bills, and lost income, and you have the right to seek pain and suffering compensation from whoever caused the accident. Your Santa Fe motorcycle accident lawyer can help you assess the full value of your claim.

What Does it Cost to Hire a Santa Fe Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?

The cost to hire a Santa Fe motorcycle accident lawyer will be a percentage of your final case award if you choose Youngers Law, PA, to represent you. We take most personal injury cases on a contingency basis, meaning we only charge our client a fee if we secure compensation for their damages. Our fee will be a percentage of their settlement or verdict, and there is no fee at all if we are unable to secure a recovery for our client.

Youngers Law, PA, has successfully helped many injured clients recover from all types of accidents in Santa Fe, including motorcycle crashes. We know the unique challenges you could face in the aftermath of this type of accident and how to help you recover. You have a limited time to file your claim, so contact us today and schedule a consultation with a Santa Fe motorcycle accident lawyer to learn more about your recovery options.