Maine Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Why Choose The Goldwater Law Firm?

Hiring a lawyer means having the peace of mind to focus on recovering rather than the legal process. An attorney can:

• File all necessary paperwork, ensuring it is accurate and complete
• Investigate the accident to establish negligence
• Handle communications with insurance companies and their legal teams
• Advise you during the settlement process
• Represent you in court, when necessary

Your lawyer will keep you informed and give you the legal support you need.

The Goldwater Law Firm has been helping the injured for over 20 years. We refuse to allow insurance companies to take advantage of injured people. We know your need for results is paramount, so we will connect with one of our co-counsels dedicated to providing compassionate legal service.

What Compensation Could You Qualify For?

After a motorcycle accident, you may have injuries like:

• Road rash, which can lead to infection and scarring
• Spinal cord injuries, which may affect your mobility
• Traumatic brain injuries, which can lead to cognitive and sensory function issues
• Internal organ damage
• Broken bones, soft tissue damage, or lost limbs

These injuries are serious and can result in years of medical care, lost wages, and a future that no longer looks the way you imagined it. Fair compensation should account for everything you’ve suffered due to someone else being careless.

Depending on the accident and your injuries, you may qualify for compensation for losses like:

Medical Expenses

After an accident, medical bills are often one of the larger costs. You may be able to recover compensation for past and future medical expenses related to the accident, including:

• Emergency medical services
• Doctor appointments
• Diagnostic exams, like an X-ray or an MRI
• Medication
• Physical therapy

Job-Related Losses

Depending on your injuries, you may need to miss work to recover. In other cases, your injuries may lead to a permanent disability that prevents you from ever returning to work. Compensation accounts for:

• Lost wages
• Diminished earning capacity
• Loss of job-based benefits

Property Damage and Other Expenses

Repairing or replacing your motorcycle and gear, home modifications to increase accessibility, and even gas to go back and forth from medical expenses, may all be recoverable.

Non-Economic Losses

While financial losses can be devastating, you may also suffer from losses that aren’t backed by receipts or bills. These include the physical and mental effects of an accident. You may be able to seek compensation for:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and mental trauma
• Lowered quality of life
• Loss of enjoyment of life

How Is Negligence Determined?

In some accidents, negligence is clear—for example, when an intoxicated driver crashes into your vehicle. In other cases, however, proving negligence can be more difficult. Your lawyer will need to conduct a thorough investigation to establish negligence and determine whether multiple parties may be liable.

Who Is to Blame?

In most motorcycle accidents, another driver is the sole liable party. However, there can be exceptions to this. Some potential liable parties include:

• Other drivers
• A company, if a commercial vehicle was involved
• A government entity, if hazardous road conditions existed that caused or exacerbated the accident
• Manufacturers, if a defective vehicle or part was involved

What Determines Negligence?

Legally, negligence is defined by four key elements (which all must be present). These elements are:

• Duty of Care: Someone owes another party a responsibility to keep them safe. Motor vehicle drivers, for example, must follow traffic laws to minimize the chance of hurting someone else.
• Breach: Someone breaches their duty of care through a careless action. A driver speeding or failing to yield would be a breach.
• Causation: That breach causes an accident. For example, the speeding driver doesn’t have enough time to react to a red light and T-bones another vehicle.
• Damages: The plaintiff has suffered losses due to the accident. Proof may be medical records showing your injuries or a mechanic’s estimate for your motorcycle’s repairs.

Proving Negligence Through Evidence

Your lawyer will gather evidence that helps establish that the four elements of negligence were met. Helpful evidence can include:

• Police reports
• Driving records
• Blood alcohol level tests
• Phone records, to prove that someone was distracted
• Surveillance footage, such as from security cameras
• Photos, such as those of vehicle damage and skid marks
• Witness statements
• Expert testimony, such as from an accident reconstructionist

The earlier a lawyer can begin their investigation, the easier it will be for them to collect necessary evidence. Contact The Goldwater Law Firm today.

Maine Laws Affecting Your Case

In Maine, you generally have six years to file a personal injury lawsuit. Usually, this countdown starts on the date of your injury. However, there are exceptions to this deadline, and bringing any concerns to your lawyer is important.

In addition to the timeline of your case, Maine’s laws also impact how much compensation you can recover. Under a modified comparative negligence system, you can recover compensation even when you were partly at fault for your accident. Your compensation decreases based on your percentage of fault. However, you cannot recover compensation if you are more than 49% at fault.

Affording a Personal Injury Attorney in Maine

You may feel overwhelmed by medical bills, lost wages, and other financial concerns after an accident. You may want a lawyer to help you, but are nervous about another cost. However, many personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis.

Under this fee system, you only pay your lawyer when they recover compensation for you. There are typically no upfront costs or hourly bills. Instead, they deduct their fees from your settlement.

What Should You Do After an Accident

After an accident, prioritize your health and safety. Call 9-1-1 to have medical professionals assess your condition. Try to move as little as possible until you have been told it is safe to do so.

If police are not called to the accident scene, make sure that you report the accident. Additionally, if you can, take photographs of the accident scene and any visible injuries you have.