The life-changing event of a motorcycle accident can take place in a second. Riders, those in Madison particularly, are exposed to certain hazards because of the traffic, weather, and drivers who do not see motorcycles at all or simply do not care to notice them. If such an accident occurs, it is a must to have knowledge of your legal rights in order to protect your health, finances, and future. Most riders do not even know what kind of compensation they might get or what to do first to keep their claim distribution assured. Being aware of these rights can result in a very different outcome for your case if you will be a victim of Madison Motorcycle Accidents.
If through negligence of another party you get hurt in a motorcycle accident in Madison, then one of your main legal rights is the right to ask for compensation. Negligence may be in the form of driving while using a phone, going too fast, not giving way, impaired driving, or changing lanes without safety. According to Wisconsin law, injured motorcyclists can recover the damages from the responsible party, covering medical bills, lost income, damage to property, pain and suffering, and future medical care. You might think you are a little bit to blame, but still, you could have a strong claim based on Wisconsin’s comparative negligence law which says that your share of blame cannot be more than 50 percent for the accident.
Moreover, you can utilize the medical treatment as evidence in your claim and, consequently, you are entitled to receive medical treatment. It is crucial for your health to seek immediate medical care after a motorcycle accident and at the same time it would be the best way to document your injuries. Documentation done through the medical records, diagnostic tests, and follow-up treatments makes it harder for the insurance companies to stage the injuries as pre-existing or unrelated to the accident. Eventually, the medical evidence would be in favor of your case thereby strengthening it.
One more significant right is the right to submit an insurance claim or a lawsuit in a particular time frame. The statute of limitations in Wisconsin indicates the longest duration in which a person can file a personal injury claim. If the claim is not lodged during this time, there is a possibility that the person’s right to receive compensation is entirely forfeited. Thus, it becomes very important to be quick in taking actions after a Madison motorcycle accident. The collection of the necessary evidence, including police reports, witness revocations, scene photos, and repair budgets right at the beginning can be of great help to your claim and also to the smooth flow of the case without any delays.
Motorcyclists equally deserve to be treated fairly by the insurance companies. Nonetheless, biases against riders are common, as insurers deduce that motorcyclists are wild or liable for their injuries. This could result in insurers offering a small amount of money to settle or, worse, rejecting the claims altogether. It is not necessary for you to take an unjust settlement, and you are free to either bargain or file a lawsuit if the insurer does not co-operate. It is very important to know your rights first before talking at length about the accident because statements made to insurers can be turned against you.
