Fairbanks, Alaska Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
Riding a motorcycle should be a fun, enjoyable way to relax and explore the beautiful state of Alaska. We know there are safety risks—motorcycles lack the protection of an enclosed vehicle, leaving you exposed to the elements and the open road. And if you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, you probably feel scared and uncertain. An injury can affect your life. How will you provide financial support for your family? How will you afford the cost of your medical bills for injuries that require long-term treatment? How will you get back to doing the things you love? It’s important if you experience a motorcycle accident, you contact a Fairbanks motorcycle accident lawyer from Ringstad Law Office, P.C. to fully understand your rights.
You Don’t Have to Go Through This Difficult Time Alone
At Ringstad Law Office, P.C., we help Alaska residents like you who have been hurt or who have lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident. You don’t have to settle for whatever the insurance company is willing to offer you; we’re here to fight for the compensation you deserve so you can focus on what matters most: recovering. Our experienced motorcycle accident attorneys are dedicated to giving you peace of mind. We will listen to you. We will respect you. We will defend you.
Our Motorcycle Accident Injury Process
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, we hope you will seek legal counsel as soon as possible. Alaska residents can call Ringstad Law Office, P.C., for a free consultation. We will discuss your rights based on your unique situation.
Several things our attorneys can do for you are to advise you of your legal options, gather information, and prepare for trial if necessary. Cases typically settle when the insurance company knows you’re ready and willing to go to trial. The insurance company will likely pay fair compensation to avoid going to trial, so it is important to prepare your case. If the case can’t be settled through negotiation, we’ll defend you—all the way to court.
Click Here Or The Image Above To View Our Motorcycle Accident Infographic
What Type of Compensation Can I Get?
The cost of treating your injuries can be astronomical, and you may not have the resources to pay for treatment. If you’ve suffered from injuries or lost a loved one due to a motorcycle accident, you should seek compensation for your losses. Damages for your injuries could include the following:
- Loss of earnings
- Loss of future earnings
- Past medical bills
- Cost of future medical care
- Loss of property
- Pain and suffering
If your loved one died in a motorcycle accident, you may be eligible to receive wrongful death damages, which could include the following:
- Medical bills before death
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of financial contribution
Compensation is dependent upon the facts and details of your case. The experienced motorcycle accident attorneys at Ringstad Law Office, P.C. will work with you to determine the best action and fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
How Long Do I Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim?
The Alaska statute of limitations for a personal injury is, generally, two years after the injury. That said, no one should wait until the last minute to file a claim. The sooner you contact an attorney, the easier it is to pursue your case. Evidence will be easier to obtain, and there is a greater chance that you will get a fair result and total compensation.
How to Find the Right Fairbanks Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Near You
You may want to know whether you need a personal injury attorney following your motorcycle accident or whether you can negotiate with the insurance company on your own. If you have any doubts regarding this matter, consider everything your Fairbanks motorcycle accident lawyer will do on your behalf.
- Your attorney will gather all evidence, including the police report, traffic footage, witness statements, and evidence showing the other driver was negligent.
- Your attorney will spend considerable time ensuring your claim is properly valued. This means determining how long you will require medical treatment for your injuries (and what that treatment will cost), how long you will be off work to determine lost wages, and your level of pain and suffering when calculating non-economic damages.
- Deadlines for your claim will never be missed, as your attorney will know the precise time limitations for each process step.
- Your attorney will negotiate with the insurer after determining your claim worth, working toward a full and fair settlement.
- If no settlement can be reached, your attorney will file a lawsuit and take your claim to court. Only experienced attorneys would be comfortable arguing their case in a courtroom.
- Your case will be handled on a contingency fee, so you will not pay something if no money is recovered for you through a settlement. The costs associated with litigation will also be advanced to you, so you have no upfront costs.
Are There More Motorcycle Accidents Than Car Accidents?
While there are more car accidents than motorcycle accidents on the roadways in the United States, motorcyclists are much more likely to sustain severe or catastrophic injuries or die following an automobile accident. According to the National Safety Council, while motorcyclists make up only 3 percent of all vehicles on the roadways, they account for 14 percent of all traffic-related deaths. They are 28 times more likely to suffer a fatal injury from an accident than those in passenger vehicles. Fatalities among motorcyclists and their passengers increased by 11 percent in the United States from 2019-2020. However, the rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled increased by 23 percent. In other words, there are more motorcycles on the roadways, therefore more accidents and resulting deaths.
Why Are Motorcycle Accident Claims More Complex Than Car Accident Claims?
A motorcycle accident can be traumatic, disrupting your life even more than a car accident. When you are involved in a car accident, you at least have some protection, including being surrounded by a steel and glass “cage,” along with seatbelts and airbags. A motorcyclist has none of these things, and during a motorcycle accident, the motorcyclist is often flung from their bike, landing on concrete, or colliding with a fixed object at a high rate of speed.
There also exist certain biases that insurance companies and juries may have regarding motorcyclists. The stereotype of the hard-living, risk-taking biker is not valid today, yet many people still believe it to be true. In reality, motorcyclists today tend to be older, often professionals like lawyers and doctors.
Many motorcyclists use their bikes to get back and forth to work to save money on gas. Yet despite all this, biases and stereotypes against motorcyclists persist. Because of the potential biases against motorcyclists, you must have a highly experienced Fairbanks motorcycle accident lawyer fighting against these biases for you and your future.
Your attorney will also ensure a jury fully understands the extent of your injuries and that you did nothing wrong to cause the accident. Motorcyclists have the same right to be on the road as any other vehicle, so when another driver is negligent, you are entitled to total compensation for your injuries and other damages.
What Do I Do After a Motorcycle Accident?
Here at Ringstad Law Office, P.C., we hope you are never involved in a motorcycle accident. You may have worn all the appropriate safety gear and followed safe driving practices to the best of your ability, but accidents happen. When they do, you must be aware of what you should and shouldn’t do after the accident.
DO:
- Seek medical treatment first before doing anything else
- Note the time of the accident if you’re able
- Exchange information with the other driver (name, address, insurance company, and insurance policy)
- Contact police and/or emergency personnel
- Check to see if there are witnesses and get their contact information
- Take photographs of the scene
- Call your insurance agent and notify them of the accident
- Contact an experienced Fairbanks motorcycle accident lawyer from Ringstad Law Office
DON’T:
- Apologize—even saying “I’m sorry” when you mean you’re sorry the accident occurred can be misconstrued as an admission of guilt.
- Tell the police you feel okay—your injuries may be more extensive than you realize in the moment.
- Accept fault for the accident on the scene.
- Don’t let the insurance companies take advantage of you. We’ll aggressively defend you, fighting for your rights every step of the way.
Your health and safety are the biggest priorities. Seek medical attention for your injuries as soon as possible and record photographic evidence of those injuries as they progress. Keep your medical bills, doctor visits, surgeries, and anything else that lawyers can use to build your case.
Contact a Fairbanks Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Near You
If you or a loved one was involved in a motorcycle accident, the attorneys at Ringstad Law Office, P.C. are ready to advocate for your best interests. Call or request a free consultation today to learn more about how we can help you. We work for a contingency fee, meaning you don’t pay unless we collect compensation. There is no risk in calling. Let’s get you the justice you deserve.
