3 Terms to Know Before Filing a Motorcycle Accident Claim

If you were seriously injured in a motorcycle accident through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to compensation for hospital bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. For your third-party claim to be successful, though, you must gather sufficient evidence of both liability and damages.

Building a strong personal injury claim is a lot of work, and it’s natural to feel overwhelmed by the mere thought of entering the proceedings. The case law and statutes pertaining to these claims are complex, and you can expect the insurance company to do everything in its power to minimize your settlement or deny your claim outright.

Fortunately, you don’t have to go up against the insurer alone. A motorcycle accident attorney can take over the logistics of your case and make sure you are treated fairly from day one. Your lawyer can also help you understand complicated legalese so you have a better grasp of the proceedings.

Read on to learn three terms you should know before filing your claim:

1. Maximum Medical Improvement

Patients are considered to have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI) when they’ve healed to a point where doctors no longer expect their condition to improve. Your attorney may suggest putting off the settlement negotiations until you’ve reached MMI to avoid underestimating the cost of medical care and other damages. If you accept an early settlement and sign a release, you won’t be able to pursue further compensation even if your healthcare bills turn out to be more expensive than anticipated.

2. Personal Injury Protection

Minnesota follows a no-fault system, which means accident victims must typically file a claim with their own insurer before seeking additional compensation from the at-fault party; however, personal injury protection (PIP), a type of “no-fault” coverage, is optional for motorcyclists.

If you happen to have PIP coverage, your attorney can help you pursue compensation from your own insurer before seeking funds from the liable party’s provider. If you opted not to purchase PIP coverage, you would simply proceed with a third-party claim.

3. Statute of Limitations

In Minnesota, accident victims typically have six years from the date on which they were injured to bring their case to court. Although six years may seem like a considerable amount of time, there are several exceptions to this deadline. For example, if your loved one died in a motorcycle wreck, your family has just three years to file a wrongful death lawsuit. And if you want to bring a claim against a government entity, you must give the appropriate agency formal notice within just 180 days.

Call 320-259-5414 to Speak with a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in St. Cloud

If you were seriously hurt in a motorcycle accident with a drunk, distracted, or otherwise reckless driver, contact Bradshaw & Bryant. Our legal team will give your case the individual attention it deserves, and we’ll use all the resources at our disposal to fight for the highest settlement possible. Call 320-259-5414 or fill out our Contact Form to schedule a free consultation with a motorcycle accident attorney in St. Cloud.