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Southern California weather and scenic drives make it the perfect place for riding motorbikes. Unfortunately, serious wrecks frequently occur on our busy streets and freeways. Michael D. Waks is a motorcycle accident lawyer in Long Beach who has seen the impact that these collisions can have on victims and their families, and he will aggressively fight for the compensation you deserve.
In many cases, the cause of a motorcycle accident can be traced back to a driver who claims not to have seen the biker. Even though motorcycles are smaller than most other vehicles on the road, that is not an excuse for a driver who did not look carefully when changing lanes or making a turn.
Tragically, the insurance company for the liable driver may deny your accident claim, saying you were somehow to blame. Attorney Michael D. Waks knows how to overcome these tactics; he has been fighting insurance companies on behalf of his personal injury clients for over 30 years. Call (888) 394-1174 for a free consultation.
Qualities That Set Michael D. Waks Apart from Other Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
A quick Google search will turn up many different law firms in Long Beach willing to take on your case. With so many options, it’s only natural to feel overwhelmed—especially if your life has just been derailed by a serious crash. However, it’s important to think carefully about this decision. Like any profession, there can be a drastic difference between two motorcycle accident attorneys. Here are a few qualities that set attorney Michael D. Waks apart from other lawyers in the area:
- He Investigates Each Case Thoroughly: Some lawyers take a business-minded approach, prioritizing an expeditious settlement over providing the best possible legal representation. As such, they may only handle cases that seem likely to result in a quick recovery, and when disputes arise, they might not put in the work necessary to overcome them. As your Long Beach motorcycle accident attorney, Michael D. Waks will investigate your case thoroughly and will provide tenacious representation.
- He Is a Seasoned Litigator: Not every personal injury lawyer has a track record of success in litigation. Many excel during the initial negotiations but do not have the experience or resources to navigate discovery, alternative dispute resolution, and trial. Attorney Michael Waks is a seasoned litigator who knows what it takes to fight for a successful outcome in and out of court.
- He Is Accessible: The aftermath of a serious injury or wrongful death can have a devastating impact on your life. During this stressful time, you may have many questions about your claim. If you hire a lawyer who takes several days to respond to your phone calls, texts, and emails, it will only heighten your stress levels. Michael limits his caseload so every client receives attentive representation.
Should I Stay Off Social Media While My Motorcycle Accident Claim Is Pending?
Anything you say or do after an accident could impact the outcome of your case. The insurance adjuster may monitor your social media activity as part of their investigation. They would be searching for any posts that could be used as evidence to dispute your claim. For this reason, we may advise you to deactivate your accounts until your case has concluded.
However, if you’re not ready to take this step, here are a few ways you can protect yourself next time you go online:
- Screen New Friend Requests: If you receive a connection request from someone you don’t know, it’s best to ignore it. Insurance companies might employ a variety of tactics to find evidence that can be used to dispute or reduce claims. One strategy may involve sending a follow/friend request to gain access to a claimant’s social media profiles. Even if the request is not from the claims adjuster, it may be from another individual at the insurance company or an opposing party.
- Never Discuss Your Accident: After suffering a serious injury, you may be tempted to turn to friends and family on social media for support and guidance. However, posting about your case, injuries, or the motorcycle accident could lead to problems down the road. Even if your account is set to “private,” the defense may be able to file a discovery request during litigation to gain access to posts you’ve published on these platforms.
- Don’t Post Pictures of Yourself: Recovering from a serious injury can be a challenging and painful journey. While you might be struggling, there will still be a few bright moments along the way. In the past, you might have picked up the camera and snapped a picture to share with those in your online circles. However, while your case is pending, sharing these pictures could impact the outcome of our claim. For instance, if you publish an image of yourself engaged in a physical activity, the insurance company may use this as evidence to assert that your injuries are not very serious or that you failed to mitigate damages.
What to Do Immediately After the Wreck
Your first step should be to call 911 and request an officer to attend the scene. Even if nobody was severely hurt, you need a traffic crash report (TCR) to officially document what happened. Then, contact an attorney right away.
It’s also important that you seek medical care upon leaving the scene because the sooner you get an official diagnosis, the easier it will be to establish causation. Also, delaying medical care could be considered a failure to mitigate damages and might reduce your financial recovery.
What Mistakes Should I Avoid During the Proceedings?
Even if you have strong evidence to prove liability, causation, and damages, there are still many ways you could compromise your case. At The Law Office of Michael D. Waks, we can guide you through the claims process so you don’t hurt your chances of obtaining a fair settlement.
Below are a few common mistakes claimants make while their cases are pending:
- Providing a Recorded Statement: After reporting the accident to the insurance company, it’s likely that a claims adjuster will reach out to you for a recorded statement. While it may seem like a simple request, it’s not unheard of for the insurance company to coerce claimants into making statements that could be used as evidence to challenge their claims. As such, you should not correspond with the insurance company directly; instead, let your Long Beach motorcycle accident attorney handle all dialogue from day one.
- Delaying a Medical Evaluation: In a personal injury case, you have an obligation to take reasonable steps to mitigate damages. Fail to do so by, for example, not following your doctor’s instructions or doing anything that exacerbates your injuries, and you may be unable to recover compensation for 100 percent of the losses you incurred. Postponing a doctor’s visit after an accident or foregoing treatment entirely could lead to medical complications for which you are held responsible.
- Rushing into Settlement Negotiations: Accepting a settlement offer from the insurance company before you have achieved maximum medical improvement could lead to financial turmoil in the future. During your recovery, you may have to undergo unanticipated procedures, fork out thousands of dollars for physical therapy, or you might miss more work than you originally envisioned. Agreeing to an offer before you’ve reached MMI might mean your financial award falls short of covering your losses.
- Posting About Your Injuries Online: In the digital age, it’s only natural to turn to social media for support and advice after a traumatic accident. But as previously mentioned, since the claims adjuster will likely be monitoring your online activity, you should avoid posting about your motorcycle accident online until your case is resolved as anything you publish could be used as evidence to dispute aspects of your claim.
How a Long Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Help
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a Southern California motorcycle accident, you need strong and compassionate representation. That is exactly what you will get at the Law Office of Michael D. Waks.
Michael Waks has an arsenal of resources at his disposal including medical experts, accident reconstruction specialists, and economists. He can review the facts of your case, gather evidence, handle talks with the insurer, and help you avoid critical mistakes. A seasoned trial lawyer, Michael Waks is not afraid to see a case through to the end if the opposing party refuses to settle. If you sustained injuries from a motorcycle accident in Long Beach or a surrounding Southern California community, don’t let the insurance company push you around.
Level the playing field by hiring a tough-minded attorney. Long Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Michael Waks knows how to hold negligent parties accountable.
Some severe motorcycle accident injuries include:
- Death
- Brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Amputation
- Back injury
Contact a Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Long Beach, CA for a Free Consultation
Not all attorneys are equipped to represent motorcycle accident victims, but Michael D. Waks has the experience, knowledge, and resources to guide you through every stage of the proceedings. He is intimately familiar with precedents and statutes that apply to motorcycle injury cases, and he knows what it takes to achieve favorable outcomes for his clients.
If you would like to discuss your claim with a Long Beach California motorcycle accident attorney, schedule a free consultation with Michael D. Waks. Calling us does not obligate you to hire Michael. If you do hire him, you won’t owe a cent in attorneys’ fees unless you win. Call (888) 394-1174 to book a free case review.