when you think it wouldnt happen to you and...BAM!

[madmike]

Not to sound too anti-lawyer, but before you run out to get one, do your math.

Common lawyer percentage is around 1/3. Now, a lawyer might tell you he can get you more money, but understand how much more he needs to get you.

Let's say your bike is a total loss, and the insurance company would offer you $6000 for it.

If you got a lawyer, and he took 1/3 of the settlement, he needs to get you a settlement of $9000 for you to get that same $6000. He's taking the other $3,000.

And unless you have a legitimate injury you can prove in court is costing you money, no lawyer is getting you 9K for 6K of damages...not from an insurance company.

If your lawyer negotiates the same $6,000...now you only keep $4,000. When you could have had the whole 6K just by dealing with your insurance agent. And your lawyer is an expert at hourly math. He knows the difference between a 9K settlement and a 6K settlement for him = $1,000. If his hourly rate is $100 an hour, he will ask himself if that extra $3K in settlement will take him more or less than 10 hours of total work over the next 6 months to a year, and that is how he will work the settlement.

Just saying, think about it. Lawyers are def NOT free. Call your insurance.

 

[Hoptownky]

This will be my last post on the matter. Get a free consultation with a qualified attorney. You can make up your own mind as to whether or not you want them to represent you after you get their analysis of the totality of the case.There are many types of damages, and unless you are an expert on the subject you are not qualified to negotiate with an insurance company. This may not be a 9000.00 dollar case, it may be a 90,000.00 dollar case. Don't be foolish; talk to an expert.

 

[leprecaun jon]

yeah her foot slipped right? look at the phone in her hands... somthing tells me it has to do with that little device..... and her new car that you now have hitched to your bike like a trailer... now you can ride 6 up lol one on back 5 behind XD

 

[6R Blackout]

yeah her foot slipped right? look at the phone in her hands... somthing tells me it has to do with that little device..... and her new car that you now have hitched to your bike like a trailer... now you can ride 6 up lol one on back 5 behind XD

I have to agree with leprecaun jon I don't believe her foot slipped, she probably was either texting or talking on the phone, either or I don't think her foot just slipped. And yeah again it probably wouldnt hurt to get a free consultation, atleast do that much!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Casey (aka) Hunter77!

 

[jocampo]

Glad you're ok.

I just had my 1st bike accident a week ago. So I know how it feels. Like you, had a stupid woman who asked me to move the bike while it was down on pavement (the bike) and I was alone. I just ignore her. Later she called the cops. They end helping me and moving the bike, ha.

If you have good coverage, check with insurance. If nothing major happened to you, don't recommend a lawyer, won't be cost effective.

And I know this won't fix the issue, but as an advice, I always blink stop sign and keep looking my rear when I stopped on a traffic light. It won't totally prevent this but on occasions can help.

 

[Superzoom]

My personal opinion is, let insurance take care of it. There is a good chance they will write off the bike. The reason I suggest that is that it is dangerous to be riding a bike that may have received damage to the alignment/swingarm. When I crashed my bike, they wrote it off, even though it was a $10 000 bike that could have been fixed for a few thousand.

Then if your injuries turn out to be long term and serious, you can get a lawyer.

 

[Bloke]

You've probably got a slightly buckled wheel, which on cast wheels like in the fz6r is dangerous. They're brittle things, don't like being hammered into shapes while cold. my mate ended up with a new wheel from a tiny pothole, your accident looks much worse.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

 

[leprecaun jon]

man you guys got some ass holes around your parts lol when my buddy rear ended me there was a guy in a pick up truck right next to my car and he got out of his truck and helped us ( my buddy and i) pick up his bike and walk it to the grass out of harms way.

 

[yfz6r]

When a lady backed into me when we were sitting at a red light (yea, you read that right) a guy from the gas station asked if I needed him to run home and get his trailer and ties. Super nice guy. He was a harley rider and he really liked my bike (05 fz1 at the time).

Shame more people aren't like this.
Why is it so hard for some people to drive a vehicle?

 

[Hoptownky]

My personal opinion is, let insurance take care of it. There is a good chance they will write off the bike. The reason I suggest that is that it is dangerous to be riding a bike that may have received damage to the alignment/swingarm. When I crashed my bike, they wrote it off, even though it was a $10 000 bike that could have been fixed for a few thousand.

Then if your injuries turn out to be long term and serious, you can get a lawyer.

If you settle on the bike, they will require you to release them of their liability. You cash that check, it's game over. The lawyer may be willing to handle the case on a sliding scale (if they settle prior to trial their % of the recovery is less). Remember, the adjuster gets rewarded for saving the insurance company money; the attorney gets rewarded for getting you everything you are entitled to. Unless you understand the difference between incidental and consequential damages, subrogation, stacking of benefits and how does that apply if the defendant's policy was issued out of the state of the accident, and on and on, you better get some help. Insurers love those people who think they are getting a bargain by not using an attorney. What incentive do they have to offer you full compensation? i'm just sayin….

 

[Merc250r]

WOMEN DRIVERS

 

[madmike]

If you settle on the bike, they will require you to release them of their liability. You cash that check, it's game over. The lawyer may be willing to handle the case on a sliding scale (if they settle prior to trial their % of the recovery is less). Remember, the adjuster gets rewarded for saving the insurance company money; the attorney gets rewarded for getting you everything you are entitled to. Unless you understand the difference between incidental and consequential damages, subrogation, stacking of benefits and how does that apply if the defendant's policy was issued out of the state of the accident, and on and on, you better get some help. Insurers love those people who think they are getting a bargain by not using an attorney. What incentive do they have to offer you full compensation? i'm just sayin….

The difference is, the insurance company pays the adjuster, you pay the lawyer out of your pocket (% of settlement).

Insurers love people who think they are getting a bargain by not using an attorney about as much as lawyers love people who think they need one or they won't get their money.

Like I posted before, do the math. Your lawyer has to get you a whole lot more money to break even on the lawyer. Get one if it makes sense, NOT by default.

 

[Hoptownky]

I turn down someone at least once a week after listening to their facts and realizing they don't need me to settle their case. Get a free consultation from a qualified attorney before you try to settle your case. As I posted before, you can listen and then decide whether or not you want to hire the attorney.

 

[madmike]

^Ahhhh, so YOU are a lawyer. Perhaps you should state so up front before you press someone very hard to seek out a lawyer. I'm serious, not saying you are trying to market yourself directly to OP, but advocating hard that anyone should immediately consult a lawyer without stating up front you are a lawyer smacks strongly of conflict of interest dude.

I stand by all of my previous comments. I think before anybody seeks out a free consultation (which in any industry usually means "free sales pitch") you should do your own math.

 

[Hoptownky]

Yes I am, which is why I know what I'm talking about. I am licensed in the state of Tennessee only, and therefore I can not give legal advice on any matter other than one occurring in Tennessee. I'm not using this forum in my capacity as an attorney. Quite frankly, I have more business now than I need with my current staff. I am a member because I own and ride a 2011 FZ6R. I don't have a dog in this fight other than I don't want a fellow motorcyclist to make a mistake that he might literally suffer for, the rest of his life. People love to characterize attorneys as greedy, uncaring ambulance chasers who are simply out to make a money. This is simply untrue. I know through experience that insurance companies are businesses, and as such they want to maximize their profit. There is nothing wrong with that. Make no mistake, they will pay you as little as they can get by with. They don't have a duty to give you legal advice, they have a duty to honor their contract. For your information, I am also a retired Kentucky State Trooper, and have been certified as an expert in motor vehicle accident investigation in U.S. federal court. I am also a licensed airplane pilot. My opinion is that this rider should get a free consultation with a qualified attorney in his area before he attempts to negotiate a settlement with his insurance company. I am sure by now he is aware of both our positions. I wish you no ill will. Ride safe and enjoy your motorcycle and your life.

 

[Fizzer6R]

Sucks. Are you sure there's no frame damage?

yeah really, the subframe is probably tweaked, and the swingarm, and... I've seen bikes totaled out for less damage than that.

glad you're OK, first looking at the pics and would guess at least a broken leg, if not more

unless the insurance co. gives up the $, I'd say lawyer up, they just had an episode on OCC
Home | US Biker Law

 

[madmike]

I don't wish you any ill will either, but being an attorney is a business as well, and an attorney's business is also to maximize profit, same as the insurance company.

As for suffering for the rest of his life, that would only be the case if he were injured, and I said repeatedly if that is the case he should probably get an attorney. If he isn't injured, even if he got nothing in return for his bike he wouldn't be suffering for the rest of his life. So that's a bit melodramatic. So is throwing out there that you are "certified as an expert in motor vehicle accident investigation in U.S. federal court". While that may sound incredibly impressive, it simply means you were called as a police "expert witness" in a court case, and the judge agreed you could testify as an expert. It's not exactly a certification course or rigorous certification process, or even an actual certification you can carry anywhere. Not sure why you'd even mention it.

I'm not calling all lawyers greedy ambulance chasers, BTW. I have required the assistance of a lawyer three times, and 2 were great (the third being a greedy ambulance chaser and total fraud, IMO).

BUT, if someone started a thread asking if it were wise to do your own bike maintenance, and someone repeatedly posted vehemently arguing that you should never do your own maintenance, that you should ALWAYS bring any bike to the dealership, and if you didn't you could suffer lifelong consequences...and then it turned out that poster ran a dealership, that would (and should) be called out rigorously. Certainly you are not soliciting direct business, but you are advocating strongly on your professions behalf without admitting it is your profession.

As you said, I'm sure he knows both our positions now.

And you ride safe too, ya hear!

 

[JustKatie]

Insist that her phone records be pulled, not sure the laws in your state but it couldn't hurt. On a side bar: Please don't lump all women together as bad drivers. I have been driving for 30 years with no accidents that were my fault...probably because I respect the fact that I am driving a 5000 lb vehicle and take it seriously and when I'm behind the wheel the only thing I do is drive and pay attention. It's kinda like saying "All Democrats are communists and "All Republicans are racist".

 

[Fizzer6R]

Insist that her phone records be pulled, not sure the laws in your state but it couldn't hurt. On a side bar: Please don't lump all women together as bad drivers. I have been driving for 30 years with no accidents that were my fault...probably because I respect the fact that I am driving a 5000 lb vehicle and take it seriously and when I'm behind the wheel the only thing I do is drive and pay attention. It's kinda like saying "All Democrats are communists and "All Republicans are racist".

but everyone knows this is in fact true opcorn: