What are the Essential Steps for Motorcycle Accident Victims to Take After a Crash?

Motorcycle accidents can be very serious and often result in rider injury and destruction of property. The UAE documented over 600 accidents involving motorcycles in 2022 — a 33 percent increase from the previous year — resulting in 819 injuries and 45 deaths. While this number pales in comparison to the 6,222 motorcycle accidents from the same year in the United States, when comparing populations, the UAE is somewhat dangerous for motorcycles. 

The UAE has taken this issue seriously, introducing new laws and regularly advising motorcycle safety, but driving a motorcycle is demonstrably dangerous on a road filled with cars and trucks. While you should not expect to have an accident, it’s important to know what to do if one occurs. You should know what safety precautions to exercise, what information to exchange with other drivers involved, and what legal action may be required. 

What to do After a Motorcycle Accident in the UAE?

The first step after a motorcycle accident is to get to a safe place, turn on your hazard lights if you have them, check yourself for injuries, and call 999. Avoid arguing or discussing the incident with other involved drivers and focus on making sure everyone is safe while you wait for the police to arrive. Once safe, start documenting the incident. 

• Exchange information: Talk to the other involved drivers and get their contact information and insurance details. If there are witnesses, try to get their contact information as well. 

• Document what happened: Take pictures of the scene, the vehicles, road conditions, and any injuries that occurred. Taking pictures will also give you the approximate time of the incident. 

• Call an ambulance: Make sure that medical emergency services are aware and on their way. Even if you feel fine, having a medical examination is strongly recommended due to the nature of auto accidents. Follow whatever advice paramedics give you and keep records of any medical procedure. 

• Notify your insurance company: Try to let your insurance company know about the accident as soon as possible. Make sure to provide them any information you have about the accident. 

• Contact ConnectLegal and find a Lawyer: This last step may be optional if the accident was truly accidental, but in many cases accidents occur when a motorist is driving irresponsibly. Having a shortlist of legal professionals you can connect with will save you time in the short term, and potential funds in the long term. 

Why are Motorcycle Accident Claims so Difficult?

The simple truth is that motorcyclists are considered by many to be reckless or seeking thrills, which can make filing a claim difficult. Compound this with the fact that motorcyclists are much more likely to incur injury in an accident, and it becomes clear why legal help will likely be needed. Medical procedures and adjusted insurance premiums cost money, and most non-legal professionals are likely to assume that the motorcyclist is at fault, so making sure you have access to a good lawyer is imperative. 

Why do I need a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?

Motorcycle accident lawyers can help you make sense of the real value of any damage that occurs in an accident. They consider the full value of your vehicle and any property damage, medical costs and lost wages due to absence from work, and any value lost from pain and suffering. Without legal representation, any driver at fault or property owner who incurred damages can take advantage of the incident. Insurance companies may also seek to pay out smaller premiums than what is required. 

Having a lawyer navigate these confusing legal waters can help you recoup a fair sum and save you the mental anguish of having to deal with so many different entities after an accident. The lawyers at Connect Legal UAE are experts at negotiating with UAE insurance companies, law enforcement agencies, and other citizens to make sure you are paid what is owed. Litigation following an accident can be difficult for motorcyclists, so it’s best to leave the work in the hands of experienced legal professionals. 

As motorcycle popularity and delivery services increase, so do the number of traffic accidents involving motorcycles. Source: www.emirates247.com

How Long Does the Average Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit Take?

Motorcycle accident lawsuits usually take anywhere from six months to two years to settle. There are several determining factors to consider when preparing a motorcycle accident lawsuit, including:

• Injury severity: cases involving severe injuries usually postpone until all involved victims are healed enough to leave the hospital, which could take months. 

• Case complexity: disputes with multiple involved drivers and parties can take much longer to settle. If the present evidence is difficult to find or prove, investigations taking multiple months could extend the case. 

• Insurance companies: negotiating with an insurance company can take a long time, even with legal representation. Even if the insurance company is cooperative, expect at least one month to receive your payout. 

• Pre-trial legal procedures: the amount of time needed to conduct discovery, depositions, and motions can take months. The courts are usually chewing through a backlog as well, which could push your court date back. 

• Settlements vs Appeals: in the case that one of the parties decides to settle, court proceedings could be over relatively quickly. Conversely, if the guilty party decides to appeal the decision, your case time could quickly double. 

In most cases, hiring a lawyer will help to expedite the process and keep you from making any legal missteps. At the bare minimum, consulting with a lawyer is strongly recommended, and many offer free consultations.

What Things to Consider When Hiring a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?

Not all lawyers are experts in vehicle accidents, insurance negotiations, or civil suits. Making sure you pick the right one doesn't have to be hard thanks to services like Connect Legal, but it is important to know what you’re looking for in legal representation. 

Look for Experience in Accident Lawsuits

Experience in your specific case is the first step when finding a lawyer. Legislation is a complex weave of thousands of laws that are nearly impossible to know holistically, so finding a lawyer who has experience in UAE traffic law is a necessity. Make sure that they have experience in dealing with injuries and insurance claims as well. 

Check Reviews and Reputation

A lawyer is their reputation, and the best way to understand if you’re hiring a legal professional that will get you what you need is by looking at testimonials and reviews. Services like Connect Legal UAE have testimonials built in, making this process fairly easy, but researching their past cases and clients is never a bad move. Look in particular for any negative reviews and bring these up during your consultation to understand what happened. In the end, you should feel confident with your selection of representation, and be willing to walk away if you are not. 

Make Sure you Understand their Legal Strategy

When hiring a lawyer, they should be able to evaluate your case and discuss the kinds of strategies they would employ. A skilled accident lawyer to find any potential obstacles and be able to create a strategy that circumvents them for the best possible outcome. This is a large part of why you gathered evidence after the accident: the more information your lawyer has, the more prepared they can be for the suit ahead, and the more likely you are to recoup losses incurred as a result of the crash. 

Check their Success Track Record

A good lawyer is not one that loses a lot of cases, so make sure to investigate your lawyer’s track record before and during the consultation. Consider how much money you want to spend in legal fees and if that can get you a lawyer is likely to find a favorable result. Make sure to limit your search to cases involving traffic accidents and motorcycles. 

Find a Fee Structure that Works for you

Speaking of money, you will need to find legal representation you can afford. Connect Legal UAE makes pricing easy, but in general injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that they will only issue a fee if they are successful in your case. Nonetheless, make sure you understand what percentage they will take. 

Motorcycle Accidents Often Require Legal Representation

Traffic accident law in the UAE is governed by numerous statutes, regulations, and laws, and trying to understand everything that will happen in the event of a lawsuit is practically impossible. Add to the legal complexity the general attitude toward motorcyclists, and it's all but a requirement to hire a lawyer following a motorcycle accident in the UAE. Thankfully, finding one does not have to be difficult with Connect Legal UAE. 

Connect Legal is designed to connect the most appropriate lawyers with clients that need their help. It offers a breakdown of their services, facilitates communication, and offers testimonials so that you know that you’re hiring the best. When it comes to protecting your health, safety, and legal rights as a motorcyclist, accident lawyers are the answer, and Connect Legal UAE is there to help you find them.