Specific details and identifying information has been changed in order to protect the confidentiality of the settlement agreement. What happens when you’re t-boned and can’t afford the medical bills? You call the experienced team at Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer. That’s just what Mr. L did, a 30-year-old power lifter in peak physical condition, whose injuries could have ended his ability to do what he loved.

The Car Accident

It was late afternoon. The sky was mostly clear with puffy white clouds and comfortable breezes – in short the perfect early autumn day in Arizona. With his favorite music playing and the windows open, Mr. L was on his way home from a long day of work. Heading south on 19th Ave, Mr. L hit the gas to go through a four-way intersection after the light turned green. Out of the corner of his eye, Mr. L saw a wildly out of control vehicle headed his way. The car came barreling through the intersection, clipping a northbound vehicle first and then slamming into Mr. L’s rear driver side door. With a loud crunch into the side of his car, Mr. L was banged around and had the wind knocked out of him as his vehicle was forced through the intersection and off the road. Heart beating wildly from the adrenaline, Mr. L pulled himself out of his twisted vehicle and looked at the smashed in side of his car. He wondered how he even survived the accident based on how badly his car was damaged. Due to alert witnesses, the police and emergency services were quickly called for help. Unfortunately for Mr. L, the driver who caused the accident was drunk and angry, unwilling to cooperate with providing his insurance information. And when the police arrived, they arrested the other driver, leaving Mr. L to figure out what to do next. All things considered Mr. L was grateful. As bad as the accident looked, he didn’t feel like he’d been injured – just shaken and sore.

The next few days

Mr. L woke up the next day hurting all over and with deep pain in his shoulder. It also quickly became clear that he was having trouble moving his arm. A couple of days later, he found out the bad news that the driver of the vehicle who hit him was minimally insured. While he wasn’t an insurance expert, he was pretty sure this meant that he would be lucky to get anything from the insurance company to cover his costs and his medical bills.

Two weeks later he contacted Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer

Frustrated by the constant pain and worried that he was going to have to have big medical bills because of the accident, Mr. L knew he needed help. A close friend of his referred him to Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer because they knew that not only would we help with pursuing the insurance company, but that we would work the medical professionals to get him the help he needed. It started with a referral to a physical therapist with expertise in working with accident injury victims. And despite the excellent care, it turned out that he had sustained a substantial tear of his rotator cuff. It looked like he would need surgery. Understandably, Mr. L was concerned about his health insurance deductible and time off from work to recover.

The Car Accident Case Settlement

Between mid-October and Thanksgiving, we connected Mr. L with a trusted orthopedic surgeon who would perform the surgery on a medical lien (an agreement to wait for payment until after a settlement) over our client’s paid time off at Thanksgiving. This allowed Mr. L to not have to worry about paying for the surgery and dealing with time off from work – neither of which he could afford to handle at that moment. During the course of our work with Mr. L we not only negotiated his outstanding liens and medical bills so that he didn’t have to pay for any medical care out of pocket, he also received a five-figure settlement check at the closure of the case. Our comprehensive service during his case allowed Mr. L to achieve the peace of mind he needed and get the outcome that he deserved. If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident, stop worrying about how to pay medical bills and living expenses and call Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer for a free case review.

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Riding a Valley Metro bus is a great way to travel the greater Phoenix area without having to spend money on gas or sit in traffic jams in your own vehicle. Listen to music or podcasts, read a book or magazine, or get caught up on social media as you travel to your destination. Sounds simple and pleasant but what happens when your Valley Metro bus experience hits a bump in the road? If you or a loved one have been involved in an bus accident injury with a Valley Metro bus, it’s important to seek legal advice immediately. An accident injury involving a bus is complicated at best because you are potentially dealing with a municipality, bus owner, bus driver, insurance companies, and witness accounts of the incident. While you can’t control what others do, you can practice safe travel on your next bus ride with these tips:

• Avoid playing chicken with a bus. Sounds obvious but if you’re late for work or an appointment, you may try to flag down the bus or step near it in an effort to stop the bus. This can cause the bus driver, other drivers, and pedestrians to get distracted, causing an accident.
• Use a crosswalk and obey traffic signals. You can’t control what other drivers do but you can control where you’re crossing the street.
• Be visible and step away from the curb. Buses are heavier than a car, especially when filled with riders. An inexperienced or distracted driver can catch a curb, making it unsafe to be too close to the road. Take a step back; the bus will stop for you.
• If you drop something as you’re exiting the bus, leave it on the ground until the bus passes. Bending over to pick it up could put you a little closer to the bus than you want to be, causing injuries or worse.
• Be courteous to the driver and other passengers. A scuffle on the bus can distract the driver and cause an accident. Not to mention it’s just better to be nice to each other. Avoid altercations as best you can.

We can’t always avoid an bus accident injury. Other drivers, pedestrians, weather, and the bus driver can each be part of the cause of an accident. If you or a loved one was involved in a Valley Metro bus accident, contact us at the Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer or call 602-535-5899 for a free case review to be sure you’re being properly compensated.

Posted in Personal Injury Law | No Comments »

You’ve been involved in a Phoenix motorcycle accident. Now what?

The weather is darn near perfect in Phoenix for motorcycle riding.

You grab your gear and hop on your bike for a long weekend ride.

But…

A distracted driver makes a left turn in front of you as you’re going straight through the intersection.

Statistically, at 42% this is the most common type of accident involving a motorcycle and another motor vehicle. [Source]

You realize the driver has turned in front of you but you don’t have time to stop.

The next thing you know, you’re on the ground wondering what just happened.

Stay calm. Even if the other driver or witnesses are angry and screaming, do your best to not get frustrated. Instead, assess how you’re feeling.

The best course of action, even if you think you aren’t hurt, is to go to the hospital to get checked. With all the adrenaline and stress, injuries can creep up later or be unseen.

If you’re able, ask someone there if they will get witness contact information and pictures at the scene of the accident. If you are unable to, do not worry. The police should gather some witness information too.

If that is the case in Phoenix, the motorcycle accident lawyers at Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer can gather witness accounts and other evidence later as we review your case.

When you arrive at the hospital you need to tell doctors what happened in order for them to diagnose your injuries. Be careful in telling details of the accident however. Doctors are not lawyers and even though they rarely mean to, they may write down their view of the accident in your chart in a way that is later used by insurance companies against you.

The other driver’s insurance will likely contact you for a statement or to sign forms. It’s their job to get you to make statements that can later be used against you.

They aren’t evil; they’re just trying to do their job. We recommend not giving a statement or signing anything until you’ve spoken with someone experienced in the local Phoenix, AZ area.

It’s a lot to handle which is why we’re here to help you navigate your accident claim.

As you’re getting back to health track doctor appointments, courses of treatment, and time you miss from work as a result of the accident so you’re compensated properly. If you or someone you love has been involved in a motorcycle accident of any kind, contact us or call the Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer at 602-535-5899 for a free case consultation.

Posted in Motorcycle Accident | No Comments »

It’s the most wonderful time of year. Or at least that’s how the song goes. You’ve RSVP’d to holiday parties and purchased gifts for the hosts. When you arrived at the party, you slipped going up the steps that lead to the well-decorated front door, twisting your ankle and bruising your wrist. In the moment you think you’ll be okay but later x-rays reveal a broken wrist and hairline fracture to your ankle as a result of your slip and fall at the holiday party. Your medical insurance doesn’t cover all of the costs and you wonder if your slip and fall medical bills could be covered by the host’s homeowners insurance. Unless there was an obvious hazard that wasn’t addressed by the host prior to the party, it’s unlikely they are liable but it’s worth a free case review to be sure.

Getting Ready for a Holiday Party

We all wanted to have a fun experience at our holiday parties but there are often potential hazards like extension cords, lights, decorations, and gifts in our path. But we all know accidents happen even when you did your best to avoid them both inside and outside the home. In the example here, unless there was a known loose piece of the steps that wasn’t fixed prior to the party, it’s not likely the hosts’ insurance will pay the claim. But what if the homeowner WAS aware there was a partially broken step in the walkway but thought it would hold out long enough that he/she could get around to fixing it sometime after the party? In that case, you may actually have a slip and fall claim. This doesn’t mean the host’s homeowners/renters policy is just going to pay up though. Whether you like it or not, sometimes the only option to get your medical bills paid may be to sue the host of the party who is also your friend. That’s not exactly in the holiday spirit but you need your bills paid so you can heal physically and mentally. If you’ve missed work as a result of the injuries, you may also need to be compensated for lost wages. Navigating through the negotiations, especially with friends or family, can be uncomfortable which is why you need the experienced team at Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer to guide you through the process. If you or a loved one suffered a slip and fall accident, it’s worth your time to call Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer for a free case review. We can review your case and determine the best course of action. Contact us or call the experienced team at Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer at 602-535-5899.

Posted in Slip and Fall | No Comments »

The weather in Phoenix has cooled enough for you to dust off your bicycle, fill the tires, and hit the road. That’s what you’re thinking this time of year but drivers aren’t always watching for bicyclists even in the daytime. The numbers alone tell the story – ADOT reports 72.5% of all motor vehicle accidents happen in broad daylight. In 2014, there were 1,466 accidents involving bicyclists, down 12.74% from 2013 but don’t get comfortable on the road just yet. And while the law expects drivers to pay attention to all people using the roads, the reality is that it’s ultimately up to you to make yourself noticeable and to be aware of what’s happening on the road. Just ask Mr. C who was clipped and flipped by an older driver taking a right turn. The driver didn’t look to see Mr. C going straight in the bike lane. She took a right turn, hitting Mr. C so hard he flew over the handle bars leaving his bike and his arm a twisted mess. In addition to cuts and bruises, Mr. C suffered from post-concussion syndrome and endured several surgeries to repair his arm. After a year of negotiating with insurance companies, he was awarded damages for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you’re thinking about hitting the road, here are tips to help you in case of a bicycle accident:

1. Obey the rules of the road. All too often we hear bicyclists tell us they didn’t know there are actual rules for cycling and we’re honestly surprised. Just as you would learn the rules of driving, you should learn the rules for bicyclists. Generally, the law for DUI is the same for cyclists as it is for motorists, for example, so be aware and obey the law. It could save your life or at least help you in the event of an accident.
2. Do not leave the scene of the accident. Unless you’re in desperate need of medical attention, we advise that you stay at the scene and call the police. They can get statements from you and other witnesses. You will need those later for your case review.
3. Witness information. Gather your own witness contact information including name, address, phone number, year, make, model, and license plate of their vehicle.
4. Accident information. It’s often easier and more accurate to refer to your notes from the scene of the accident than trying to remember them later. Use your phone or ask for pen and paper to write down the date, time, and location of the accident. You may also want to have the number and type of other vehicles or pedestrians involved in your bicycle accident case as well as weather, road conditions, and damages.
5. Take photographs. If you have a smart phone, you probably have a camera on hand. Do your best to take as many photos of the accident scene as you can. If nothing else, it will help you remember important details when you’re reviewing your case with your attorney.
6. Call a personal injury attorney. Your life and injuries matter. Even if you think you don’t have a case, it’s worth it to have your case reviewed. You may need a personal injury attorney to help you through the lengthy (and sometimes costly) insurance claims related to your bicycle accident case.

Mr. C wasn’t able to call a personal injury attorney right away because of the seriousness of his injuries but his wife called to get the process started. That’s what you can do too. We wouldn’t want an accident to keep you from seeking what you deserve as a result of your bicycle accident. And you might even get back on the road. We hear Mr. C’s love of cycling can’t be stopped. He’s back riding and is more vigilant than ever about watching other drivers and pedestrians. If you or a loved one has been involved in a bicycle accident, contact us or call Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer at 602-535-5899 for a free case review.

Posted in Bicycle Injury | No Comments »

For generations big, yellow buses have been carrying children to and from school. Each day you trust them to carry your most precious cargo, your kids. And the truth is that school buses are designed to be a safe mode of transportation. Looking at the statistics, school buses are dramatically safer than if the children were travelling in their parents’ cars. In fact, the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA) reports school buses are seven times safer than cars. [Source] But the reality is that despite being exceptionally safe, school bus accident injuries do happen. Sometimes the injuries are from hitting another vehicle, sometimes a kid can get hurt after getting off the school bus, and sometimes it’s just crossing the street. Let’s take a look at three different scenarios, all dealing with school bus injury accidents.

Sometimes the other vehicle is a school bus

Take the Gilbert bus accident at Gilbert and Recker Roads in December 2014. It was a cool December morning when a bus carrying 40 school children for the Gilbert School District was making it’s way to the school for drop-off. Suddenly there was a wrenching stop when the larger bus collided with a smaller bus operated by Tutor Time. Glass shattered on the larger bus, resulting in minor injuries to the students, none of which required medical treatment. Both buses sustained damage and of course, there were a lot of scared children! In this scenario, it’s fortunate that the kids involved weren’t hurt. It’s the job of the emergency services personnel to make sure the kids aren’t seriously injured or in need of immediate medical care but it’s our experience that many injuries may not show at the time of an accident. Since there’s just no way to easily tell if your child sustained an injury that can present later, the Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer recommends seeking medical attention especially if the accident involves children. While they may not show symptoms initially, they can suffer long-term injuries if left untreated. And if you’re not sure whether you have a case, contact us anyway. There are unique rules on handling cases involving school bus accidents and we can make sure that your rights are protected.

School bus accidents happen – stay alert at all times

Children will run in front of a bus to cross the street without giving thought to traffic. The tragic death of 8-year-old Elizabeth Bates underscored that sometimes the systems you think are in place don’t cover everything. In 2012 a young girl was struck and killed by a motorist because the school bus driver hadn’t extended the STOP sign to notify drivers that children were getting off the bus. At the time the law was such that they were only required to do so on public roads. The school district used this as their defense against criminal charges for the bus driver. Elizabeth’s family lobbied to get the legislation changed and in 2013 the law was revised, requiring school bus drivers to extend the STOP signs even when on rural or private roads. Even with the law change, bus drivers aren’t perfect. It takes just one moment of inattention to cause a tragedy. And while these types of school bus accidents aren’t common, it’s critical to get expert legal assistance immediately. The truth is that your mind is on protecting your child, not worrying about your legal rights. That’s why we do everything so that you don’t have to.

Being in a crosswalk doesn’t mean you’re safe

Just ask former Skyline high school student Wynnona Brookes. Talking with her friends, Wynnona was crossing the street at a crosswalk to head home when a school bus drove through the crosswalk, hitting her and knocking her down. She suffered major injuries because the school bus driver failed to yield at the crosswalk. Wynnona went through a painful year of recovery as her body healed from the extensive injuries and her family piled up big medical expenses. Fortunately for her, she reached a settlement with the Mesa Public Schools. If you or your child has been in an injury accident involving a school bus, it’s time to call Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer for a free case review. Our expert team understands the unique rules of pursuing school bus accident injury cases and will make sure that your rights are protected right from the beginning. Contact us or call the experienced team at Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer at 602-535-5899.

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Admit it. You’ve driven while talking or texting on your cell phone. We’ve all done it. We just can’t help ourselves. We need to read an email or check social media. We think it won’t hurt anyone because we’re at a red light but the truth is that sometimes we don’t put the phone down when the light changes. Just one more email or one more minute talking on the phone. It’s the same for semi-truck drivers.

The Difference between You and a Semi-Truck Driver

You don’t need a degree in physics to know that big, heavy things that are moving fast take longer to stop than smaller things moving at the same speed. There’s more of them to stop! A semi-truck filled to capacity weighs as much as 80,000 pounds compared to your tiny 3,000-pound car – you might be able to stop quickly with a small skid if caught by surprise. It’s a different story with a fully loaded truck. A trucker, waiting to hear about the birth of his daughter, hears the chime of his phone that a message just came in. He knows that he needs to keep his eyes on the road, especially during rush hour traffic, but he’s been on pins and needles all day. It’s just a quick glance, he reasons. Snagging the phone with his right hand, he opens the display and sees a picture of his beautiful new baby girl. A smile crosses his face when he glances back up. The river of moving cars has turned into a stopped sea of red taillights. His heart jumps up in his throat – he’s going too fast. There’s no way to stop in time so he swerves to avoid hitting the car in front of him. The swerve of his semi-truck quickly turns into a jack-knifed vehicle blocking two lanes of traffic on a rush hour freeway. One driver gets past but the next driver isn’t so lucky. The truck hits them. The next car can’t react fast enough to avoid the semi-truck accident and barrels into the already stopped vehicles. And on and on.

Semi-truck driver common distractions

Besides the typical distractions of checking phones, semi-truck drivers deal with a broad number of other distractions that can result in an injury accident. The most common situations involving distracted semi-truck drivers are:

• Poor sleep – Truck drivers have a tough schedule to keep when getting products to the stores and warehouses. Even though there are strict federal guidelines around their sleep behavior, truck drivers have been known to push it to meet deadlines. One minute their eyes are drooping, the next minute they’re veering into your lane.
• Checking directions – Truck drivers have sophisticated systems that help them get from point A to point B but many of them are driving unfamiliar roads. The distraction of looking for a hard to see destination can result in a truck driver failing to see that you’ve stopped your car just ahead of them.
• Impaired driving – All it takes is misreading the label of a cold or allergy medication for a truck driver to end up being impaired on the road.
• The “quick glance” – It’s a quick glance away from the road to papers inside the cab. In that moment you merge into the lane in front of them and they don’t see your car.

Unraveling Your Semi-Truck Accident

Because semi-truck accidents involving a distracted driver are complicated by their very nature, it becomes even more challenging to deal with them when the root cause is a distracted driver. It requires a lot of investigative work to uncover what caused the semi-truck accident, a process that is complicated by the layers of legal representation shielding the trucking company and their insurance companies. Fortunately there’s a secret weapon to help you breakthrough the barriers and straight to the facts, the Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer. We have a lot of experience successfully pursuing semi-truck accident cases. Gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and negotiating settlements with trucking and insurance companies takes more than just knowing what to do. It takes patience, persistence, and an unstoppable commitment to protecting our client’s rights! When we work with you, we dedicate our team reviewing your case and getting you the compensation you deserve in your semi-truck accident case. If you or a loved one were involved in a semi-truck accident, we want to help. Call Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer at 602-535-5899 for a free case review.

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Specific details and identifying information has been changed in order to protect the confidentiality of the settlement agreement. What seemed to be minor injuries resulting from a motorcycle accident turned into much more for our 45-year-old client Mr. G, who suffered from delayed onset injury. A month after his accident, Mr. G noticed his right shoulder was not getting better. With mounting medical bills and no help from insurance, unfortunately Mr. G’s case is all too typical for motorcycle accident injury cases.

The Motorcycle Accident

Mr. G was riding his bike down the road, enjoying the weather when a woman in a brand new silver SUV, two lanes over, realized she had missed her left turn. She pulled hard on her steering wheel to get over, swerving her vehicle from the far right lane to try to make her turn. Instead of making a left turn, she crashed her vehicle into our client, and into the center turning lane. Mr. G was thrown from his motorcycle, thankfully protected by his helmet and padding, able to walk away from the accident with what appeared to be minor injuries. His bike was not so fortunate it was completely totaled. Still, Mr. G was grateful to be alive – he’d seen accidents like this with other riders and knew how bad it could have been. The only thing that bothered him, besides the wrecked bike, was the pain in his right shoulder where he’d hit the ground. With time and rest, Mr. G thought it would get better but it didn’t – the pain continued and got worse. When his right shoulder seemed to not be healing, he knew he had a problem. Mr. G went to his doctor to find out what was going on and scans revealed several right rotator cuff tears and a bicep tendon tear. Mr. G was told that it can only get worse over time and that he needed surgery. And as much as he wanted to get it done, he knew that he couldn’t afford the lost time from his business. There was just no way he could be out of work for 6-8 weeks while recovering from shoulder surgery. He didn’t have employees who could help him and he owned his own home so he tried every non-operative option available. Many were considered experimental by his insurance company and they wouldn’t cover his claims. To make matters worse, the hospital bills started to arrive in the mail. The cost of his emergency care was so high that the bills ate up almost half of the money he could get through the at-fault insurance within the $50,000 policy limit. This meant that after the hospital was paid for his care, there wouldn’t be enough money left over to cover the surgery, let alone compensate him for lost wages, pain and suffering resulting from his motorcycle accident. Out of options, out of patience, and running out of money, Mr. G knew he had to do something before his life spiraled out of control.

That’s when Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer got involved.

On the advice of a close friend, Mr. G contacted us to help him deal with his case. He was anxious about the process and wanted to make sure that we were going to be able to take care of him. Starting with his free case review, we were able to help Mr. G understand exactly how we would pursue his case and the kind of results we thought we could help him achieve. We began gathering all of Mr. G’s insurance information and discovered he had an underinsured policy on his work truck. Working with his orthopedist, we put together a demand package to the at-fault insurance carrier that was based solely on future medical bills and lost wages. The Settlement At the time we submitted a demand package, Mr. G had not had the surgery and was unsure if he would be able to based on the financial complications of the situation. Through our experience in cases like this and our persistence in dealing with insurance companies, we were able help Mr. G secure the entire $50,000 policy limits from the at-fault insurance company. Ultimately we secured the entire amount available within the underinsured policy limits the client had on the policy covering his work truck. After that we went to work on reducing the outstanding medical bills, securing arrangements with medical providers to bring the outstanding expense amounts down so that Mr. G can get on with his life. When all was said and done, Mr. G had the money he needed to pay his outstanding medical bills and his surgery. He had enough in reserve to cover his personal expenses, including his mortgage, while he recovered from surgery. Today Mr. G is back on the road, enjoying his bike and his life. Sometimes it takes a few days or weeks for the true extent of injury to be known. If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident and are suffering delayed onset injury, it can cost you in lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering. It’s time to get the help you deserve. If you or a family member has experienced a motorcycle accident injury, you don’t have to handle it alone. Contact us or call Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer at 602-535-5899 today for a free case consultation.

Posted in Case Study, Motorcycle Accident | No Comments »

Motorcyclists are reckless and don’t ride safely. We hear that a lot and in most cases, it’s just not true. Motorcyclists are constantly at risk from the environment and drivers around them. The reality is that the road is a fast paced, constantly changing flow of dangers. Whether it’s distracted drivers or poor road conditions due to someone else’s neglect, it’s clear that there’s more to meet the eye when it comes to motorcycle accidents and their injuries. Heck, even the day of the time of day or the day of the week matters! Rush hour is especially dangerous; with the majority of accidents involving motorcycles happening on Fridays between 5 and 6pm. Too many people are in a hurry to get home and start their weekend, putting riders at greater risk for an accident. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation Crash Report, 3,189 of more than 210,000 motor vehicle accidents in Arizona involved a motorcycle, with 129 of those motorcycle accidents resulting in the rider’s death (2014). Let’s take a look at two motorcycle accident scenarios that both result in serious (but fortunately not fatal) injuries for the rider.

Failure to Yield

A motorcyclist is obeying the rules of the road when a car driving in the opposite direction takes a left in front of the motorcycle. The car driver, not paying attention, fails to yield and strikes the motorcyclist. The motorcyclist is sent over the handlebars and over the car, landing roughly on the pavement. An ambulance and the police are called. While the resulting injuries are extensive, fortunately they are not fatal. The motorcyclist did everything right but is still a victim because of the other person. In this scenario, the motorcyclist may be awarded damages based in part on a police report citing the driver of the car for failing to yield the right-of-way. And of course, the situation can be made worse if the driver is under the influence, driving erratically, or even when there are unforeseen road conditions (like debris). Not all motorcycle accident cases are as seemingly clear-cut as this one.

Road Conditions

A motorcyclist is riding through a construction zone on the city streets before sunrise. Signs are posted to stay in your lane and drive at no more than 40 mph. The motorcyclist is obeying the law but because it is dark he fails to see a large piece of concrete in the road. Unfortunately, he hits the construction debris. The hard stop of hitting the concrete causes him to fly off his motorcycle and land on the ground moments before his motorcycle hits him. As a result of the motorcycle accident, he suffers multiple broken bones and punctured lung. At the time of his case review he isn’t able to work full-time because of these injuries, making it hard for him to pay for the medical care he needs and to take care of his family. In this case it’s clear that someone else is at fault but it’s hard to tell who is responsible. Is it the construction company? A subcontractor? Maybe a waste disposal provider? No matter how you slice this example, there are many layers of responsibility that need to be addressed by an experienced law firm like Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer. Whether your case seems straightforward or complicated, don’t waste your time figuring who is responsible and what happened. That’s our job. When you call Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer about your motorcycle injury accident, we will review your case and make recommendations of how to proceed to get you the settlement you deserve. If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident, you need a free case review from Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer. Contact us or call today at 602-535-5899

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With the temperature (finally) dipping below 100 degrees in Phoenix, it’s prime riding season here in Arizona. And while we know that bumper stickers that say, “Start Seeing Motorcycles” and “Look Twice, Save a Life” are designed to remind car drivers on their responsibility for sharing the road safely with you, we also know that not everyone does what they’re told. What can you do to reduce your risk for being in a dangerous motorcycle accident and a victim of another careless cager? Motorcycle safety starts with you as the rider. And as anyone who rides will understand, just because you’re following the rules doesn’t mean you’re going to be safe on the road. That’s why we’ve put together these reminders and tips, to help keep you safe on the road and from having to call Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer about a motorcycle injury lawsuit.

Here are our tips for sharing the road safely:

1. What to Wear. While helmets may not be required by Arizona law, reflective material on helmets and jackets increases visibility and safety of motorcyclists and their passengers. Remember, a helmet can save your life.
2. Play nice. Remember that car drivers may be as scared of you as you are of them. No driver wants to be the person who accidentally hits a motorcyclist. The best thing to do is to think of the driving lane as three equal sections with the safest and most visible section being on the left side. You are most likely to be seen by car drivers while in this position. It’s not illegal to be in any part of the lane but it’s always best to act on the side of caution. Don’t try to share a lane by placing your motorcycle next to a car; it’s likely to lead to an accident.
3. Blind Spots. When you are in the left part of the lane, you can still go unseen by drivers. Even in the best conditions with the most alert drivers, accidents happen because cars have blind spots. Pay close attention to the vehicles on the road; assume that they can’t see you.
4. Safe Stopping Distance. Allow 3-4 seconds between a car and your motorcycle, giving each vehicle enough time to stop without incident.
5. Road Conditions. Cars are able to pass or drive over potholes, railroad crossings, gravel, and water on the road more easily than motorcycles. By allowing a safe following distance, you can keep yourself safe from unforeseen debris or road and weather conditions.
6. Look then Turn. Do what your parents taught you about crossing a street especially when you’re making a left turn. Don’t assume drivers are paying attention to traffic flow and signals. Look both ways. Then look again before turning. And don’t forget to check mirrors.
7. Signal All Intentions. Whether you’re changing lanes on the freeway or a side street, be sure to signal so drivers and pedestrians know where you’re heading.

Road safety is a shared responsibility. While car drivers are required pay attention, the best person to look out for you and your safety is you. And of course, we all know that you can do everything right and still get into an accident. If you have been in a motorcycle accident (or know someone who has), it’s important to get immediate expert legal assistance with your motorcycle accident injury case. Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer works aggressively on your motorcycle accident case to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us or call today at 602-535-5899 for a free review of your case.

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