Boise Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Critical Actions to Take Following a Motorcycle Collision

The moments after a motorcycle accident are terrifying and disorienting. What you do next can determine whether you get fair compensation or get blamed for someone else's mistake. Here's your action plan:

Step 1: Seek Medical Attention — No Matter What

Even if you think you're okay, get checked immediately. Adrenaline masks pain. Internal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal damage don't always show symptoms right away. This creates medical records that link your injuries directly to the motorcycle crash.

Step 2: Document Everything at the Accident Scene

If you're physically able, photograph the damage to your motorcycle, the other vehicles, skid marks, road conditions, and your visible injuries. Capture the exact location and gather the contact information for every witness, as they may be the only ones who tell the truth.

Step 3: Do Not Apologize or Admit Fault

Even saying "I'm sorry" can be twisted into an admission of liability. Stick to the facts when speaking with police. The other driver and their insurance company are already building a case against you.

Step 4: Avoid Recorded Statements to Insurance Adjusters

The other driver's insurance company will contact you quickly. Do not give a recorded statement without legal representation. Anything you say can be used to reduce or deny your claim.

Step 5: Contact a Boise Motorcycle Accident Attorney Before You Do Anything Else

The sooner you have a motorcycle crash attorney on your side, the stronger your case becomes. We immediately begin preserving evidence before it disappears. We handle all communications with the insurance companies while you focus on healing.

Your Legal Rights as an Injured Motorcyclist in Idaho

Motorcycle riders have the same rights on the road as any other vehicle operator. When another driver violates those rights through negligence, the law provides a path to recovery.

The Right to Safe Roadways

Under Idaho Code § 49-630, all drivers have a legal duty to operate their vehicles with reasonable care. When a driver fails to check their blind spot, runs a red light, or makes an illegal turn, they breach that duty. If that breach causes a motorcycle crash, they're liable for the damages.

The Right to Recover Full Compensation

Idaho law allows injured motorcyclists to recover economic damages (medical expenses, lost wages, future medical treatment, property damage) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent disability). If the other driver was particularly reckless, you may also be entitled to punitive damages.

The Right to Challenge Anti-Rider Bias

Insurance adjusters often rely on stereotypes: motorcyclists speed, weave through traffic, and take unnecessary risks. As Boise motorcycle crash attorneys, we dismantle those biases with evidence. We use accident reconstruction experts, traffic camera footage, and witness testimony to show exactly what happened.

The Right to Reject Lowball Settlement Offers

Insurance companies count on injured riders accepting quick settlements before they realize the full extent of their injuries. You have the right to reject any settlement offer that doesn't cover your current and future needs. Once you sign, you can't go back.

How to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Boise

Filing a motorcycle accident claim involves multiple steps, each with its own deadlines and legal requirements. Here's how the process works:

Calculating Maximum Compensation for Injured Riders in Boise

Motorcycle crashes often cause life-altering injuries, such as spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, compound fractures, severe burns, and amputations. These aren’t minor claims. They change how you work, move, and live. Idaho law allows injured motorcyclists to recover both economic and non-economic damages, but the amount you receive depends on establishing fault.

Under Idaho’s comparative negligence rule, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you’re found to be less than 50% at fault, you can still recover damages; if you’re 50% or more, you recover nothing. That makes proving liability — not just treatment — absolutely critical.

Here's what you can recover:

• Medical expenses cover emergency room treatment, surgery, hospital stays, physical therapy, prescription medications, and rehabilitation.
• Future medical expenses account for ongoing treatment, additional surgeries, long-term care, and adaptive equipment if your injuries result in permanent disability.
• Lost wages compensate for the income you've already lost while recovering from your injuries.
• Loss of earning capacity applies if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job or reduce your ability to earn income in the future.
• Property damage includes the cost of repairing or replacing your motorcycle, helmet, riding gear, and any other personal belongings damaged in the crash.
• Pain and suffering addresses the physical pain, discomfort, and reduced quality of life you've experienced as a result of the accident.
• Emotional distress compensates for anxiety, depression, PTSD, and the psychological impact of the crash.
• Permanent disability or disfigurement provides compensation if your injuries leave you with lasting impairment or visible scarring.
• Loss of consortium applies if your injuries have damaged your relationship with your spouse or family members.

Insurance companies will try to minimize every one of these categories. We don't let them get away with it.

How Long Will Your Motorcycle Accident Settlement Take?

There's no one-size-fits-all answer. Some cases settle in a few months, others take years. The timeline depends on the severity of your injuries, the complexity of determining fault, the insurance company's willingness to negotiate in good faith, and whether the case goes to trial.

If your injuries are catastrophic, we won't settle until we know the full extent of your recovery and future needs. Settling too early can leave you without the resources to pay for long-term care. If the insurance company refuses fair compensation, we file a lawsuit and prepare for litigation. That process adds time but also necessary leverage.

We move as quickly as possible without sacrificing the quality of your case. The right settlement is worth waiting for.