Surveillance Video Helps Motorcycle Crash Victim Secure Settlement

 Posted on October 13, 2017 in Motor Vehicle Accidents

When you have been involved in an auto accident, most advice from attorneys and insurance companies recommends against admitting fault or apologizing to the other party or parties involved. This is because car, truck, and motorcycle accidents are often the result of many factors in addition to your own behavior. Apologizing or admitting fault could cause the police, insurance claims adjusters, and investigators to take you at your word instead of looking more deeply into the circumstances the crash. The other drivers are also less likely to voluntarily take responsibility if you have already done so.

Sometimes, a more in-depth investigation into an accident may lead to the discovery of evidence from unexpected sources, including security cameras installed on homes, government buildings, and private businesses in the vicinity of the crash. Footage from one such camera recently provided the proof a Prospect man needed to collect a large settlement following a motorcycle accident in Bethany.

Lucky to Be Alive

The crash occurred on Amity Road in Bethany, Connecticut in 2014. A 31-year-old man was riding his motorcycle when a 74-year-old woman pulled out of a strip mall parking lot and hit him. The rider was thrown “like a rag doll” over the car and suffered traumatic brain injury in addition to neck and shoulder injuries and temporary hearing loss. The fact that he was wearing a helmet is believed to have saved the man’s life. The man filed suit in 2015, and the case was scheduled for trial earlier this year.

The driver of the car claimed she never saw the motorcycle approaching. The accident, however, was caught on video, thanks to security cameras installed at a neighboring business. According to the rider’s attorney, the footage clearly showed the woman pulling out of the parking lot while the rider was a mere 30 feet away.

The existence of the video allowed the two sides to reach an agreement on the issue of liability fairly quickly. A Waterbury Superior Court judge was able to facilitate a $1.3 million settlement through several hours of mediation.

Gathering All of the Evidence

Following an auto accident, it is understandable that you would want to resolve the case as quickly as possible. Hasty decisions, however, are not usually in your best interest. Rushing to accept a settlement could result in missed details or sources of evidence that may affect the eventual outcome of your case.

If you have been hurt in any type of motor vehicle crash, an experienced Connecticut personal injury attorney can help you explore all of your options for collecting the full compensation you deserve. Call 860-290-8690 for a free consultation at Woolf Law Firm, LLC today.

Sources:

http://www.ctlawtribune.com/id=1202787086832/Motorcyclist-Takes-13M-Settlement-in-Crash-Caught-on-Camera

https://www.cheatsheet.com/money-career/most-expensive-mistakes-people-make-after-car-accident.html