A motorcycle accident can be especially scary for the rider. Without nearly as much protection from seatbelts and airbags that many passenger cars are equipped with, you may suffer more severe physical injuries and possibly even PTSD. Only a pedestrian gets closer to an accident than a motorcycle rider. However, insurance companies can often cause hassles for motorcyclists after a crash and here are four common reasons why.
Statements Made on Scene
It’s important not to make any statements at the scene of the accident. When we are nervous and frazzled, the events of the accident may not be obvious, and making statements about what you remember happening right after the accident may not be correct. Even so, these statements can be used against you, especially if you were to claim fault for the motorcycle accident. This information will be sent to the other party’s insurance company.
Remember, everything you say and do after the accident can be noted in the police report just as the actual evidence can be. The first person you should talk to about the details of the motorcycle accident is your personal injury lawyer that will represent you when facing the insurance companies.
Delayed Medical Treatment
Sometimes a motorcycle accident seems minor and you don’t go to your doctor’s office or even an urgent care facility or emergency room right away. This is one of the biggest mistakes motorcyclists can make since you may have injuries that aren’t visible or felt at the time of the accident but will come up a few days or even a week later. It’s best to see a doctor and have them look you over to make sure you are okay. If you aren’t, the doctor can start by documenting the injuries and treating them.
No Official Motorcycle Accident Report
Have you ever been in a fender bender and you and the other driver both agreed to drive away since there was barely any damage, and no one was injured? If you said yes, this was the wrong decision to make. You never know what injuries may come up even in just a few days and you may not realize your motorcycle has been severely damaged until months down the road. If you didn’t have the police called to the scene to file a report when the motorcycle accident occurred, you might not have any proof that it did. Insurance companies rarely accept a claim when there’s no accident report from the scene.
Stereotyping by Insurance Companies
Let’s face it, motorcyclists are stereotyped as being adrenaline junkies, running in and out of traffic, and causing mayhem on the roads. While this is most likely not true in your case, the statistics can be used against you, especially by the insurance company or by the other driver’s or rider’s defense lawyer. Having a clean driving record and no record of tickets and citations can help you prove that this accident is not one that adds to the statistics.
If you’re a motorcyclist who has been involved in an accident, it’s essential to have that police report, to make no statements at the scene or to either insurance company, and to seek prompt medical attention. Then it’s time to speak to a personal injury lawyer that has experiencing handling motorcycle accident cases. Email Martin Gasparian personally at martin@maisonlaw.comor call the office at (559) 203-3333 to schedule your free consultation.
