Motorcycle accidents can be costly. They can leave you with mounting medical bills, lost wages from missing work, a lost or damaged bike, and physical and mental trauma. Handling this type of claim is a daunting task. Especially if you are going through the recovery process just to try to get back to full health. Beyond that, insurance companies know how to play games with motorcycle accident victims that will diminish the value of their claim or deny it altogether.
If you decide to handle your motorcycle injury claim or hire a Sacramento motorcycle lawyer, these tips will come in handy either way to help maximize your dollar amount.
Get Medical Treatment and Follow Through. One of the biggest things that will get any accident claim denied is no treatment or a break in treatment. Insurance companies want proof that you’re actually injured. You do this by immediately going to see a doctor so that the accident is documented in their notes as well as your injuries. You should make sure to schedule follow up appointments depending on the severity. If insurance companies see a 3 month gap between the times you saw a doctor, they will claim your injury was aggravated by something other than the accident. Get medical treatment and follow what your doctors says to do.
Organize Your Records. If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, you are likely to have injuries and damage to your bike. You will need try to get pictures of the scene and damage, a police report, medical records, medical bills, damage estimates, witness statements, and proof of missing work from your employer. You will want to make sure you keep these records accurate and organized because they will help support your claim.
The other party’s insurance company will be ahead of you when it comes to this. Their process begins as soon as they’re notified of the claim. And it’s a smooth running process. They have processed many claims and know exactly what to do. It’s possible this is the first time you’ve filed a motorcycle accident claim. You’re only hurting yourself if you don’t keep these things organized because it may be the deciding factor if your claim is denied for lack of information.
Pictures. Pictures of the scene, damage, and sometimes the injury itself, are critical to supporting your claim with the insurance company. As most of us carry smartphones, taking pictures of motorcycle accident scenes is much easier than it used to be. Take pictures of how the vehicles ended up and the surrounding scene itself. If your injury is something you can see, take pictures of how it progresses to show the extent of it.
Taking pictures of driver’s licenses, ID cards, insurance, and registration at the scene of the accident can prove to be easier than trying to write it all down. This way everything will be right in your phone and organized.
Don’t Accept the First Offer. Unless the insurance company is paying policy limits and they prove it’s the policy limits, you probably shouldn’t accept the first offer. Typically though, if you’re unrepresented they will try to lowball you to pay less. They realize that they can test the boundaries of your knowledge if you don’t have a motorcycle injury attorney.
Insurance companies realize that many accident victims can struggle financially with bills. They try to use this to their advantage to make a quick payout well below what it should be. Don’t let them get away with paying less.
These tips will help you get the most out of your motorcycle accident injury settlement. It doesn’t hurt to speak with a Sacramento motorcycle accident lawyer either. We offer free case evaluations to help provide an honest assessment of your claim.
We can be reached at (916) 619-5452 or you can fill out our case evaluation form online.
