If your family has been involved in a motorcycle accident and suffered injuries, you’ll find the claims process overwhelming.
Many families think dealing with the crash is the hardest part. Unfortunately… dealing with everything that comes AFTER the crash is far worse. Navigating hospital bills, persistent insurance adjusters, lost wages…
It all becomes too much.
Here’s the problem. When families are in the middle of a claim, they typically make several huge mistakes that cost them thousands of dollars. The issues they run into are completely avoidable, however. If they know what to look for.
In this article you’ll learn:
- Why Injury Claims Are So Hard For Families
- Common Mistakes That Cause Financial Loss
- How Insurance Companies Will Exploit You
- How Your Family Can Protect Themselves
Why Injury Claims Are So Hard For Families
Whenever someone gets into a motorcycle accident, it’s far more serious than your average vehicle collision.
The injuries are more severe. Medical expenses skyrocket. And the insurance process is completely different.
Motorcycle accidents involve higher stakes.
According to NHTSA, there were 6,335 motorcyclist deaths during traffic crashes in 2023. That’s the largest number of fatalities that’s ever been recorded.
If that doesn’t tell you how serious motorcycle accidents are… nothing will.
Hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer that has a strong track record of representing injury victims can drastically change the outcome of your claim. If your family does not have experienced legal help, they’ll likely accept a settlement that doesn’t come close to covering what they’re owed.
And here’s the thing…
Most families have no idea how bad of a deal they’re settling for.
Common Mistakes That Cause Financial Loss
There are certain pitfalls that tend to repeat themselves with every motorcycle injury claim.
If families know what they’re looking for, they can avoid these mistakes. Here are the most important things to avoid…
Forgetting to Document Everything
This cannot be stressed enough. Keep a meticulous record of every detail surrounding the injury.
Medical expenses, missed work, pain and suffering… insurance companies will try to find holes in your story wherever they can. If you don’t have documentation to back it all up, they use that as justification to pay you less.
Documentation includes:
- Bills and receipts for medical treatment
- Pictures of injuries
- Photographs of the accident
- Evidence of days missed from work
Remember, insurance adjusters are not your friends. They do not work for you. They will take advantage of you if you let them.
Speaking to Insurance Companies Too Early
As mentioned above, you should not speak to insurance adjusters without having a lawyer present.
Families who get on the phone with an insurance company (without legal representation) tend to say things that they shouldn’t. Many times, they end up weakening their case without even realizing it.
Here are some examples…
- Providing a recorded statement before knowing the full extent of injuries
- Settling early for a payout that “feels” like enough
- Accidentally implying fault of some sort
Insurance adjusters are smooth operators. They can talk their way out of (or INTO) almost any situation. Let an attorney handle all communications with them.
Accepting the First Settlement Offer
Why settle for less money when you know you’re entitled to more?
Insurance companies always begin with a lowball settlement offer. They know you’re in a tough spot because you want to pay hospital bills and take care of your family. They pressure you into thinking you have to settle quick.
That’s not true.
Allowing a motorcycle accident attorney to negotiate on your behalf is almost always going to lead to more money. If your family accepts that first offer, they’re throwing away money meant for long-term care, lost wages, pain and suffering, etc.
Don’t make that mistake.
How Insurance Companies Will Exploit You
Unless you’ve been through a motorcycle accident injury claim yourself, you probably have no idea what insurance companies are capable of.
They assume you’re at fault.
Motorcycles (unfortunately) have a bad reputation. Insurance companies assume all motorcycle riders are reckless and cause their own accidents. They spend hours looking for any minute detail to support that claim.
They will delay your claim.
It’s strategy. The insurance company delays your claim as long as possible to try and pressure you into settling for less money. It’s all about forcing you to “give up.”
They’ll deny necessary medical treatment.
Insurance companies are notorious for denying medical treatment. Either they’ll argue that your current treatment doesn’t relate to the accident. Or they’ll say that you had pre-existing injuries.
They’ve played this tactic so many times that they know just how to word things to their advantage.
As IIHS reports, motorcycle fatalities increased 26% from 2019 to 2023. Insurance companies are well aware of the stakes and they know just how to apply pressure.
What Your Family Should Do After A Crash
Okay, so the insurance company probably wants to take advantage of you. But that doesn’t mean you’re defenseless.
Taking these precautions from day one can save you from the headaches mentioned above…
Seek medical attention ASAP. Don’t wait for pain to subside. Insurers will argue that waiting to seek treatment means your injuries weren’t serious.
Document everything. Keep records of medical treatments, save the police report, take photos of the accident and injuries, gather witness statements, etc.
Don’t give statements. Let your attorney speak on behalf of your family. Everything you say to the insurance company can be used against you.
Don’t accept early offers. You’ll never get a higher amount than the first offer. Let a lawyer evaluate what you should actually be offered, then use that to negotiate.
Act quickly. States have specific time limits on when you can file a claim. If you wait too long, you’re permanently barred from receiving compensation.
Wrap Up
Dealing with an injury claim is difficult for families anywhere.
However, when you throw high medical bills and the reputational bias of motorcyclists into the mix… you’re asking for a headache.
Make sure you know what you’re getting into. Understand what insurance companies will try to take advantage of, and take steps to prevent it.
Motorcycle accidents have occurred far too often. In fact, IIHS found that fatalities have skyrocketed 26% from 2019 to 2023.
Your family deserves answers. If you’ve suffered an injury in a motorcycle accident and need help navigating the claims process, a qualified motorcycle accident lawyer can help you get the compensation you actually deserve.
