Four things play a very important role in a motorcycle accident insurance claim:
- Proper reporting
- Medical records
- Accident documentation
- Insurance coverage
It’s safe to say the factors that would make a car accidents claim successful are the same ones that will make a motorcycle accident claim successful. It’s up to you to prove that due to someone else’s carelessness, you got injured.
But the law governing motorcycle accident injuries may vary from one state to another, which is why you need to hire a competent Providence motorcycle accident lawyer to help you with your case. They are more conversant with the Rhode Island personal injury law and will be in a better position to help your case.
Read about hiring a Providence personal injury lawyer.
So let’s take a look at the factors that make a successful motorcycle accident insurance claim.
Proper Reporting
It is your responsibility to notify the appropriate insurance companies including the other driver’s insurance company of your intent to file a claim.
If you wait too long to notify your insurance company that you got into a motorcycle accident or you intend to file a claim, they might reject your claim.
Insurance companies have strict guidelines when it comes to filing a claim. If you wait too long or don’t follow proper procedure to file a claim, they might use this information in court to hurt your chances of getting the compensation you deserve.
Find out how much your personal injury case is worth.
Remember that insurance companies are in business to save money so if they can pay up little to nothing in insurance claims the better it is for them.
If you are not able to file the claim yourself because you are bed ridden, have someone else do it for you but don’t wait until you recover because it might be too late.
Adequate Insurance Coverage
The key here is to have the right insurance policy for you and your motorcycle. Motorcycle insurance is very specific and the laws governing it vary from one state to another.
Rhode Island is a no fault insurance state so if you don’t have appropriate coverage, your options will be very limited after an accident happens.
And even if you got into an accident in a state that doesn’t have no fault, you’d still find yourself catering to your medical bills, repair bills and other losses if no one can be held legally liable for your accident or the person responsible for your accident doesn’t have proper insurance.
Read about motorcycle insurance minimum requirements in Rhode Island.
Medical records
You should go to the hospital as soon as you are involved in a motorcycle accident even if you don’t have any visible injuries. Sometimes accident victims don’t realize the impact the accident had on them until a few days later.
Failure to go to the hospital after the accident can give insurance adjusters grounds to dismiss your claim citing that your injuries were not serious otherwise you would have sought medical help immediately.
Seeking medical attention refutes all claims that your injuries are exaggerated or non-existent. In fact, they show exactly how your injuries have affected you and how much your medical bills are.
So when it’s time to consider a settlement, a comprehensive medical record can help your claim.
Documentation Of The Accident
If you are able to, collect as much information about the accident as you possibly can. This includes taking pictures of the accident scene, getting contact information of witnesses and taking a picture of the car that caused your accident.
Your first priority should of course be seeking medical attention but if you are physically able to gather information about the accident, then you should. If you can’t take pictures or gather information, ask someone else to do it for you.
You should also call the police even if the accident was your fault. The police will be able to gather their own information and witness contact information, which will eventually help your case.
The reason why you should gather as much information about your accident is that if you wait too long or return to the accident scene later, you might find a few things have changed. For instance, you’ll maybe find the person responsible for the accident has already left or your motorcycle might be towed away. Furthermore, if there was any damage to property or debris from the accident, it might have been cleaned up. These little details might seem minor but they can significantly help your case.
Contact A Providence Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Your injuries might not seem significant or you don’t plan on pursuing a lawsuit but contacting a lawyer is still beneficial. Besides, most personal injury lawyers have an initial free consultation so you basically have nothing to lose by contacting one.
