If you have been in a motorcycle accident, then one of the primary things that you will need to do is file (or negotiate) a motorcycle accident claim. Being in a motorcycle accident is no different than being in any other type of motor vehicle related accident. As a matter of fact, insurance law treats it the exact same way, but check with your state motor vehicle administration to be sure. Unless you live in a no-fault state, then you will need to prove that the opposing party is at fault. Here are a few steps that you should follow when filing a motorcycle accident claim.
5 Steps for Filing a Motorcycle Accident Claim
- Take a few notes - You will need to write down the make, the model, and year of any other cars or motorcycles involved. Additionally, you should write down all that you see on the license plate including the date of expiration. Should the other party refuse to stop at least you will have enough basic information to give to your insurance company when you file the claim.
- Call the police. - You should call the non-emergency police line, and arrange for a police officer to assess the scene to see who was at fault as well as to have him or her give you a file number that will reference a police report. This is a crucial step because your insurance company may require that you have a police report filed to better assess who is at fault.
- Call your insurance company - At this point, you should also call your insurance company, while you are waiting to speak with a representative, be sure to get their driver’s license number and insurance information. This will be very helpful when the representative from your insurance company files your claim with you over the telephone. Make sure that you tell them exactly what happened and how the accident occurred.
- Go to the emergency room - As soon as you get off of the telephone with the insurance company, you should get over to the nearest emergency room. While many people may not initially feel any pain, it is not uncommon for pain to strike at a later time. It is best that you go to the emergency room to have yourself examined. Be sure to let the doctor on staff know that you were just in an accident.
- Contact a personal injury attorney - The probability of your insurance company finding you at fault is pretty high. In this situation you should consider hiring a personal injury attorney. Doing this will be a preventative measure on your behalf, therefore eradicating the suggestion to the insurance company that you were at fault.
Getting Legal Help
When you have a motorcycle accident, you should find an attorney who is experienced and comfortable with such accidents to act as your advocate. Your attorney can guide you through the entire process of filing a claim and can help you protect your rights.
