When a motorcyclist is involved in a motorcycle accident, their immediate concerns often revolve around physical recovery and financial burdens. While prompt communication with insurance companies is vital, doing so requires caution. It’s true in a State where dealing with insurers can feel like an uphill battle. Insurance companies are profit-based and may use deceptive tactics to limit their exposure.
Honesty is the Best Policy
It’s essential to stick with the facts when talking with insurance companies. Avoid embellishments or opinions, as these can be used to undermine your case and limit the amount of compensation you receive. Also, be honest about the duration of your injuries and medical treatment. Exaggerating them could also hurt your claim or even lead to legal repercussions. Insurance providers strive to strike a delicate balance between paying you adequate compensation and overpaying you. As such, they often conduct thorough investigations to verify and confirm reimbursement amounts. They may ask you to provide medical records predating your accident and a detailed description of the circumstances leading up to your wreck. Be aware that if you offer this information to the insurance company, it will be recorded and used against you later in your pursuit of compensation. Therefore, let your attorney handle communications with insurance companies. A motorcycle accident lawyer in Vero Beach can ensure the facts are backed up and you receive the compensation you deserve. In Florida, cases involving negligence have a two-year statute of limitations. It also applies to making an accident claim. The prior four-year statute of limitations was lowered by this law, which became operative in 2023. Some argue that filing a lawsuit requires time and that you should get legal counsel as soon as possible following an injury. Due to a shortened timeline, you and your attorney will only have two years to look into the reason behind your injuries and obtain copies of any security footage that shows the accident scene.
Insurance Adjusters Are Not Your Friend
After a motorcycle accident, the insurance adjuster is not on your side. They work for their employer and want to maximize the money they will pay you for your losses. They may use negotiation strategies to get you to settle for less than you deserve. Once you crash, they will ask you to provide a recorded statement, but only after consulting with legal counsel. Doing so could compromise the accuracy of your police report and make you admit fault or say something that can be used against you later in court, like how fast you were going or whether you had time to check your mirrors.
Likewise, don’t discuss your financial or personal difficulties with the insurance adjuster. Doing so could weaken your claim and signal that you’re desperate to accept a lowball offer. A qualified lawyer will handle all communications and negotiations with the insurance company to ensure you are treated fairly.
Statute of Limitations
You may only have a certain amount of time to submit a claim, depending on your state’s statute of limitations. This limit may be as short as one year or longer for cases involving wrongful death or complex property damage issues. For this reason, taking steps at the scene, such as taking photos and exchanging contact information with the other driver, is essential to preserve evidence. It’s also critical to get medical help as soon as possible. Many injuries have delayed symptoms, which could cause you to miss out on compensation. Receiving emergency medical care will create a trail of evidence that will aid jurors and insurance adjusters in assembling a more complete picture of your collision. Additionally, you can incorporate these expenses into your claim if your injury requires long-term care like physical therapy or counseling. It will allow you to recover the maximum amount of compensation possible. These tips will help you get the money you deserve after your motorcycle crash.
Recorded Statements Are Recorded
During the claim process, an insurance company may request that you give them a recorded statement. Although this is a common request, providing one is not in your best interests. Recorded statements are less precise than written statements, making it easy for casual words and phrases to be misinterpreted as admissions of facts that may later be used against you to undermine your claim.
Moreover, insurance adjusters often look for admissions, allowing them to assign you partial fault for the accident. For this reason, it is essential to stick to the facts when describing what happened. It’s possible that you won’t realize how serious your injuries are right away after the crash, so answering questions about them from the insurance adjuster could be problematic. Your symptoms are still establishing themselves, which can be a big mistake.