After a motor vehicle accident, your mind might be racing a mile a minute, making it hard to focus. Who should you call first? Police? A lawyer? The insurance company? Read on to find out who you should contact after a motorcycle accident and why.
After a Motorcycle Accident Seek Medical Attention First
Before contacting your insurance company or a lawyer, you should seek medical treatment for yourself or anyone else injured in the collision. You should see a doctor if you’ve already left the scene and did not receive medical care at first.
In general, it’s a good idea to receive medical attention after any motor vehicle crash.
Even if you feel no pain or discomfort, seeking medical attention from a trained professional will ensure that you do not have any unseen injuries. Once you have sought medical attention, you may feel conflicted about who to call next.
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Contact a Lawyer Before an Insurance Company for Motorcycle Accidents
As with most motor vehicle accidents, you should contact your lawyer before you contact any insurance company, even your own.
Why Contact a Lawyer First?
The reason for contacting a lawyer after a motorcycle accident and before you call your insurance company is simple: a motorcycle accident lawyer can help you communicate with the insurance company. A motorcycle accident attorney can coach you on how to interact with anyone regarding the crash. The attorney’s job is to protect your rights and act in your best interest. When you consult an attorney, they can advise you of the best course of action.
Your lawyer can explain what information you should provide or withhold during initial talks with an insurance company. Knowing the difference between the two can ensure you do not hurt your chances of receiving any insurance benefits to which you are entitled. Better still, a motorcycle accident attorney can communicate with the insurance for you and personally make sure to handle all calls correctly.
Your accident injury lawyer can also obtain a copy of your insurance policy. They can comb through the policy to determine your motorcycle insurer’s coverage or benefits. Then, if you have applicable coverage, your attorney can assist you in filing a claim.
Should I Contact My Insurance Company After a Motorcycle Accident in Indiana?
You need to contact your insurance company after the motorcycle accident, even if you are not at fault. In Indiana, drivers are required by law to maintain certain types of insurance. Motor vehicle owners in Indiana must carry bodily liability and property damage insurance for accidents they cause. There are two reasons you should contact your insurance company after a motorcycle accident.
First, many insurance policies require you to notify your insurer of any accident. It’s in your best interest to comply with this as your insurance policy is a contract. If you breach your end of the bargain, they may deny your claim for the coverage you should receive, terminate your insurance, or penalize you by raising your premiums.
Second, if you have coverage you can use after your motorcycle accident in Indiana, you will not have access to it without contacting your insurance company.
You May Have Additional Coverage Under Your Motorcycle Insurance
Although you should know what your insurance policy covers, you may not know when other types of coverage kick in under different scenarios. If you didn’t expressly decline them, or if your lender required them, you are paying for them right now. You may have:
- Collision coverage
- MedPay
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist protection
You cannot use these coverages without contacting your insurance company about your motorcycle accident first. Don’t avoid contacting the company but be smart and contact a lawyer first.
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Why You Should Contact a Lawyer Before Speaking to an Insurance Company
It’s important to call a personal injury lawyer before speaking to the at-fault party’s insurance company. Saying the wrong thing to the insurance adjuster could mean the difference between recovering the compensation you deserve and receiving nothing.
A motorcycle accident attorney can advise you on the right thing to say to insurance adjusters. An attorney can also help you avoid providing a recorded statement to the insurance company, which can devalue your claim for compensation or provide grounds for a denial.
A recorded statement is designed to gather information that can be used against you in the future of your insurance claim. During a recorded statement an insurance adjuster may:
- Ask questions about your injuries that may imply you weren’t badly injured
- Implicate you as the at-fault driver by having you affirm certain details
- Ask or phrase questions that paint you as dishonest or unreliable
- Get you to confirm pre-existing injuries even if you don’t have them
Each of these tactics is designed to help them get away with offering you a low settlement or denying your claim altogether. With a motorcycle accident lawyer who has experience dealing with insurers, you can avoid these pitfalls. An Indiana personal injury attorney will communicate with the other driver’s insurance for you and do everything in their power to negotiate a fair settlement for your suffering.
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Call Sevenish Law Firm After Your Motorcycle Accident in Indiana
After a motorcycle accident, you may need to contact several people. One of the first contacts you make should be a motorcycle accident lawyer. Before you contact the insurance company, call our Indiana motorcycle accident lawyer to better protect your right to financial recovery.
Sevenish Law Firm is here to handle your motorcycle accident claims. Start the claims process today by contacting us for your free case evaluation.
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