As anyone who has ever been involved in a motorcycle accident knows quite well, it is an immensely stressful experience. In addition to possibly suffering from physical injuries, your beloved bike is probably significantly damaged. On top of that, there are police reports to obtain, insurance companies to deal with, and — depending on the circumstances of the accident — appointments with physicians and attorneys.
The following five tips can help you document and file an insurance claim after a motorcycle accident:
Call your insurance company
As soon as you can, get in touch with your insurance agent. Try to provide him or her with as much information as you can about the accident, including where it took place, the name and badge number of the police officer on the scene, the other person’s or peoples’ insurance information, and the contact information for any witnesses who might have been on the scene. Riderz Law suggests refraining from admitting fault during the call; most of the time these conversations will be recorded.
Don’t guess the extent of any injuries
Either during the initial call to the insurance agent or soon thereafter, a claims manager will probably ask you how badly you were injured and how badly your motorcycle was damaged. Because physical injuries often do not fully show up until even weeks after the accident, do not assume or guess anything. Do not make any statements until you have been fully checked out by a physician and until your motorcycle has been thoroughly assessed by a mechanic you know and trust.
Choose your own doctors
Do not let your insurance company tell you which doctor to see; you have every right to select your care provider, Hoglaw suggests. Get to a physician or the emergency room as soon as possible after the accident. To help with filing insurance claims, keep copies of your charts, medical records, any prescriptions, suggested treatments and receipts for what you paid. To keep them all in one safe place, get a sturdy envelope or manila folder and store everything together so they will be easy to find.
Keep an inventory of damaged parts
Be sure to keep a running list of any personal property that was damaged during the crash and give it to your insurance agent as part of your claim. Items that may be included on the list include your helmet, jacket, pants and boots, goggles, backpacks and more. You can also include any motorcycle accessories in your list. To help you get an idea of an approximate replacement cost for any damaged accessories for your motorcycle, check out a website like Bike Bandit; they have a full line of parts specific to makers like Yamaha and others, including some that are hard to find and/or for older models.
Get as many details as possible about the accident
To prepare to file an insurance claim after a motorcycle accident, you should create a list of as much specific and detailed information as possible, Geico suggests. For example, give the names, email address and contact information for everyone who was part of the accident; the exact location; which emergency services responded; the weather conditions, and anything else you can think of. Keep this information in your folder and add to it as needed.
In addition to possibly suffering from physical injuries, your beloved bike is probably significantly damaged. On top of that, there are police reports to obtain, insurance companies to deal with, and — depending on the circumstances of the accident — appointments with physicians and attorneys.
This article is from Allison Robinson, a driving school instructor, freelance writer, and loving wife.
