How Does Motorcycle Insurance Work After a Crash? 2022 Update

Motorcycle Insurance Work Accident

Written by Jeremy D. Earle, JD

January 28, 2023

Insurance for Motorcycle Injuries

The last thing victims need to worry about after a motorcycle accident is managing discussions with insurance company officials. Even under the best of circumstances, the insurance claims procedure may be aggravating. In most circumstances, insurance firms work hard to safeguard their clients’ best interests by minimizing claims and expenses.

There are several things you may do after a motorcycle accident to streamline the insurance claims procedure. Continue reading to discover more about the insurance claims procedure, as well as some helpful hints for bargaining with representatives and determining the worth of your claim.

A Quick Overview of the Differences Between Motorcycle and Car Insurance

There are a few distinctions to be made between motorcycle insurance and standard automotive insurance. The more you understand your motorcycle insurance policy’s coverage, the simpler it will be to manage the claims procedure after an accident.

One of the simplest ways to learn how motorcycle insurance and car insurance operate is to compare the two plans side by side. The majority of you are aware of your car insurance coverage.

Motorcycle insurance coverage, on the other hand, has a few important variances, such as:

In most cases, car insurance covers coverage to passengers involved in an accident. Passengers are not covered under basic motorcycle insurance since bikes are not designed to carry passengers. Motorcyclists, on the other hand, may obtain supplementary coverage that includes liability insurance for passengers.

In the case of an accident, riders are nearly always at a greater risk of severe injury. As a consequence, most motorcycle insurance plans include more personal injury protection coverage than automotive insurance policies.

Motorcycles, like cars, may be bought with extra and bespoke features and equipment. Motorcycles with extra features sometimes need additional insurance coverage. Common equipment, like a backrest, may even need extra accessories coverage in the event of a crash.

What Is Motorcycle Insurance Covered For?

The level of motorcycle insurance coverage varies from policy to policy and is often specific to the policyholder. Each state has its standards for the minimum coverage that motorcyclists must carry.

Among the most prevalent forms of insurance coverage are:

Liability insurance: Liability insurance pays for losses incurred by accident caused by the insured motorist. The expenses of any accident-related injuries or property damage caused by an accident may be included in the damages.

Personal injury protection (PIP): If you are injured in a motorcycle accident. Coverage may include medical fees and missed pay if your injuries require you to miss work.

Comprehensive insurance: Comprehensive insurance covers any damage to the bike that occurs while it is not in use. Theft, fire, vandalism, and other such catastrophes, for example, are often covered by comprehensive motorcycle insurance coverage.

Collision insurance: Collision insurance is exactly what it sounds like. It pays for damage caused by accidents with other cars and objects (regardless of who was at fault for the accident).

Underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage (UIM/UM): These types of insurance are special. They operate as a kind of backup protection when other drivers in an accident are underinsured or do not have any insurance coverage at all. UIM/UM coverage compensates injured parties for other drivers’ lack of insurance.

Like automotive insurance policies, Motorcycle insurance plans allow riders to choose from a choice of

extra coverage options to include in their policy.

However, several insurance coverage possibilities are particular to motorcycle insurance plans. These include:

Coverage for personal belongings/carried contents: Items carried by riders or kept on their bikes are not protected, making them subject to harm in the case of an accident or theft. Carried contents coverage applies to goods carried by riders on their motorcycle.

Accessories or additional equipment coverage: Motorcycles are protected under accessory coverage, as previously stated. Accessories coverage works in conjunction with comprehensive coverage to help cover damage to your bike’s accessories if damaged in an accident. Helmets, radios, and seats are examples of common equipment covered by this insurance.

Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts coverage: When constructing or repairing a motorcycle, it’s essential to utilize manufacturer-specific components to guarantee optimal operation. In reality, without the right OEM components and equipment, many bikes will not operate. Original manufacturer parts coverage ensures that any repairs covered by an insured’s insurance use original manufacturer components.

Liability insurance for guest passengers: As previously stated, guest passenger liability insurance acts similarly to PIP insurance; however, it only applies to losses suffered by motorcycle passengers. Medical costs and lost pay may be covered if injuries prohibit passengers from working.

What Kind of Motorcycle Insurance Claim Should I Make Following My Accident?

The specific circumstances of each event primarily determine the sort of motorcycle insurance claim that should be filed. Consult with an expert motorcycle accident attorney to learn about all of your alternatives before deciding how to proceed.

Until you speak with an attorney, here’s some basic information on how the insurance claims procedure works following a collision:

Claims for Property Damage

Damage to a motorcycle or car that necessitates repair or replacement is the subject of a property damage claim. If another driver causes an accident that damages the motorcycle, the owner will usually seek reimbursement from the other driver’s insurance carrier. If you were at fault for the accident or if no other motorist was involved, you may still claim for property damage with your insurance company if your policy covers it.

The amount of insurance reimbursement for property damage that affected parties are entitled to depend on the kind of coverage offered by your policy.

Collision coverage, for example, may apply if you crash with another car or a fixed object.

Comprehensive coverage, on the other hand, may apply if you need to recover damages from a single- car accident, such as wiping out on a curve.

Motorcycle Accident Compensation

Motorcycle accident claims include the expenses of bodily injuries sustained due to a collision caused by another motorist.

The following are the most typical types of damages sought in a motorcycle accident claim:

Medical bills: A motorcycle accident claim may be used to pay for past, present, and future medical expenses linked with accident-related injuries. Emergency medical transports, surgeries, physical rehabilitation, and prescription drugs are all examples of medical expenses.

Pain and suffering: There’s no denying that motorcycle accidents may inflict serious damage, resulting in significant pain and suffering for wounded victims. When victims’ lives are disrupted by pain and suffering, they may be compensated for their losses.

Lost income or impaired earning capacity: Motorcycle accidents often prohibit wounded persons from working, forcing them to lose pay while recovering. Individuals who cannot return to work owing to their injuries may be able to claim compensation for lost income. Injured individuals may be eligible for compensation for impaired future earning potential if their injuries result in permanent incapacity.

After A Crash, How Does Motorcycle Insurance Work?

After a motorcycle accident, motorcycle insurance helps protect and pay at-fault drivers and wounded victims. You may, however, only collect your coverage reimbursement if you kept your insurance company up to date and informed.

To file an insurance claim, follow these steps: Collect Evidence

Which parties are included in your insurance claim will determine who was at fault for the accident. Collect as much evidence as possible at the location of the accident to show how the accident happened.

Document any known damage to your person, motorcycle, or goods; and

Capture any surrounding evidence of the collision, such as skid tracks or damage to roadside items.

If cops attend the accident site, they will create a police record that may be useful evidence in your claim. Most police records are available online within a few days after an accident in most areas.

Obtain contact information from anyone who was involved in the accident.

While everyone is still on the site, talk to the other drivers and passengers involved in the collision. Collect the names, contact information, and insurance information of any other drivers: Takedown the other car’s make, model, and license plate number. Any information you may get from other parties involved may be useful throughout the claims process.

Following up With Appropriate Medical Care

Seek medical attention after a motorcycle accident. Not only do you need expert documentation of the entire amount of your accident injuries and treatment expenses to guarantee the right diagnosis and treatment of your injuries, but you also need it to ensure the correct diagnosis and treatment of your injuries.

Seeking medical attention as soon as possible might help an insurance claim for damages. Suppose you wait too long between the date of the accident and seeking medical attention. In that case, it may be difficult to determine if your injuries were caused by accident or by another occurrence.

Seek appropriate therapy so that you may completely recover, as well as provide an accurate estimate of your continuing or future medical bills.

Making an Insurance Claim

It is typical to have concerns regarding how to file a motorcycle insurance claim after an accident. Depending on the sort of claim you are bringing, the procedure may change.

You are filing a claim with your insurance provider. Contact your insurance agent to make a motorcycle accident claim with your own company.

Your agent may be able to put you in touch with a claims adjuster.

  • Allow a motorcycle accident attorney to deal with the claims adjuster, who may go through the proof

of claim form and the facts you put on it.

Next, get replacement and repair quotes from mechanics to back up your property damage compensation assessment.Investigating the current market worth of your motorcycle will help you make a claim for replacement compensation and ensure you get a reasonable amount.

Your insurance company is required to negotiate in good faith with you. Negotiation sessions with a claims adjuster give a chance to suggest a fair settlement for any accident- related losses you sustained.

They are bringing a lawsuit against another motorist. Negotiations often begin with an inadequate settlement offer requiring a counteroffer and renegotiation to get a reasonable sum. If injured parties reject an insurance company’s first offer, agents may try to postpone processing your

claim to persuade you to reconsider the settlement and accept the low offer.

Some insurance companies may use deceptive practices to avoid paying the full value of wounded victims’ claims.

Remember that insurance companies are for-profit enterprises; an agent’s mission is to limit losses from

claim payments.

Making an Insurance Claim Following a Car Accident? Take Care of Yourself

If you were injured or your motorcycle was damaged in an accident, make an insurance claim as soon as possible after the event. If conversations with insurance agents fail, you may take legal action to obtain reimbursement.

If you decide to file a lawsuit, you should do it with the help of an expert motorcycle accident lawyer. An attorney can assist you in understanding your choices so that you may choose the best course of action for your specific situation. Obtaining legal counsel might alleviate some of your stress, allowing you to focus on your health and well-being.

Lawyers may also give helpful guidance to those seeking compensation via the insurance claims procedure rather than through a lawsuit. Motorcycle accident lawyers can assist their clients in filing insurance claims and defending their legal rights during talks with insurance adjusters.

Legal counsel is not necessary when submitting an insurance claim after a motorcycle accident. Still, it might be beneficial if the other driver’s insurance company uses deceptive methods to undermine your claim. You may work with a motorcycle accident lawyer with considerable expertise demonstrating injuries and other losses to ensure that you get through the claims process properly and quickly.

Call Warrior Motorcycle Accident Attorneys at 719-300-1100 or fill out an online contact form to schedule a free consultation regarding your motorcycle accident case.

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