How to Deal with Insurance Companies After a Motorcycle Accident

Any time a motorcyclist sustains an injury or property damage as a result of an accident caused by another driver, they will typically turn to the insurance carrier of the other driver to recover compensation. However, dealing with insurance carriers can be challenging, particularly for motorcyclists. Here, we want to discuss the best ways for motorcyclists to approach insurance carriers after an accident occurs.

Report the Incident but Remain Cautious

Just about every vehicle accident that occurs in Colorado has to be reported to law enforcement officials. Additionally, your insurance carrier will have very strict reporting deadlines for these incidents. Typically, you have to let them know within a day or two after the incident occurs. If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, you need to report the incident to your personal insurance carrier. You do not have to go into much detail other than letting them know where the accident occurred as well as the contact information of the other parties involved.

Do not admit fault or speculate about what happened when you make your initial report. There will be further investigations where this information will become known.

What to do if the Insurance Carrier Calls You

It is very likely that either your insurance carrier or the insurance carrier of the other party involved will call you, particularly if the other driver caused the accident. You need to be very cautious about what you say. The best thing that you can do when someone calls you from an insurance carrier is to let your attorney handle all of the communication for you. If you do not have a lawyer yet, you can use the following strategies:

• Write down any details about the accident before you talk to the insurance carrier so that you can use your notes during the call and so you’re not fumbling to come up with an answer.
• Let the insurance agent know that you are undergoing medical treatment for any injuries you have sustained. Do not tell them that you have no injuries at all. Often, we do not know the full extent of our injuries until the days following the crash.
• Do not discuss fault or what you think may or may not have happened to cause the accident.
• Do not be thrown off by how friendly individuals from the insurance carrier sound. They are trained to get you to let your guard down so that you talk more about the incident.

You Don’t Have to Give a Recorded Statement

Insurance carriers may tell you that you have to give a recorded statement in order for you to receive a settlement. This is not the truth. Nowhere in the laws of Colorado does it say that you have to give your insurance carrier a recorded statement. Giving a recorded statement can be a serious problem, particularly if you say anything that contradicts earlier statements about the vehicle accident or your injuries.

Don’t Accept an Initial Settlement Offer Immediately

Sometimes, insurance carriers are quick to put a settlement offer in front of you. This is particularly true if the other driver is clearly at fault. You need to be aware that an early settlement offer is likely far below what you should actually receive for your motorcycle accident. When you receive an initial settlement offer, you need to let the insurance carrier know that you will be taking the offer to your Denver motorcycle accident attorney and that you will get back to them. The initial settlement offer should be the starting point to negotiate for a higher settlement amount.