The Dos & Don’ts of Building a Motorcycle Accident Claim

Motorcycle accidents almost always result in devastating injuries. Because riders have no buffer from the force of impact outside of their own protective gear, even low speed collisions can cause catastrophic damage.

While injured parties are often entitled to compensation, they have to put together a compelling claim in order to seek it. They must also avoid making critical mistakes along the way.

If you were hurt in a motorcycle accident and you want to hold the at-fault party accountable, here are a few “dos and don’ts” to keep in mind as you go about building your clam:

1. Do Preserve Evidence You Gathered at the Scene

Have you acquired any potential evidence from the scene of the crash? Examples include video footage, photographs of the wreckage, and statements from eyewitnesses. Black box data and official reports could also prove valuable.

If you have any of the above, store them in a safe place because you may need to present them at some point during the claims process. You should also make copies of everything to ensure redundancy in case the originals go missing or otherwise get damaged.

2. Don’t Say Anything on Record

Insurance adjusters will probably contact you fairly soon after the accident to ask for a recorded statement. It’s unwise to say anything on record, however, until your legal team has completed their investigation and you’ve reached maximum medical improvement. Otherwise, you could inadvertently say something that turns out to be inaccurate, thereby opening the door for a dispute—or for the insurer to challenge your credibility—down the road.

3. Do Start Writing in a Daily Journal

While you’re allowed to seek compensation for non-economic damages like mental anguish and diminished quality of life, you’re going to have to prove you actually incurred such losses before you can secure a single dollar for them. This is where detailed journal entries can be incredibly helpful.

As soon as possible after the collision, start writing about how the resulting injuries are affecting your everyday life. Include the hurdles you face on a daily basis, as well as the ways in which you must rely on others for help completing essential tasks.

4. Don’t Admit Fault to the Opposing Party

If you think you contributed to the crash in some way, discuss it with your legal team. They will keep your perspective in mind as they conduct their investigation. Under no circumstances, however, should you disclose as much to the insurance adjuster. If it turns out you did play a role, your personal injury attorney will at least find a way to quantify it, so you can still seek compensation for some portion of the damages.

Speak with a Stuart Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Are you struggling to pick up the pieces in the wake of a motorcycle accident that someone else caused? For help taking action against the at-fault party, turn to Donaldson & Weston.

We will not charge a fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Call 772-266-5555 or fill out the Contact Form on our website to schedule a free initial consultation with a motorcycle accident lawyer in Stuart.