If you were struck by a car or truck while riding your motorcycle, you probably suffered worse injuries than the other driver. Victims of motorcycle collisions have the right to seek compensatory damages, but if you make one of these four common mistakes after the wreck, you could diminish your settlement award or jeopardize the success of your case.
Mistake 1: Giving a Statement to the Other Party
The claims adjuster or the other party’s lawyer may contact you after the wreck to ask for your side of the story. This may seem innocuous, but they’re looking for a reason to minimize or deny your claim.
What you say could be constructed as admitting that you shared some of the blame for the accident or that you were driving recklessly. You could also say something that ultimately is proven untrue, which can give the insurance adjuster grounds to challenge your credibility.
Although the insurance company may give you the impression that they cannot process your claim without your statement, the truth is that you do not have to say anything to the other party. In fact, it’s preferable that you refer all communications to your Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorney.
Mistake 2: Putting Off Medical Treatment
Even if you don’t feel hurt after the accident, it’s still important to be evaluated by a medical professional. Many motorcycle accidents cause hidden injuries that may not present symptoms immediately after the wreck. Prompt medical care ensures that you don’t experience complications from an injury that isn’t diagnosed right away.
If you postpone medical care, the insurance company may challenge the extent of your injuries and the value of your claim. They could argue that you were not hurt as badly as you claim, or that the injuries you have were not caused by the accident.
Similarly, you could potentially share liability for your injuries by not seeing medical attention right away. This is because it could be argued that you caused your injuries to worsen by not immediately seeking treatment, which resulted in more intensive and expensive medical treatment.
With a traceable paper trail linking your injuries directly to the crash, your Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorney can prove causation more easily.
Mistake 3: Posting on Social Media
You may not realize that what you post on your social media accounts could be used against you after a motorcycle accident, but it can and often is. The other driver’s insurance company is likely monitoring your social media for evidence that you are not hurt as badly as you and your LA motorcycle accident lawyer claim.
Making your social media accounts private and not accepting friend or follow requests from anyone you don’t know personally can prevent this, or you may want to disable your accounts altogether. Anything you say about the accident may be read in open court, as can any photos you post.
Mistake 4: Failing to Document Your Losses
You can seek compensation for both economic (actual, quantifiable losses) and non-economic (pain and suffering, or the non-quantifiable impact of the accident on your life) losses, but your LA motorcycle accident attorney must be able to prove that you did suffer these damages.
Keep all medical bills from any care you received after the wreck, as well as receipts for medication, any durable medical equipment you need for mobility, and quotes from mechanics or autobody shops for repairing your bike.
Your lawyer will use this documentation to calculate the value of the compensation you are entitled to receive.
Do you need a Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer?
If you’ve been harmed after being struck by a car in Los Angeles, you need the peace of mind that an experienced, compassionate personal injury attorney from Saeedian Law Group is on your side. Contact us today for a complimentary case review.
