What To Do After A Tampa Motorcycle Accident?
There are many things that you need to do after a motorcycle accident like seek medical attention, take photographs, obtain witness information and statements and call the police. So many Florida bikers have stories about being injured–in both minor and major ways–while out riding that the new phrase about motorcycle accidents is: Not IF, but WHEN. Other accidents have even resulted in bikers losing their lives.
In some cases, motorcycle crashes occur because many drivers fail to see a motorcycle. In others, injuries are more likely to be serious because motorcycle riders have less external protection to act as a buffer. As a result, motorcycle riders are more exposed to the impact from an accident.
No matter how bikers get injured, they can be truly at risk after an accident if they get hurt. Aside from the devastating injuries that can result, biker insurance works very differently in Florida than car insurance.
Since the rules of insurance coverage can be so different for bikers, it’s important to know what steps you can take to protect an injury claim and what to expect as far as insurance coverage if you’re hurt on the road.
For a free consultation about your accident, contact us online or call 813.755.9500 today.
What Should I Do At The Scene Of The Accident?
Hopefully you will never be in a motorcycle accident. But considering that there will probably always be dangerous and negligent drivers in Florida, it’s better to know what to do beforehand in case the worst happens.
If you find yourself in an accident while you were out riding, you may want to file an injury claim (and possibly even a lawsuit) later. To back up your claim and give yourself a better chance at recovery, there are some actions that you can take right at the scene of a crash.
These steps may be simple to follow and can make a huge difference to your potential compensation later. Here are our tips for protecting your injury claim if you choose to file one:
- Stay at the scene of the accident; do not leave because it could make you at risk for penalties.
- Give yourself and any of your passengers a look over for injuries. If anyone needs emergency medical care, they should get medical attention as soon as possible.
- Call the police. They can draft up a police report which is often a key piece of evidence used for establishing fault in the accident investigation.
- Get contact information from the other drivers and any witnesses to the accident. This can help your attorney maintain contact and get information to support your case as needed.
- Take pictures of any damage to your bike, any visible injuries on your body, or other pieces of evidence that have to do with the accident. Other kinds of less-obvious evidence could be tire marks on the road, streetlights and/or stop signs, weather conditions, and other similar factors that may show how the accident happened.
- Contact your insurance carrier to let them know about the accident as soon as possible. This will initiate the claim process, and you may want to hire an attorney for legal guidance from this point onwards.
- Usually once your claim is filed, an investigation into the accident is started. At this stage, you may want to hire an attorney to represent your rights and interests. A lawyer with experience in motorcycle accident cases can make a big difference to your outcome and also give you the peace of mind to focus on recovery from your accident.
If you have any questions about what your motorcycle injury claim could be worth, your best chance of getting accurate information is most likely to speak with an attorney. Our office number is 813.755.9500 and we also offer an online form to set up a no-cost case review. Call us today for our help.
Will Motorcycle Accident Insurance Take Care Of My Medical Bills, Pain and Suffering, And Other Expenses?
For the most part, how much you are covered for can really depend on the policy you buy. For that reason, it is encouraged that motorcycle riders buy a motorcycle policy with a Florida insurance carrier.
Motorcycle insurance with enough coverage can make a big difference to manage your financial risk in the event of an accident. If you are found at fault for a crash without motorcycle insurance, you could be subject to penalties, fines, and even registration suspension.
On the other hand, knowing what policy will cover you best can be confusing. PIP or Personal Injury Protection is usually unavailable for motorcycles, even though car drivers who register vehicles in Florida are required to carry it. If you are able to get PIP for your bike, it can cover medical bills, as well as Medpay. However, neither of these are necessary to ride in the state.
Take note that collision or comprehensive coverage will not cover the costs of medical bills after an accident. Collision insurance typically helps to pay for repairs to your own bike, and comprehensive covers repairs from non-accident incidents that may occur, such as weather damage, vandalism, or theft, to name a few.
We understand that you may be confused about different types of coverages and/or how much insurance is sufficient for your lifestyle. Fortunately, you can meet with an attorney who is familiar with motorcycle injury law to guide you. We offer free consultations and can help you with this.
Finding The Right Tampa Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Bikers can suffer extremely serious injuries, which can result in likewise extreme medical bills and other accident-related costs. You do not want to trust these issues to an attorney that will not do what it takes to get you a fair recovery.
The trial-tested attorneys at Martin Hernandez have years of experience successfully handling motorcycle injury cases for our clients and their families. We are not afraid to stand up to insurance companies in order to protect your rights.
Call Tampa Motorcycle Attorney Martin Hernandez today for your free and private attorney consultation to discuss your accident and what options you have. This is a no-commitment meeting to help you learn about our full-service practice protecting injured victims. Call 813.755.9500 or send us your information online to get started with yours today.
