Moving Forward After a Motorcycle Injury in McAllen
We assume you have contacted the local police to report your accident, or they arrived at the scene to file a report. Additionally, you should also visit a doctor to get checked out and treated for your injuries. Your next steps can have a large impact on the outcome of your motorcycle accident lawsuit. The following tips can protect your rights and give you the best opportunity to receive the maximum amount of compensation commensurate with your motorcycle accident injuries:
Keep All Medical Bills and Receipts – Getting the best possible outcome for your motorcycle accident injury claim means you must provide proof of the financial losses you have suffered as a result of the accident and your injuries. You should keep anything that you think is relevant, including medical bills, tax returns, payroll information, and receipts for travel, prescriptions, and prosthetic devices. Do not worry about keeping too many items; your lawyer will advise you about which items you can include in your claim.
Let Your Injury Lawyer Do the Talking – Insurance companies stay in business by avoiding financial liability whenever they can. When you speak with an insurance adjuster, they can take anything you say, twist it, and use your words to deny or devalue your claim. Your attorney will protect you from this tricky tactic if you let them handle communications.
Don’t Accept the First Settlement Offer – In some motorcycle accident cases, determining liability can be challenging for lawyers and insurance companies. Other times, insurance companies know their policyholder is clearly liable for damages related to an accident. Insurance companies, which are only concerned about their bottom line, make predatory lowball offers soon after the accident. These offers are often far less than the value of a claim, but typically enough to tempt victims who might be struggling financially.
When the first offer comes in, you may not know your long-term prognosis or whether you can return to work. If you accept an offer, you must waive your right to seek compensation in the future. It’s always in your best interest to let an attorney review any settlement offer. In many cases, a lawyer will negotiate a settlement that is much larger than the initial offer you received.
Don’t Post on Social Media – Once you file an insurance claim, the carrier will have at least one representative investigate the details of your claim. This also includes digging into every corner of your life to find a way to devalue or deny the claim. They sometimes use personal posts on social media accounts to downplay your injuries or argue that your recovery is going better than reported. You do not have to close down social media accounts, but you should avoid posting on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. until your motorcycle accident claim is resolved.