Dealing with Insurance After a Motorcycle Accident
Our Tampa motorcycle accident lawyers fight to protect your right to fair compensation
Another driver’s negligence can instantly turn a ride on the open road into an uphill battle with serious injuries. Your recovery is hard enough without the frustration of dealing with insurance companies after a motorcycle accident
In Florida, the insurance process for motorcyclists is particularly challenging due to the state’s unique laws. Unlike car accidents, Florida's no-fault system doesn’t cover motorcyclists specifically. This means you may have to file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance.
Getting compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance company isn’t typically an easy process. However, an experienced Tampa motorcycle accident lawyer at Armando Personal Injury Law can provide clear legal guidance, fight for your rights, and help you streamline the insurance process.
Our legal team knows how to gather evidence, negotiate settlements, and pursue legal action, if necessary. We’re with you every step of the way and won’t let the insurance companies take advantage of you. To find out how we can help, contact us today for a free consultation.
How to claim insurance for a motorcycle accident in Florida
The actions you take after a motorcycle accident in Florida can build a strong foundation for dealing with an insurance claim. Here are some immediate things you can do to protect your health, legal rights, and ability to pursue compensation:
Gather information
Collect the names, contact details, and insurance information of all drivers involved. If there are witnesses, ask for their contact information and statements about what they saw. If a witness caught your motorcycle accident on a dashcam, ask them for a copy of the video.
Notify law enforcement
Call the police and file a report, even if your motorcycle collision seems minor. A police report provides an unbiased account of the motorcycle crash. Your police report should include important details such as:
- The date, time, and location of the motorcycle crash.
- The weather and road conditions.
- Statements from witnesses and parties involved.
- Citations or arrests (if there are any).
- A diagram indicating how the motorcycle accident occurred.
Document the scene
An insurance claim for a motorcycle accident requires strong evidence. You can start gathering at the scene, if you’re able to. Take photos or videos of the motorcycle accident site. Capture the positions of vehicles, damage to your motorcycle, road conditions, traffic signs, and any visible injuries. This evidence provides a clear picture of what happened and can help determine fault.
Seek medical attention
Your health should always come first, even if injuries seem minor. Adrenaline can mask symptoms, and some injuries may only appear hours or days later. Prompt medical care ensures your well-being and creates a medical record that can link your condition to the motorcycle accident you were involved in.
Promptly notify your insurance company
Most policies require timely reporting to avoid complications or denied coverage. When speaking with your insurance representative, provide only factual information, such as the time, location, and parties involved; avoid admitting fault, speculating about the incident, or discussing your injuries until you've had a full medical evaluation.
Keep detailed records
Maintain a file of all documents related to your motorcycle accident and claim, including medical bills, repair estimates, correspondence with your insurer, and any other relevant paperwork.
Seek legal help
Without an attorney on your side, dealing with insurance companies after a motorcycle accident can be risky. Before you take the next step in your claim, speak to an experienced Tampa motorcycle accident lawyer who can advise you on what to do next.
When should I notify my insurance company?
Promptly notify your insurance company after a motorcycle accident, as most policies require timely reporting to avoid complications or denied coverage. When speaking with your insurance representative, provide only factual information, such as the time, location, and parties involved; avoid admitting fault, speculating about the incident, or discussing your injuries until you've had a full medical evaluation. Allow the investigation to determine liability, and consider consulting an attorney to establish clear fault.
Does health insurance cover motorcycle accident injuries?
Health insurance can cover injuries from a motorcycle accident, but the specifics depend on your policy. Most health insurance plans provide coverage for emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, and follow-up treatments, regardless of how the injuries occurred. However, you may still face out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles, co-pays, and coverage limits.
Health insurance usually doesn’t cover other expenses related to your motorcycle crash, such as lost income or long-term rehabilitation beyond your policy’s scope. It also won’t pay for damage to your motorcycle or other property. For these expenses, you’ll need to turn to motorcycle insurance or pursue compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance.
Keep in mind that your health insurance provider might seek reimbursement (known as subrogation) from the at-fault driver’s insurance for the costs they’ve covered. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer at Armando Personal Injury Law can help you explore all available options and protect your financial interests as you recover.
Does motorcycle insurance cover medical expenses in Florida?
Motorcycle insurance isn’t typically required to include personal injury protection (PIP). However, many policies offer optional medical payments coverage (MedPay) that helps pay for medical expenses related to injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident, regardless of fault.
MedPay covers emergency care, hospital visits, and even minor treatments. However, it usually has lower limits compared to health insurance, so it might not cover extensive medical bills. For more comprehensive protection, it’s important to coordinate benefits with your health insurance.
Can I get compensated for a motorcycle accident without insurance in Florida?
Riding without the required insurance coverage in Florida can result in penalties, including fines or suspension of your driving privileges. However, if you didn’t have insurance at the time of your motorcycle crash, you may still be able to seek compensation.
However, the process can be more complicated, and your ability to recover damages depends on who was at fault and the type of compensation you’re pursuing. If another driver caused your motorcycle accident, you may still be able to file a claim against their insurance for compensation.
Just be aware that without your own insurance, you might face scrutiny from the driver’s insurance company or legal challenges, particularly if fault is disputed. The attorneys at Armando Personal Injury Law can help you better understand your options.
What is the average insurance settlement for a motorcycle accident?
The average settlement for a motorcycle accident in Florida typically ranges from $10,000 to $250,000, depending on injury severity, fault, and available insurance coverage. In cases involving catastrophic injuries like paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, or wrongful death, settlements can exceed $1 million.
Initially, there is no set amount. An attorney at Armando Personal Injury Law will need to add up all of your damages to determine how much compensation you’re entitled to. That includes calculating current and future economic damages (e.g., medical costs and lost wages), as well as non-economic damages (e.g., pain and suffering, reduced quality of life, etc.).
What are the most common challenges when dealing with insurance companies after a motorcycle accident?
In a perfect world, dealing with insurance companies after a motorcycle accident would be simple. But unfortunately, insurance companies often push back against motorcycle accident claims. Some of the tactics they use to reduce or deny your compensation include:
Disputing liability
Motorcyclists often face bias, with assumptions of reckless driving, which leads to unjust fault assignments. To counter this, gather comprehensive evidence such as photographs of the scene, witness statements, and police reports.
The legal team at Armando Personal Injury Law can gather additional evidence and cross-examine it to further strengthen your case and challenge unfounded liability claims.
Delaying claims processing
Insurance companies might delay processing your claim to prolong your financial strain during recovery. Such delays can result from complicated claims, high caseloads, or deliberate stalling tactics.
You can mitigate this by promptly submitting all required documentation. Document every interaction with insurance companies, including dates, times, and discussion points. An attorney at Armando Personal Injury Law can expedite the process and ensure timely resolution.
Lowballing your settlement
Initial offers from insurance companies often undervalue the true extent of your damages. They cover only immediate medical expenses while neglecting long-term costs such as ongoing treatment, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Accepting a lowball settlement can lead to inadequate compensation. Once you accept it, you can’t seek additional compensation in the future. It’s worth being patient and taking the time to assess the full impact of your injuries and damages before agreeing to a settlement.
An experienced Tampa motorcycle accident attorney at Armando Personal Injury Law can accurately determine how much money you’re eligible for and negotiate for the full amount.
Does a car accident affect motorcycle insurance?
A car accident can impact your motorcycle insurance rates if you’re found at fault. Insurance companies assess your overall record when determining premiums, regardless of the vehicle involved. If you’re deemed “at fault,” the insurance companies may label you as a higher risk, which can potentially lead to increased rates.
That’s why you need a lawyer on your side who can gather the facts and determine who was really at fault. When the insurance companies try to shift the blame onto you, the attorneys at Armando Personal Injury Law will be ready to push back, so you don’t have to pay for someone else’s negligence.
Tampa attorneys committed to getting maximum compensation for motorcycle accident victims
If you've been injured in a motorcycle accident in Florida, having an experienced attorney on your side can significantly impact the outcome of your case. The legal team at Armando Personal Injury Law knows that dealing with insurance companies after a motorcycle accident can be difficult. That’s why we’re ready to fight for your rights every step of the way.
We have the case results to prove our track record of success. In one case, we reached a $100,000 policy limit settlement for a motorcyclist who suffered neck and back injuries after being cut off by a motor vehicle driver.
We offer free consultations to discuss your case and work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no upfront costs and only owe legal fees if we win your case. To begin protecting your rights contact us online or call one of our law offices in Tampa or St. Petersburg today to schedule your free case evaluation. We’ll answer any questions you have and discuss the next steps in your claim.
“First time having to get a injured attorney and so glad I ended up with amando. They are great he personally came to my job when I was to busy to go to him and got the ball rolling fast. Had me taking physical therapy immediately and got back into recover fast. On top I got my settlement in under a year. Highly recommended.” – JD, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐