Motorcycle riders face a high risk of life-altering injuries if they are involved in collisions with larger motor vehicles. Quite simply, riders do not have the protection of a metal frame around them and can easily be thrown from their bike. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 6,335 motorcyclists killed in 2023, representing fifteen percent of all traffic fatalities.
If you or a loved one was injured in a motorcycle accident, you deserve to know your legal rights around accident claims. As experienced motorcycle accident injury attorneys, we have helped hundreds of injured riders and their families fight back against insurance industry bias against motorcycle riders to recover full and fair compensation for their losses.
Top 5 Insurance Industry Biases Against Motorcycle Riders
Some insurance companies try to deny or discount claims made by injured motorcyclists, which is why it is so important for riders to work with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer who knows how to fight back against industry bias.
Here are the top 5 insurance industry biases against motorcycle riders:
- Motorcyclists are reckless. The insurance industry loves to paint motorcyclists as reckless thrill seekers. When a negligent driver hits a rider, it is actually the insurance company that is being reckless by trying to deny a valid claim.
- Motorcyclists are irresponsible. The insurance industry sees riders as irresponsible when the truth is that getting a motorcycle license in and of itself requires learning new skills and passing a test. The vast majority of riders prioritize safety and are committed to safe riding techniques and following traffic laws.
- Motorcyclists are more “at-fault” because they are more likely to get injured. Insurance companies don’t like making pay-outs and since it is true that riders are more likely to be injured in a crash than drivers, insurance companies may use this as an excuse to downplay or deny motorcycle accident claims.
- Motorcycles are harder to see than cars or trucks so it is therefore not their driver’s fault that they didn’t see you. Sometimes insurance companies will try to deny their client could be at-fault for the accident – saying that the rider came out of nowhere or couldn’t reasonably be seen. While it is true that motorcycles are smaller than cars and trucks, drivers are still required to be aware of their surroundings.
- Motorcyclists who don’t wear helmets are not entitled to compensation. Insurance companies may try to act like a rider is not entitled to compensation because they weren’t wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, but Washington State law allows riders to recover damages for injuries caused by another party’s negligence regardless of helmet usage.
Do not let the at-fault driver’s insurance company wriggle out of a fair settlement. Even if you were partially at-fault for the accident or you weren’t wearing a helmet, you are still entitled to damages for the share that was the other driver’s fault in Washington State. Hire an experienced personal injury who can fight insurance industry biases and help prove fault so you can receive fair compensation for your damages and losses.
How Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Fight Insurance Company Bias Against Motorcycle Riders
It can be a real challenge to get an insurance company to take your motorcycle accident claim seriously but a motorcycle accident lawyer can help protect your rights by:
- Calculating an accurate case valuation. Insurance companies are notorious for offering lowball settlement offers, hoping that injured people are desperate for a payout to cover their bills. One of the ways that injury attorneys support their injured clients is by working with medical and financial experts to accurately value your claim.
- Conducting a thorough investigation to gather evidence. Injury law firms have experience gathering evidence, including reliable witness statements, photos from the scene, and surveillance footage. They should also have connections to accident reconstruction experts and medical experts who can help prove your claim.
- Ensuring all paperwork and deadlines are met. Your accident attorney will ensure all necessary paperwork and deadlines are met, giving the insurance company less room to unfairly deny your claim.
- Aggressive negotiation. Once your lawyer has gathered evidence, they will write a demand letter to the at-fault insurance company to initiate the negotiation process. From there, your lawyer will handle all communication and negotiations to ensure you receive the maximum settlement.
- Representation in court. If your lawyer is not able to secure a fair settlement through negotiation, they will represent you in court with the purpose of securing a fair jury award.
Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Can Help!
If you or a loved one was injured by a car while riding, it is vital to report the accident to the police and to seek prompt medical treatment. Document and preserve the evidence from the accident scene if you can and keep receipts and transcripts from all resulting medical care. You should also notify your insurance company about the accident as soon as possible but do not provide any information to the at-fault insurance adjuster or accept a settlement without first speaking with a motorcycle accident attorney.
It is not uncommon to receive a motorcycle accident settlement that is five to ten times larger with the help of a personal injury lawyer. Call the caring, tireless, and experienced injury attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! Since 1979, our personal injury law firm, Tario & Associates, P.S., has been dedicated to fighting for the rights of people injured throughout Washington State, with local offices in Bellingham and Mount Vernon to serve residents of Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and Snohomish counties. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
