How to Deal With the Insurance Company After a Motorcycle Accident
Sometimes your biggest adversary when negotiating a motorcycle insurance claim is your own insurance company. Whether or not you are at fault for the accident, you have a number of options to reach the most favorable arrangement, which may include a settlement. Either way, you want to get the best deal possible. While it is not necessary to consult an auto insurance lawyer, doing so could help the process greatly.
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Instructions
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Collect valuable information from the other motorist. Ask the motorist for his driver's license and insurance card. Record the following information on a piece of paper: the driver's full name, license number and issuing state and phone number, along with the name of his auto insurance provider and policy number.
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Seek repair estimates. If the cost to repair your motorcycle is greater than 50 percent of the current value of the bike, your insurance company may consider it totaled. If the cost to repair your motorcycle is a nominal percent of the current value of the bike, your auto insurance provider may permit you to forego a claim (if you are at fault) and finance all repairs on your own.
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Contact your motorcycle insurance provider by phone. Negotiate a higher value for your motorcycle. Provide photographs and video footage of the bike, along with receipts for aftermarket accessories, Kelley Blue Book estimates of the current bike's fair market value and an estimate of repair costs. Check that your insurance company is in possession of the other motorist's insurance information. If it isn't, hand over any contact information that you have.
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Negotiate a settlement for a total-loss. At a minimum, negotiate the offered value, minus your deductible. Refer to the Kelley Blue Book value with additions added for aftermarket accessories. Seek the highest value for your motorcycle as possible. Have the adjuster factor in any remaining loan costs on the bike into the final settlement amount.
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Contact an auto accident lawyer if negotiations stall or you believe your motorcycle is being undervalued. An experienced auto accident lawyer can help you negotiate repairs, collect witness statements and, in some cases, obtain a higher settlement.
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Report the accident to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). You'll need to fill out a form to do so. An auto accident lawyer can help you.
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References
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