Motorcycle accidents are usually severe, traumatic, and life-altering due to their much smaller size compared to trucks and automobiles. In fact, motorcycle riders often suffer catastrophic injuries, which may cause them to cope with pain and suffering for the rest of their lives.
When going through a tough and time-consuming recovery from a motorcycle accident, you may feel lost and overwhelmed about how to navigate the motorcycle accident insurance claim process in Knoxville, TN. When this happens, it is important that you know and understand what steps are involved and how to get the best results possible for your case.
The steps to successfully file a motorcycle accident insurance claim in Knoxville, TN
When a motorcyclist suffers injuries or other losses due to another driver’s negligence, they may be eligible to file a motorcycle accident insurance claim. By doing this, the motorcyclist may receive compensation to pay for their medical bills, lost income, motorcycle damage, and other important losses. However, if this is your first time experiencing an accident, you likely do not know what to do or where to turn when it comes to this confusing and devastating time in your life.
That is where our motorcycle accident lawyers from Banks & Jones come in to guide you through this process and offer you a helping hand whenever you need it the most. Here are five steps that you need to take to successfully file a motorcycle accident insurance claim in Knoxville:
- Inform your insurance company about the motorcycle accident immediately: When you signed an insurance policy from your insurance company, you most likely agreed to report any accidents that you are involved in within a specific timeframe. Therefore, it is critical that you call your insurance company to notify them about your motorcycle accident. You will need to tell them where and when the accident happened as well as any information about eyewitnesses who might’ve seen your accident occur.
- Take pictures and collect documentation: You will want to gather as much “evidence” of the crash and your injuries as possible, such as photographs, video footage, medical records, police reports, witness information, bills, and more. We can help you collect this, but bring along anything you have.
- Make sure that you do not overshare or talk too much about your accident: Many people make the mistake of sharing too many details or information about their accident with insurance companies, friends, or family members. This tends to happen because they think that insurance companies have their best interests in mind, but the reality is that these companies are trained to trick you into admitting fault or stating that your injuries from the accident are not as serious as you originally thought. When it comes to family and friends, most people want to vent in person or on social media, causing unnecessary drama that could be found and used against them in a court hearing. Therefore, it is highly suggested that you keep the conversation brief when speaking with anyone about your accident. In fact, it is best that you do not talk or communicate about it at all other than to notify your insurance company that it occurred.
- Do not take the first settlement offer that you receive: Insurance companies will try to offer you a settlement as fast as possible. The reason for this is because they know that people who have been hurt in an accident are physically recovering and mentally dealing with a lot. They think that by offering you a settlement quickly that you will be tempted to take it because you are not thinking correctly, and you have medical bills and daily expenses piling up. While it may seem great to be offered this money, it is recommended that you do not take it. The first settlement is usually far less than you deserve, meaning that you will have duped yourself out of receiving a higher compensation amount in the long run.
- Get in touch with and hire a Knoxville motorcycle accident attorney right away: The most important step that you need to follow from this list is to get in touch with and hire a motorcycle accident attorney. This is an essential part of the process because your attorney will help you file a motorcycle accident insurance claim as well as assist you with handling any challenges and issues that emerge. These claims can easily become complicated, which is why you need to make sure that you always have a professional and experienced attorney by your side. They will handle all communication with insurance companies, answer any of your questions and concerns, make sure that you understand everything going on with your claim, and negotiate with adjusters to ensure that you receive a fair and just compensation amount. In addition, a motorcycle accident lawyer will help you with meeting your deadlines as you only have one year to file a personal injury claim and three years to file a personal property damage claim in Knoxville, TN.
How much money will I receive from my motorcycle accident insurance claim?
Every motorcyclist has a different and unique experience when it comes to a motorcycle accident. You will need to meet with your attorney to determine how much money you should expect to receive from this type of accident claim. When an insurance company offers you a settlement, it is crucial that you show it to your attorney to ensure that it is fair and accurate. A professional and skilled Knoxville injury lawyer from Banks & Jones will be glad to break down the details of these types of claims and what you can expect from them whenever you are ready to get started.
If you or a family member suffer injuries or property damage from a Knoxville motorcycle accident, please reach out to the motorcycle accident lawyers at Banks & Jones in Knoxville at your earliest convenience. Our team will not only help you file a motorcycle accident claim, but we will also protect your rights and make sure that the insurance companies and negligent parties are held accountable. You deserve proper legal assistance and advice when pursuing these types of claims, which is why you need to call or contact our firm today.
T. Scott knows the importance of interacting with colleagues to stay abreast of developments and changes in the legal world. T. Scott frequently teaches CLE courses on trial strategy, teaching other lawyers his methods for success in the courtroom, and is certified as a Rule 31 Mediator in the Tennessee Supreme Court. He is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, the National Trial Lawyers, and both the Tennessee and American Associations for Justice.
Read more about T.Scott Jones