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Simply put, motorcyclists are more likely to be seriously injured in an accident than motorists in cars or trucks. Statistics indicate that most motorcycle accidents involving two or more vehicles are caused by another vehicle violating the motorcyclist’s right of way. In fact, 42 percent of all motorcycle accidents are the result of a driver of a car making a left turn in front of a motorcycle.
Without question, even the safest, most experienced rider is at the mercy of other drivers on the road. The mistakes of those other motorists can have serious and long-lasting consequences for every motorcycle rider in State College. At Rehmeyer & Allatt, we can help you make sense of the complicated claims process that follows a motorcycle accident.
Insurance companies understand that time is of the essence immediately following a motorcycle accident. Often, motorcycle accidents involve disputed issues surrounding liability and who caused the accident. In many cases, the insurance company will send out investigators to survey the scene of the accident and attempt to contact you to get you to admit to some level of fault in the accident.
Furthermore, police officers are conditioned to issue citations regardless of who is to blame following a motorcycle accident. As a result, you may make statements to a police officer or insurance adjuster concerning the cause of the motorcycle accident without fully understanding the ramifications of those statements.
Your statements to insurance adjusters and police officers following a motorcycle accident can have lasting effects on your case and may be admissible against you in court. Before you make any statements to an insurance company adjuster or police officer, speak with a knowledgeable motorcycle lawyer who can explain your rights and help guide you through the process to ensure that your case is given the best chance to succeed.
Motorcycle accidents often involve traumatic injuries such as broken bones, internal injuries and brain injuries. Due to the severity of your injuries and the traumatic nature of being involved in such an accident, you may not be fully aware of the cause of the crash. Do not rely upon the insurance company to perform an investigation into the cause of the accident. An insurance company’s primary purpose in investigating a motorcycle accident is to find you at fault.
At Rehmeyer & Allatt, we understand the importance of conducting our own investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding the causes of motorcycle accidents, and we employ a dedicated team of accident reconstructionists and private investigators to assist in accurately and effectively determining the cause. For more information, call us today at 814-343-9860.
In Pennsylvania, a motorcycle rider cannot be cited for speeding unless a police officer has used a speed timing device to measure his or her speed or a state trooper has used a radar gun. In many cases, however, the investigating police officer on scene will ask an injured rider how fast he or she was going or interview the rider at the hospital to determine if the rider will admit to traveling too fast prior to impact.
Based solely on the rider’s response to the police officer’s questioning, the police officer can charge the rider with operating the motorcycle at an unsafe speed, even though the police officer did not actually use a speed timing device or a radar gun to measure the rider’s speed at the time of the accident. At Rehmeyer & Allatt, we provide our clients with a complimentary defense to any citation issued in connection with your motorcycle accident.
Your first priority after a motorcycle accident, regardless of who was at fault, is to seek medical treatment for your injuries. You should immediately inform your doctor of all of your injuries, regardless of your perceived significance of the injury. Too often, serious injuries go undiagnosed following motorcycle accidents because injured riders fail to inform their doctors of their injuries.
After you have received the appropriate medical care for your injuries, you should report the accident to your insurance company. You should also report it to the police, if the police were not at the scene of the accident. You should also request that your insurance company provide you with a current copy of your insurance policy and the declarations page.
Once you have sought the appropriate medical care, you should place all of your medical bills, prescriptions and any receipts for out-of-pocket expenses in a clearly marked folder. You should also place in that folder any paperwork that you have received from the police, towing companies, your insurance company, the other driver’s insurance company and your health care provider.
If you have been provided with photographs of the damage to your motorcycle or you have taken photographs of your motorcycle following the accident, you should also place the photographs in the folder. Finally, you should document any missed time at work as a result of the accident. Insurance companies routinely request these documents and placing them in a secure folder at the outset of your claim will save you time and frustration in attempting to locate these documents after the fact.
We proudly offer free consultations to anyone who has been involved in a motorcycle crash. We aim to ensure that all victims are fully aware of their rights following an accident. Please contact us today by phone at 814-343-9860 or by email via our Contact page.