Motorcycle crashes
Riders are blamed first and insured last.
Antoinette represents riders hurt by drivers who did not look, by hazards in the road, and by parts that failed.
Adjusters tend to start from the idea that a rider chose the risk. The work is to show what the other driver could see, how fast things happened, and what the bike was doing when it stopped being ridden.
If a brake, a frame or a tire is part of the story, the bike is not repaired or sold until it has been examined. Tell her where it is before anyone touches it.
Where the claim starts
The scene, the road surface and the sight lines
The bike itself, kept as evidence
Your helmet and gear, photographed and stored
Treatment, rehabilitation and time off the bike
Recalled parts
When a part is recalled
Motorcycle makers recall parts for brakes, steering, frames and wiring. A recall notice does not decide a claim, but it can show that a defect was known and it can add a manufacturer to a claim that began with a driver.
If you received a recall letter before the crash, or find one afterward, keep it with the bike. Antoinette is reviewing riders' claims of this kind now; the notice at the top of the page links here.
What to bring to the first call
- The date, the road and the other vehicle, if there was one
- The police report number, if you have it
- The name of every doctor or clinic that has seen you
- Any recall letter or dealer service record for the bike
Questions from riders
Does not wearing a helmet end my claim?
Not by itself. It can be argued against you, and how much depends on the injury and the state's rules. Antoinette tells you honestly how it affects yours.
My bike was totaled. Should I take the insurer's check?
Ask first. Cashing it can end the insurer's duty to keep the bike, and the bike may be evidence.
I was riding without insurance. Can I still bring a claim?
Often, yes, against the other driver. Rules about uninsured riders differ by state, so describe your situation on a call.
Ask about your crash.
Describe the ride and the injury. If the claim is one she can take, you will hear the fee scale in the same call.