How to Handle the Insurance Companies After a Gwinnett County Motorcycle Accident

In the immediate aftermath of a motorcycle accident, your main focus should be getting to safety and seeking medical treatment. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may face surgery, hospitalization, and months of rehabilitation. The last thing you want to worry about as you recover from your injuries is dealing with insurance companies. 

That’s why your next call should be to a skilled attorney. A lawyer will help you handle the aftermath of a Gwinnett County motorcycle accident, including communicating with the insurance companies. A motorcycle accident lawyer will work on your behalf to help you recover compensation for any injuries that were caused by an at-fault party. 

Contact The Scott Pryor Law Group for a free consultation and case review. 

How a lawyer can help you deal with insurance companies after a motorcycle accident

Your motorcycle attorney is your best advocate after an accident. 

After a crash, motorcyclists are left dealing with mounting medical debts and a long road to recovery. You need someone on your side who is familiar with the legal process and can support you every step of the way. 

Your attorney can: 

• Investigate the accident scene 
• Gather evidence
• Help you understand all motorcycle laws that affect your case
• Handle all communications with insurance companies
• Calculate fair compensation for your injuries
• Identify all potentially liable parties
• Obtain and analyze your medical records
• Consult with medical experts about your injuries
• Negotiate for the maximum settlement possible
• File the necessary legal documents within deadlines
• Represent you in court if a settlement isn’t reached
• Challenge unfair insurance claim denials
• Advise on settlement offers
• Prepare witnesses for testimony
• Handle property damage claims
• Connect you with medical specialists

How to inform your own insurance company of your accident

In Georgia, if insurance companies are not notified of accidents within a reasonable amount of time, the individual may lose their rights to any of their uninsured motorist carrier benefits. Yet, “reasonable notice” is not defined under state law, making it imperative that individuals notify their insurance carrier as soon as possible.

An attorney could contact an individual’s insurance company to report a motorcycle accident in Gwinnett County and establish a claim. However, some insurance companies require the individual to do so themselves. In such cases, a lawyer could advise you on what to say.

After being involved in an accident, promptly contact your insurance company using the 24-hour claims number found on your insurance card or policy documents. Have your policy number ready when you call, and clearly state that you’re reporting an accident.

When speaking with the representative, provide the basic details about the accident, including the date, time, location, and information about other involved parties. Stick to the facts when answering questions, and be sure to request a claim number that you can reference in future communications.

Before ending the call, ask about the next steps in the claims process and make note of the representative’s name. Following the call, submit any required documentation through their preferred method—typically email or their mobile app—and request written confirmation that your claim has been received.

What if you don’t have insurance coverage?

Insurance is mandatory for Gwinnett County motorcycle riders, but you may still have some options. A personal injury attorney who specializes in motorcycle cases can help you address the problems that arise from failing to carry the correct insurance. 

Under Georgia’s criminal code, failure to have appropriate insurance carries criminal penalties, such as a ticket or jail time, depending on the number of offenses. People who do not have insurance should contact an attorney who could then determine liability.

A lack of insurance in a motorcycle injury case could result in an injured individual not being compensated as they should be. However, a dedicated attorney could reach out to medical providers and seek reductions of the injured individual’s medical bills so that they are not buried in debt or subject to wage garnishment. 

A lawyer also may be able to persuade medical providers to forgive some debt on behalf of a plaintiff in the event there is not enough insurance coverage.

Motorcyclists also should consider an umbrella policy to protect them if they injure someone else or themselves in an accident. If a motorcyclist opts for an umbrella policy, they should confirm who is covered under the policy with their insurance to ensure that they can fully utilize their policy.

Determining fault after a motorcycle accident

After any accident, it is important to determine who, exactly, was responsible. If someone’s negligence caused serious injuries, it may be possible to hold them accountable for their actions. However, this is difficult to do without an attorney advocating for your rights. 

To determine fault, your attorney will conduct a thorough investigation of the accident scene. This may include:

• Gathering evidence from the scene (photos, videos, surveillance footage, etc)
• Interviewing witnesses
• Acquiring police reports
• Reconstructing the accident scene
• Consulting with experts 

Accidents are complicated, and every crash is unique. Often, crashes are not caused by one specific person taking one specific action. Rather, there could be multiple parties who caused the crash, with multiple degrees of responsibility. 

Here’s an example: If the driver of a car failed to check their blind spot before changing lanes and struck a motorcyclist, it may seem like it’s the driver’s fault. But what if the driver changed lanes quickly because another driver in front of them slammed on their brakes unexpectedly? In that case, the braking driver could also be responsible. But your lawyer will also ask what caused the car to brake so suddenly? If they applied their brakes because of someone else’s negligence, you’re looking at a pretty complicated situation. 

Understanding all of this without an attorney is nearly impossible. An experienced motorcycle crash lawyer in Gwinnett County can understand these complexities and build a strong case about who was responsible. They can even help if you were partially responsible for the accident, as the state of Georgia allows you to seek compensation as long as you were less than 50% responsible for the crash. 

Dealing with the at-fault party’s insurance company

Although you may be obligated to deal with your own insurance company, it is best to allow a lawyer to communicate with the at-fault parties on your behalf. 

An individual injured in a motorcycle accident should avoid corresponding with the at-fault party’s insurance company. A defendant’s coverage provider may try to decrease the value of the plaintiff’s claim while trying to find reasons not to pay the plaintiff and avoid going to trial. It is always a bad idea to correspond directly with the insurance company without the guidance of a seasoned attorney.

What happens if the other driver isn’t insured?

If you discover the driver who hit you doesn’t have insurance, contact your attorney immediately. Your lawyer will help you explore alternative compensation options, starting with your own policy’s uninsured motorist coverage (if you have it). Though not mandatory in Georgia, this coverage becomes invaluable in these situations.

Without uninsured motorist coverage, your attorney can investigate other potential sources of compensation. This might include pursuing the at-fault driver personally, identifying other liable parties (such as an employer if the driver was on company time), or examining whether vehicle defects contributed to the crash.

Your lawyer can also help navigate filing claims with your health insurance to cover immediate medical expenses while pursuing long-term compensation. In some cases, they may negotiate with medical providers for reduced payments or payment plans until your case resolves. The most important step is getting experienced legal help quickly to protect your financial interests after discovering you’ve been hit by an uninsured driver.

Working with health insurance companies after a motorcycle accident in Gwinnett County

After a motorcycle accident, navigating health insurance becomes a critical part of your recovery process. Contact your health insurance provider as soon as possible after seeking emergency medical care. Inform them that your injuries resulted from a motor vehicle accident, as this affects how claims are processed and may change your coverage options.

You will need to request a complete explanation of your coverage for accident-related injuries, including any specific limitations or requirements. Many health insurance companies require pre-authorization for specialist visits or procedures, which your attorney can help coordinate. Keep detailed records of all communications with your health insurance company, including names of representatives, dates, and summaries of conversations.

Your attorney will work directly with your health insurance provider to ensure proper documentation and coding of your claims. They can also negotiate with your health insurer regarding any potential reimbursement requirements from your settlement, potentially reducing the amount you need to pay back.

Important information about health insurance after a motorcycle accident

• Always inform providers that your injury is accident-related at each appointment
• Keep copies of all medical bills, even those paid by insurance
• Your health insurer may place a lien on your settlement, requiring reimbursement
• Medicare and Medicaid must be reimbursed, but amounts can often be negotiated
• Some ERISA-based health plans have legal rights to settlement proceeds
• Non-ERISA health insurance in Georgia typically cannot demand reimbursement
• Your attorney can often negotiate reduced repayment amounts to health insurers
• Medical payments coverage on your motorcycle policy can supplement health insurance
• Providers may accept liens against future settlements if you lack adequate insurance

Contact The Scott Pryor Law Group for help with your case today

The best way to handle insurance companies after a Gwinnett County motorcycle accident is to have a well-practiced attorney handle these communications for you! Your lawyer will advocate for you and protect your rights. 

Insurance companies aim to decrease the value of your injury claim, but a lawyer will work to ensure insurance companies do not take advantage of you by guiding you on what to say and fighting for your right to fair compensation.

The Scott Pryor Law Group is here to fight for you. We offer free case consultations to motorcycle accident victims who want to discuss their accident with a great lawyer in the Gwinnett County area. We’ll review your case and help you understand your options. 

Contact The Scott Pryor Law Group today to get help dealing with insurance companies and getting the compensation you deserve after a motorcycle crash.