Chicago Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Reveal What Insurance Companies Don’t Want You to Know

Motorcycle crashes in Chicago can turn life upside down in seconds. Most people assume that after the accident has happened, the insurance company will be agreeable and come to their aid. Most people believe that once the accident has occurred, the insurance company will be agreeable and ready to come to their aid. However, this is not always the case. Often insurance companies give lower on paying victims what they’re entitled to. That is why it’s important to speak with Chicago motorcycle accident lawyers regarding who you’re protecting and your claim.

Strategies used by the insurance companies may actually help to lower the payouts or make it more difficult to file claims. Not many riders are aware of this until it is too late. Insurance companies will rarely state the following items clearly and succinctly to the injury victim’s credit.

1. They will try to reduce your injuries.

The first step that insurance companies undertake is to check medical records. If, in their presence, they notice anything amiss in the care you received or if your symptoms are mild at the beginning, they may be inclined to regard your injuries as less severe. If you’re still in pain, they may tell you that you don’t have to worry, that it is “not that bad” or that you have other issues to solve.

The aim is straightforward, which is to devalue your claim.

One thing you should be aware of is this: Stay diligent with medical treatment and record all aspects of treatment. Little injuries can turn into long-term issues.

1. They will tend to provide fast settlements.

Sometimes, a victim of a motorcycle accident is offered a quick settlement after the accident. It might sound very advantageous at first, particularly in the event that bills are piling up. However, these initial offers are typically significantly lower due to a variety of reasons. If you agree to it, you’re unlikely to request a higher price afterwards.

Why this matters:

Injuries sustained in motorcycle crashes may only be evident over time. If you’ve ever been told “just a bit of time and you’ll be fine,” it was likely from early in the process. That’s usually when early tells you that you’ll be fine someday after you lay out a little time.

1. They may question your version of events.

Insurance providers are not always completely open to your statement. They may ask questions about the way the accident occurred and/or accuse you of being at fault for some part of the accident. Minor details can be helpful in minimizing the compensation.

Familiarize themselves with patterns and practice:

Does speeding slightly cause this?

You’ve not responded quickly enough.

You may have been able to avoid this accident.

This will affect you if any direct blame they attribute to you is able to lower their amount due.

1. They use recorded statements against you.

An insurance adjuster will likely request a recorded statement after an accident. This could lead to a response of “I don’t know…”, which may be interpreted as a lack of depth to an event or a simple response. This will eventually result in questioning your claim if you give a simple answer or if you forget.

Information such as “I am fine” can be employed to state that the injury sustained is not serious.

Important tip:

When providing any recorded statement, be sure to obtain legal counsel first.

1. They will delay and use the “wait-and-see” technique.

There are also plenty of delays employed. Insurers can be slow to respond or demand further documentation or prolonged investigations. This isn’t always a pleasant thing to experience, particularly when having to deal with medical costs and the loss of your income.

Some victims may feel trapped into choosing a reduced settlement amount in exchange for speeding up their compensation.

Why this happens:

Getting ready to wait can soften people’s resistance to receiving less than what they are entitled to.

1. They will look into your past condition and use it.

Any previous injury or ailment could be used by insurance companies to link up with your ongoing pain.

For instance, since you had back pain several years ago, they may suggest that your injury is not from the accident. It’s one of the most frequent methods they attempt to lessen the payouts for bike accident cases.

1. They explore your social media.

Many people don’t realize that insurance companies may look into social media profiles after an accident. Often a simple picture or posting can be used against us out of context. An advance warning of a family event, such as a photo of a happy family, can be used to present evidence that you are not in pain.

What you should do:

Don’t mention anything to do with your accident or physical status during the course of your claim.

1. They attempt to shift responsibility from the rider.

Sometimes the blame for accidents is shifted by motorcyclists. Insurers may propose that a rider was driving their bike too fast, weaving in traffic or operating recklessly. If it’s found that part of the fault occurred at the driver’s end, this also means that compensation can be lowered.

Why do they do this?

Comparative fault rules will apply in Illinois and even a small amount of liability can impact your damages.

1. They’re committed to solving cases promptly.

An insurance business would like to settle cases on a prompt basis. The longer the claim is open the more likely that full damages will become available. Not only do they save money but they also lessen any financial liability by closing cases early.

But motorcycle accident injuries generally take an extended period of time to heal, continue with treatment and have a variety of unnoticed complications.

Victims should remember that rushing a case can lead to missing out on important compensation.

Photo by Luke Witter on Unsplash