Los Angeles is a biker’s dream, with sunny skies, beautiful beaches, tall mountains, and a community that is inclusive and even has biking groups that meet up frequently. Although the beautiful terrains of the city are what every biker wishes to experience at least once in their life, the city also sees a lot of motorcycle crashes.
If you are involved in an accident in the city, it is best to file a claim to get a settlement to compensate for your losses. However, claims can get tricky if you take certain missteps, which can also decrease your settlement.
Settlements depend on many details – your medical care, the evidence you collect, and how well you protect yourself from insurance tactics. Even a small mistake can lower your payout. That’s why being careful and informed from the start is so important.
Working with a Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorney is also one of the strongest steps you can take.
How You Can Maximize Your Motorcycle Crash Settlement
If you’ve been involved in a crash, here’s how you can increase your settlement to the max:
Get Medical Care Immediately
Your health comes first, no matter what. Even if you feel fine, you may have injuries that don’t show up right away. Internal bleeding, brain injuries, or whiplash often take hours or days to appear.
By getting checked by a doctor right away, you protect your health and create a record that proves your injuries came from the accident. Quick medical treatment also removes that excuse and protects your claim.
Evidence Matters
If you don’t have proof, the insurance people will spin the story however they want. So if you can right after the crash, grab your phone and take pictures.
Cars, the street, traffic signs, your injuries, everything. And if somebody saw what happened, ask them for their name and number.
File a Police Report
In LA, if someone’s hurt or the damage is a major one, you’ve got to report the accident to the police. The cop will write down what both drivers said and what they saw. Once they get both sides of the story, they will conduct their own investigation and file an official police report. This police report acts as a neutral and professional take on the accident, which can be solid evidence that can be used to prove fault.
Don’t Jump on the First Offer
Insurance companies want you to grab the first deal because you’re stressed about bills. But that first offer is almost always too low. If you take it, you might not have enough for hospital stuff, time off work, or care you’ll need later.
Some injuries don’t even show how bad they are for months. Wait until you actually know the whole picture.
Keep Track of All Expenses
Every single dollar that the accident costs you, write it down. Doctor visits, meds, therapy, and gas money to get to appointments. Also, stuff like missed paychecks, car repairs, and rental cars. If you keep it organized, the insurance company can’t say it wasn’t that bad.
Get a Lawyer
These cases are messy. The rules, the deadlines, the games insurance plays, it’s a lot. A good lawyer will walk you through it and fight to get the full amount, including future care or lost income.
And yes, people with lawyers usually end up with way more money than people who don’t.
Recap of Main Points
- Get checked out by a doctor.
- Take photos and grab witness info.
- File a police report.
- Don’t take the first offer.
- Get a lawyer.
