Motorcycle Wrecks: Top 10

Here are 10 things that come up all the time after a motorcycle wreck:

Does it Matter if there was/wasn't a Ticket? The facts of how the collision definitely matter. But it doesn't matter whether law enforcement wrote the other driver a ticket (or if law enforcement wrote you a ticket). Infractions are not admissible in personal injury cases.

Which Insurer Covers Repairs? Where both people have coverage, either carrier can cover repairs. But we've found that it usually works best to deal with your own carrier even if you weren't at fault for the collision.

Should I have my Motorcycle Repaired Right Away? If there's any question about who was at fault for the collision you should wait to repair your motorcycle until both your insurance company and the other insurance company has a chance to repair the damage. The damage may offer clues about how the wreck happened.

What is Loss of Use? The first thing people think about is cost of repair or total loss. But even if you're too hurt to ride, you're still entitled to loss of use while your motorcycle is being repaired or the total loss claim is being processed. Loss of use can easily run up to $250/day for motorcycles and is based on what it would cost to rent a comparable motorcycle.

Who Pays for Treatment Expenses? A lot of people think that the insurance company for the at-fault driver is responsible for treatment expenses. That's true. But the insurance company isn't going to pay until the case resolves. Med pay under your motorcycle policy is first in line. When that coverage exhausts treatment expenses should be covered under your health plan.

Full Coverage: One of the first things people say is "I have full coverage." Full coverage really means collision, comprehensive, liability, med pay and UM/UIM. We can help review your policy to confirm what kind of and how much coverage you purchased.

What if I was a Passenger on Someone Else's Motorcycle? If you were a passenger you may have claims against the other driver and/or the person operating the motorcycle on which you were riding. If they don't have insurance or enough insurance, you may have a claim under your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

Why Should I Hire an Attorney? People represented by attorneys end up--even after paying fees and costs--with multiples of what people get when they represent themselves. If injuries were significant, this isn't a DIY project.

How Much Will it Cost to Hire an Attorney? It doesn't cost anything out of pocket. There is no retainer. There are no hourly fees. We get paid a percentage of the recovery only when we win.

Who Should I Hire? Hire someone who's actually connected to the motorcycle community here in Washington. There are a lot of out-of-state posers. Many of them act like they're lawyers or law firms. They're really middlemen. We have over 30 years of experience representing club-affiliated and independent riders. We grew up in Bellingham and Spokane. We're about as local as it gets. As we like to say: "Don't hire a lop."