The aftermath of a motorcycle accident can be overwhelming. With physical recovery, emotional trauma, and financial strain, victims often turn to insurance claims for some sense of relief. But unlike fender-benders or minor car crashes, motorcycle accident claims often take much longer than expected. This delay can feel frustrating, but there are a number of understandable reasons for it.
From serious injuries to liability disputes, motorcycle accident claims often take longer and more attention to resolve correctly. In these cases, motorcycle accident lawyers at William Mattar can help protect your rights and build a strong case. As a victim, you should know the reasons why a motorcycle accident claim may take longer than usual.
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Disputes Over Liability
Unlike a car accident, where fault can sometimes be simply assigned, responsibility in a motorcycle collision is not that straightforward. Motorcyclists have an unfair reputation for being careless, making the process more difficult.
Insurance adjusters or opposing parties may try to claim that the rider was riding too fast, weaving through traffic, or otherwise contributing to the crash. If there’s any dispute over who was responsible for a crash, investigations can stretch over weeks or months.
Severity of Injuries
Motorcycle accidents tend to cause more serious injuries than average car accidents because the rider has less protective coverage. These injuries can include a variety of potentially life-changing conditions, such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and fractures.
As a result, it can take longer for medical treatment to be administered, and the full extent of injuries may not be immediately clear. Insurance companies don’t usually calculate the claim’s total value until the victim has achieved maximum medical improvement (MMI). This guarantees that all current and future medical costs are considered, but it also means the claim cannot be settled immediately.
Insurance Company Tactics
Insurance companies are businesses whose aim is to pay as little as possible. This is especially true for motorcycle claims, particularly those with significant injuries. Insurers may drag out the process to convince victims to accept lower settlement offers.
They can ask for more paperwork, challenge medical expenses, or assert that some injuries were pre-existing. Such tactics prolong the resolution process and may add another layer of stress to the injured party. Sometimes, having a lawyer on board can help speed things up, but if the insurance company plays hardball, the process takes time.
Need for Extensive Documentation
Comprehensive documentation, such as medical records, doctor evaluations, therapy reports, proof of lost wages, and estimates for repairs or replacement, is needed for motorcycle accident claims. Compiling this information is not a quick process — often, collecting, organizing, and submitting it can take weeks.
This adds yet another time-consuming layer; if anything is wrong or missing, you have to make sure it gets corrected, which slows down the process even further. The process will take even longer if a lawsuit becomes necessary, given more formalized documentation and court procedures.
Wrapping Up
Motorcycle accident claims can take longer than others to settle. The severity of injuries, fights over fault, and insurance company tactics lead to longer timelines. Recognizing these delays can help alleviate frustration and allow victims to focus on recovery. Patience and persistence often yield better results in the end, so the wait is well worth it.
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