What Questions Will Insurance Ask You After a Motorcycle Crash in NJ?
If a negligent driver injures you while riding your motorcycle, filing an insurance claim is usually the next step. Of course, the insurance company will have numerous questions, whether you are filing with your own or the other driver’s.
Insurance companies want to know the basics of the accident, like who and what vehicles were involved. They will also ask about the conditions at the scene, such as the road, lights, and the weather. Insurance companies will be particularly interested in what you were doing before and after the accident, like where you were coming from and whether you were wearing a helmet. Our attorney can prepare you for these questions so you do not jeopardize the compensation you should receive. The insurance company will likely try to twist your words to save them from making a payout without the help of our experienced lawyer.
Call Jerry Friedman, our motorcycle accident lawyer in New Jersey, today at 1-800-529-4464 for your free case review.
What Types of Questions Will an Insurance Company Ask if I Am Injured in a New Jersey Motorcycle Accident
After a careless driver injures you in a motorcycle accident, you will likely turn to insurance to help cover your expenses. Some of your compensation might come from your own insurance provider, while other damages you will need to file for against the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier to recover. In either case, you will typically have to answer a range of questions, from basic details of the accident to your actions during it and the damages you are requesting. Our NJ motorcycle accident attorney, Jerry, can prepare you for what will be asked and how to answer honestly without jeopardizing your compensation. He can also help file a lawsuit if insurance is not enough to cover the damages the other driver caused.
Basic Details of the Crash
The first questions you will typically face are those about the basic details of the accident. They will want to know at what time the accident occurred, where it happened, the vehicles involved, and who was driving them. They will certainly want to know what type of motorcycle you were on, such as a high-speed sports bike, but that alone is no confirmation of who is at fault.
While these questions are fairly simple and can be confirmed with evidence like police reports, they are designed to get you comfortable and talking. Hence, the importance of being prepared for the questions that will inform liability for the crash.
Conditions of the Accident Scene
Questions about the conditions at the accident scene will usually be next. The insurance company’s questions will likely concern the weather and road conditions when the accident occurred and other circumstances that might impact liability. Was it raining when the crash happened, making it more difficult to see you? Was the road dotted with potholes, increasing the chances of getting thrown from your motorcycle? Was it daytime or night, and were lights on the road and proper street markings?
These conditions can make an accident more likely and impact what drivers’ vehicles are physically capable of in such situations.
What You Were Doing Before the Accident
Insurance companies will be highly concerned about the parties’ actions before the accident. They will usually ask where you were coming from before the accident and what you were doing there. They will also ask the other driver these questions. For instance, if the other driver admits they were at a bar before the crash and you saw them swerving, our attorney can shift the blame to the other driver for most likely being drunk, even if they were not arrested for DUI.
They will want to know if you were riding your motorcycle alone or in a pack and, if you were in a group, were you were riding side-by-side or lane splitting.
What You Were Doing After the Accident
Questions about what happened after the accident commonly concern what was said and whether the police and emergency medical services were called. This can provide insights into the parties’ state of mind and their concern over a potential legal case.
Perhaps the other driver admitted that they did not have the light and were sorry for crashing into you, only to have a completely different story after your case started. Take note of any statements the negligent driver makes, which might also be included in the police report when the investigating officer interviews them. While a police report is generally inadmissible as evidence in a trial, Jerry can use it during insurance settlement negotiations to place the blame squarely on the defendant.
Whether You Were Following NJ Motorcycle Laws
Possibly, the most important questions you will be asked is regarding your compliance with the state’s motorcycle laws.
First up is likely to be whether you were wearing a helmet when the crash occurred. According to N.J.S.A. § 39:3-76.7, all motorcycle operators and passengers must have a helmet on when riding. If your injuries were linked to the fact that you were not wearing a helmet, it could jeopardize your claim. For instance, if you suffered traumatic head injuries, the insurance company will argue that your injuries would likely not have been as severe had you been wearing a helmet.
The insurance company will also ask if you were wearing eye protection or whether your bike has a windshield. Under § 39:3-76.8, you must wear goggles, a face shield, or your bike must have a windshield. Otherwise, the insurance company will likely claim you did not see the other vehicle, contributing to your accident.
Information About Your Damages
Your insurance company and the other driver’s provider will want to know about your injuries and other damages you sustained, like pain and suffering. Jerry can prepare you for these questions and submit medical evidence as proof of your losses.
Talk to Jerry Friedman, Our New Jersey Motorcycle Accident Lawyer, for Help Preparing for Your Claim Today
For a free, private case review, contact our Jersey City motorcycle accident lawyer, Jerry Friedman, at 1-800-529-4464.
