Sigourney Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorneys

A motorcycle accident in Sigourney can leave riders and passengers alike facing painful injuries, confusing insurance questions, and mounting medical bills. Whether you were riding your own bike or were a passenger on a friend's motorcycle, understanding your right to file a claim, who should be paying your medical bills, and what steps protect your case can make a real difference in your recovery.

At Walker, Billingsley & Bair, our Sigourney motorcycle attorneys help injured riders and passengers understand their legal options, their insurance coverage, and what to expect as they pursue compensation. Below, we walk through filing a claim as a passenger, who should pay your medical bills, and what you need to know to protect your accident claim.

Injured as a Passenger on a Friend's Motorcycle in Sigourney

Motorcycle accident victims who were passengers on a friend's bike can file an injury claim against the at-fault party. It will either be under the motorcyclist's insurance policy or against another party, such as the driver of a passenger vehicle. This largely depends on who was at fault for the motorcycle accident and the type of coverage available.

Minimum Motorcycle Insurance in Iowa

When the driver of the motorcycle is at fault, his or her coverage might pay for damages to an injured passenger. If another party is responsible for the accident, the passenger may file a claim against that party's insurance company. Bodily injury liability would cover injuries up to the limits of the policy. In Iowa, motorcyclists are required to carry a minimum of 20/40/15, meaning bodily injury liability for one person, bodily injury liability for all injuries in one accident, and coverage for property damage. Many motorcyclists and motorists choose to carry higher insurance coverage. Some motorists carry medical payments coverage, which pays for the cost of medical care regardless of fault, and passengers may even use their own coverage to initially cover their costs before recovering compensation from the at-fault party.

Damages Recoverable by a Passenger in a Motorcycle Accident

A motorcycle accident victim may suffer severe injuries. The medical and hospital costs associated with the injuries could be recovered in the claim or lawsuit. If the passenger is out of work for a few days, several weeks, or longer, the earnings he or she is without could also be addressed. Damages besides hospital stays and lost wages may include pain and suffering, disability, and emotional distress. Talking with an attorney can help injured passengers understand all the forms of compensation that may be available.

Some motorcycle accident victims have difficulty knowing what type of legal action to pursue when injured in a motorcycle crash. Filing an insurance claim, even a minor one, requires dealing with the insurance company, which may use various tactics to avoid paying the claimant. This is yet another reason it is usually a good idea to consult with an attorney.

Who Should Pay Your Medical Bills After a Sigourney Motorcycle Accident?

If you have been injured in a motorcycle crash in Sigourney, rarely will the other driver's insurance company make payments for your medical bills as they are incurred, even if their liability is obvious and they have already paid for your property damage. The other driver's insurance company is not required to make payments, and insurance companies routinely make payments only at the time of a final settlement when they can obtain a release. Because of this, you should not expect the other driver's insurance company to pay your medical bills along the way. Instead, you should look to one of the following means to obtain payment.

• Your own health insurance from your employment benefits package
• Your own health insurance that you may have paid for personally
• Health insurance obtained by your spouse for your benefit, or by your parents if you are under age and living with them
• Medical payments insurance coverage from your own policy if you were driving your motorcycle or were a passenger in a vehicle, which in some cases can apply both from the insurance company for the vehicle you were in and your own insurance company
• HealthCare.gov or Medicaid, if you are not covered under an insurance plan and may be eligible for coverage under the Affordable Care Act
• Your own personal funds if you were not insured and are able to pay medical bills as they are incurred

With medical debt rising, you may not have the funds to pay right away. If there are insufficient funds to pay doctors, hospitals, and other medical bills, an attorney's office can often help facilitate assignments in which the client authorizes the office to pay the medical provider directly from any settlement or verdict. These arrangements often satisfy the health provider, and many will wait until the time of settlement rather than pursue collection against you. Keep in mind that almost all insurance policies have a subrogation provision, meaning they require reimbursement if you obtain money for your medical bills from another party or insurance company. Insurance companies are not looking out for your interests, which is why it is important to understand your options before you sign any paperwork related to your Sigourney motorcycle accident claim.

What You Need to Know About Your Sigourney Motorcycle Accident Claim

Whether or not you decide to work with a particular law firm, the following points are critical to helping you receive a fair and just settlement for your injuries after a Sigourney motorcycle accident.

Tell Your Doctor Everything That Hurts

One of the most critical pieces of evidence is how you feel and how your injuries have affected your ability to function on a daily basis. Your doctor is required to keep accurate and detailed records of your medical history and care, including your description of how you were injured, your physical complaints, the doctor's examination findings, and the treatment you received. Insurance companies will base their offer on this critical information. If you fail to tell your doctor everything that hurts, it will not only go untreated, but no one will know about it. If you begin to complain about a problem weeks or months after you were hurt, the insurance company will claim the problem was not from the accident and reduce their settlement offer.

Follow Your Doctor's Orders

If your doctor tells you to attend therapy three days a week but you only go once a week, you will damage your claim. The insurance company will argue that you could not have been truly injured, or you would have followed your doctor's recommendations, and will reduce their settlement offer accordingly.

Keep a Diary to Document Your Injuries

Few people ever think to write down how they felt after an accident. You need to remember the details of your injury and how you felt on a day-to-day basis. A diary helps provide accurate accounts of your injuries and how they affected your ability to function, and it can mean a higher evaluation of your claim.

Keep Documentation Regarding Missed Work

It is important to keep track of the time you missed from work, including doctors' excuses for missed work and the time you miss for doctors' appointments.

Be Careful What You Say

The insurance company and their lawyers will use anything and everything you tell them against you. No matter what, do not lie. Even a small lie can ruin your credibility. The best policy is to always tell the truth, so you never have to worry about what you said.