Motorcyclists often face unfair insurance company bias. This is due to a harmful stereotype that motorcyclists are reckless and likely to crash. This can affect their claims and their injuries. This biased approach can hurt injured motorcycle accident victims. It can prevent them from getting the monetary compensation they deserve. Read this article to learn more about how a skilled attorney can help you maximize your compensation.
Preconceived Notions
There is a common stereotype in our culture that portrays motorcyclists as dangerous and reckless individuals. This has permeated popular media for decades, and many people have these preconceived notions about motorcyclists, even if they have never been on a motorcycle. As a result, insurance companies often view motorcyclists as high-risk, charging them higher premiums than other motorists. They may also quickly dismiss an injured biker’s claim or deny it altogether. A skilled motorcycle accident lawyer can fight against these biases and ensure that injured motorcyclists get fair compensation for their injuries. Injured motorcyclists will likely face major financial losses, such as medical expenses and lost income, due to time away from work. They can also experience significant noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering. A knowledgeable injury attorney can ensure that the at-fault party’s insurer considers these damages when calculating their settlement offer.
Lack of Safety Equipment
Insurers often harbor the preconceived notions that motorcyclists are reckless risk-takers. These biases can affect how insurance companies assess accident claims and the compensation they are willing to offer for an injured rider’s losses. The reality is that some riders take risks, but many have developed their riding skills by taking safety courses and gaining years of experience on the road. Even so, some other drivers who share the road with them can be dangerously reckless and create a hazardous situation for motorcycle riders. When motorcyclists are involved in crashes, their injuries can be severe. This makes them a tempting target for insurers who want to deny their injury claims or reduce the compensation they are willing to pay. Fortunately, there are steps injured bikers can take to show their responsibility and mitigate these biases. This may include demonstrating their safety by investing in additional bike equipment, such as anti-lock brakes.
Injuries
Due to their smaller size and lack of safety equipment, motorcyclists tend to suffer more severe injuries in crashes than other motorists. Insurance companies rely on this to justify lower settlement offers and even deny a claim.
Unfair motorcycle bias can begin from the moment an accident happens. Police officers may make a biased assumption that a rider was responsible for the crash based on a false stereotype. Witnesses may also add to this bias by giving limited accounts that imply riders were reckless. When injured, motorcyclists need serious medical care that requires much money. Unless they can win a fair settlement, the victim is left with mounting medical bills and financial strain that translates into job loss, family strife, and other hardships. A skilled trial attorney can educate jurors and dispel any unfair motorcycle bias they may have to ensure that a jury gives a fair judgment. This will lead to a more favorable outcome for their client.
Insurance Companies are in Business to Make Money
Insurance companies are in business to make money, and they do so by collecting premiums from their insured clients and investing those premiums for additional income. They rely on the fact that many of their clients will never file claims, and they use this strategy to maximize profits. Unfortunately, this means that when someone crashes on a motorcycle and files an insurance claim, the company may assume the biker is at fault based on the negative press that fills popular culture. From leather jackets and bar fights to “crotch rockets” and wheelies, motorcyclists are portrayed as reckless individuals who speed and ride dangerously. Fortunately, an experienced attorney can help to prevent this bias from undermining your case by communicating with insurance adjusters directly and filing a lawsuit against the at-fault party. By doing so, an attorney can force the insurance company to pay injured claimants fair compensation.
