You must hire an attorney that has experience with representing people who have been in a motorcycle accident. You need a legal team that understands the difference in insurance policies motorcycle riders must carry. And the law firm that you hire must have a strategy for motorcycle passenger claims under Utah law. At Gosdis Law, we have the motorcycle expertise you need.

WHAT SHOULD I DO AFTER A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT?

To build a strong case, you will need as many facts in your favor as possible. It all begins when the injury occurs. It will be necessary for you to gather evidence, describe your injuries and damages, and tell your story repeatedly to insurance companies, your lawyer, and a jury or court. Here are some essential tips for pursuing a motorcycle accident claim.

Check for Injuries and Call 911

The driver involved in an accident in Utah must call 911 as soon as they are able. They must remain at the scene until first responders arrive. Provide important information to the 911 operator. Among these details are the location of the accident, information about the vehicles involved, the type of injuries sustained, and any hazards that the emergency vehicles need to know about, such as fuel leaks or overturned cars.

Begin Collecting Evidence

If you can, speak to the other driver. Ask for their information. Please make sure you get their name, phone number, license plate number, and insurance information. Check out the other vehicles. Determine the make, model, color, year, and VIN of each vehicle.

Following an accident, it may be helpful to draw the positions of the vehicle and their directions of travel. Document how people acted and any admissions of guilt would be more accessible by taking pictures and videos of the vehicles and crash site. Taking photos and videos helps build and argue your case more effectively. Photographs and videos tell your story to the insurance company and the jury during negotiations and trials.

Learn who the driver’s passengers are. Get names, addresses, birth dates, phone numbers, and other contact information. Passengers of the other driver are not required to speak to you. If the passengers do not provide any information, take good notes on the number of witnesses and what they said at the scene.

Notify the Insurance Company

The insurance company may raise your premiums, refuse to renew your policy, or even cancel your policy if you fail to notify them of an accident. You must notify your insurer when you are involved in an accident and cooperate with their investigation.

Submit an Accident Report

Any driver involved in a motor vehicle accident in Utah must complete a written accident report. If the driver is not the owner of the vehicle, the owner has 15 days from the date of the accident to submit the necessary documents.

Call Gosdis Law

After you and your passengers have been treated for injuries, contact Gosdis Law. Our lawyers are among the best in the industry. With us, you get results. Our firm has recovered millions and millions of dollars for clients over the past two decades. Feel free to contact us for a free consultation.

WHAT TYPE OF INUSRANCE DO I NEED AS A UTAH MOTORCYCLE RIDER?

Under U.C.A. § 31A-22-302, every Utah driver is required to carry a minimum amount of auto liability insurance of $25,000.00 and, unless they waive them in writing, all drivers must have uninsured motorist coverage, and underinsured motorist coverage.

You must have motorcycle insurance in Utah. You must carry at least liability insurance. Liability insurance covers other drivers’ injuries if you cause them harm.

Personal injury protection (PIP) is an example of no-fault insurance. Utah requires all drivers to carry a minimum of $3,000 in no-fault insurance pursuant to U.C.A. § 31A-22-309, but PIP does not cover motorcycle riders in Utah under U.C.A. § 31A-22-302(4)(b). Instead, you should purchase “med-pay” insurance if you are motorcycle rider in Utah. It is usually sold in increments of $5,000.00. Med-pay insurance covers medical costs associated with your motorcycle accident.

ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS THAT MOTORCYCLE INSURANCE CAN PROVIDE

Motorcycle insurance and auto insurance are similar, but a motorcyclist may need to consider getting insurance coverage that will cover events that are particular to motorcycles. To help cover your motorcycle even more, you can purchase add-ons for your insurance policy. Some insurance policy add-ons include:

• Collision insurance is not required by law, but it may be beneficial to have collision coverage because it covers property damage to your motorcycle after you pay your deductible.
• Comprehensive insurance covers you if your motorcycle is stolen or there is some property damage that is not your fault.
• Coverage for custom motorcycle parts. You can add this coverage to your motorcycle insurance policy to cover your custom parts like saddlebags and other parts for motorcycles.
• Personal item coverage. You do not have the same protection for your property on a motorcycle you would have inside a car. However, you will still need to carry important items from time to time. Suppose you add personal item coverage to your motorcycle insurance policy. In that case, you can rest assured that you can replace expensive items if they get damaged while you are traveling.
• Roadside assistance coverage can be purchased to cover you if you are stranded on the side of the road. If you have roadside assistance coverage, you can call a tow truck if your bike breaks down.
• Guest passenger liability insurance. A significant difference between motorcycle and auto insurance is the need to seek liability insurance that extends explicitly to passengers. Since it is less likely that a motorcyclist will have a passenger, standard motorcycle insurance policies do not include liability insurance coverage that extends to passengers. For more peace of mind on the road, you may want to consider adding this coverage.

Comparative negligence defenses by insurance companies are complex and require a significant amount of legal resources to defeat. We have experience fighting insurance companies on comparative negligence claims as they relate to motorcycle accident claims. They run the gamut from blaming the motorcycle driver for driving too fast to blaming him or her for allegedly running a red light to blaming him or her for allegedly driving recklessly. You get the point. Under principles of comparative negligence, the insurance company will do everything within their power to blame the motorcycle accident on you, the motorcycle driver.

Gosdis Law has Salt Lake City personal injury lawyers that are knowledgeable about comparative negligence. They can stand up to the insurance defense lawyers when they argue you are more than 50% at fault. You can trust us to advocate for you. It would be best if you had a strong team in your corner. Contact Gosdis Law today for a free consultation.

HOW MUCH SHOULD I SETTLE FOR AFTER A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT?

A Salt Lake City motorcycle lawyer can maximize your recovery by building your case through medical treatments, bills, lost wages, and property damage, among other things. Remember a few of the following tips relating to your motorcycle accident treatments and claims.

Discuss your injuries honestly with your doctor. Don’t become stoic in the face of pain. Don’t exaggerate but be honest about how you’re feeling. The doctor’s notes will reflect what you say during the appointment, and they will be added to your medical record. Your lawyer will review your medical records and use the details in them to make an argument to increase your compensation.

Your total medical bills will also add value to your injury case. During the discovery phase of a personal injury lawsuit, insurance companies and attorneys for the opposing party will ask for your medical bills. Opposing parties tend to undervalue injured people. Insurers will be more likely to increase a settlement offer if your medical bills detail the treatment you need. If there is no settlement, then having itemized medical bills to the jury will show what happened during the accident.

Keep a record of lost wages. Save your paystubs. Keep track of how many days you’ve missed due to the accident. Likewise, you will need to document which job duties you cannot perform because of the accident. By documenting your injuries, you can prove that you have suffered.

The value of the motorcycle and the damage will add value to the overall statement. Most personal injury attorneys will include property damage in their complaints.

You should only settle after getting the advice of an attorney. The Salt Lake City personal injury attorneys at Gosdis Law have the experience you need to ensure your maximum recovery. Contact Gosdis Law today for a free consultation.

There are only a few exceptions to the statute of limitations. Discovery Rule is a narrow exception to the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations for a claim does not begin to run until the plaintiff discovers their injury. Those who suffer “hidden” injuries will benefit from this exception.

If a person suffers a brain injury, they may not notice any changes. A person close to an accident victim will often see symptoms of a brain injury, such as memory loss, emotional instability, and changes in speech patterns. The statute of limitations does not begin to run until the victim is aware that they have been injured in an exceptional case like that. From the date of discovery, they have four years to settle the claim or sue.

What is My Utah Motorcycle Accident Worth?

Your attorney can help you determine how much your motorcycle claim is worth in Utah. The insurance company’s job is to settle allegations that its insured are at fault for the smallest amount of money possible. That is why negotiating solely with the insurance company alone is not the best route to take. Be wary of an insurance company’s first and final offer. The other driver’s insurance company is not here to advocate for you. You need someone on your team. Hiring a good personal injury attorney is your best next step.

Gosdis Law is a Salt Lake City personal injury attorney that only focuses on motorcycle accidents. We are passionate about protecting our riders from greedy insurance companies that want to shortchange injured people. At Gosdis Law, we approach every motorcycle case with expertise, professionalism, and empathy. That is why we have won millions and millions of dollars for our clients. We want to help you put your life back together after you experience a car crash. If you have been in an accident in Murray, Utah, call the best Murray personal injury lawyers at Gosdis Law.

Police Accident Investigations

When you are involved in an accident that causes injury or property damage, you must call the police and an ambulance. Until the investigation is completed, you must cooperate with the police and other investigators. You may receive phone calls and letters from the insurance company during the inquiry.

Police in Utah should always respond to car accidents involving injury or property damage. Depending on your location, the police may not have the resources to respond to the scene if you live in a densely populated area. That is why it is so important that you take good notes if you are in an accident. You will have to submit an accident report with the state. In that report, you must state who was involved in the accident and what the property damage is.

Additionally, having the details of your accident will help you when you are meeting attorneys and making your case.