When the At-Fault Driver Lies About Your Motorcycle Crash, Our WA Accident Lawyer Suggests These Tips to Protect Your Rights
You suffered injuries and property damage in a motorcycle collision caused by a negligent driver, which is bad enough. But when they lie about the reasons for it—or try to shift all the blame on you—the situation escalates from bad to worse pretty quickly. You must take the proper steps to protect your right to compensation.
Since 1997, Max Meyers Law has helped motorcycle accident victims like you with effective strategies to fight back if the driver lies about your crash and their insurance company tries to deny your claim or pay you far less compensation than you deserve. Here’s what you should know.
Why the Driver Might Have Lied About Your Washington Motorcycle Accident
While you might not want to understand the person’s motivations, it will help you cope more easily with the situation and stay clear-headed about how to construct your claim. Here are some common reasons for motorcycle accidents and why motorists often don’t tell the truth about their involvement.
- Increase in insurance premiums. Admitting fault in a motorcycle accident can significantly raise premiums. They could also worry that their policy will be canceled if they have other traffic tickets or collisions on their driving record. By lying, they may hope to avoid these financial repercussions.
- Legal consequences. Depending on the circ*mstances of the motorcycle collision, the motorist might try to avoid getting a traffic ticket, points on their driving record, or even more severe penalties. If they were driving while intoxicated, they could be afraid of being arrested for drunk driving.
- No insurance. If the negligent driver doesn’t have insurance required under Washington law, they may lie about the accident to avoid the legal and financial consequences of driving without coverage.
- Loss of driving privileges. A serious or repeat traffic violation can result in the motorist's driver's license being suspended or revoked. So they might not tell the truth to protect their ability to drive.
5 Essential Steps to Take if This Happens to You
Not only might a reckless driver not tell the truth about the crash, but they could also make statements to their insurance company or to the police that you caused the crash. If you’re in this situation, stay calm and take the right steps to prove your case.
1. Don't Argue
Engaging in an argument at the accident scene can escalate the situation, and your statements might be used against you later. Instead, focus on gathering information and staying composed.
2. Be Truthful
Always be honest about how the motorcycle accident happened. Your consistent and accurate account supports your credibility and helps prove your case.
3. Contact the Police
Report the accident to law enforcement immediately. A police report is an official record of the collision and contains important details about it. In addition, the officer's conclusions about the cause of the wreck are crucial in disputing false claims made by the other driver.
4. Collect Evidence
If you’re able to, gather as much evidence as possible from the motorcycle accident scene. This includes taking photos, collecting witness statements, and documenting any damage to the other vehicle, your motorcycle, and your injuries. Evidence is critical to prove what actually happened.
5. Retain an Attorney
If the driver is lying about the collision, you need to hire a motorcycle accident lawyer immediately. The entire team at Max Meyers Law will help you gather additional evidence to build a solid case and defend your rights to an insurance adjuster.
How a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Assists You When the At-Fault Driver Makes False Claims
If the other driver lies about what happened, you’ll face an uphill battle trying to settle your motorcycle accident claim. An adjuster will use their insured’s statements against you and try to find other evidence to support them. This information is leveraged to deny your claim or drag out settlement negotiations, hoping they can wear you down.
Here are the many ways the motorcycle accident team at Max Meyers Law builds a case that supports your rights to justice and compensation:
- Investigation. This may include reviewing the police report, viewing the crash scene, gathering additional witness statements, and obtaining any available video footage from traffic cameras or nearby businesses.
- Expert testimony. If necessary, we may recommend hiring an expert witness, such as an accident reconstruction expert, to provide a professional analysis of how the motorcycle accident occurred. They review all the evidence, examine the damage to the vehicles, and view the crash scene to create a reenactment of your motorcycle accident. Their report and testimony can be instrumental in disproving the driver's and their insurance company's false claims.
- Negotiation. We take over all communications and negotiations with the insurance adjuster so you’re not taken advantage of and will provide them with the evidence that proves the cause of the collision accurately. We also attempt to negotiate a settlement that fully compensates you for your injuries
- Litigation. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we won’t hesitate to prepare your case for court and litigate your claim. I’ll argue your case at a jury trial to fight for the compensation you deserve if the insurance company and their driver continue to deny responsibility to compensate you.
It’s incredibly frustrating to be in a position where you’re fighting to reveal the truth, get a fair settlement, and move on with your life. Trust us to be on your side to strongly advocate for what’s right.
