If you’re a biker, then you likely already know about the unfair stereotype that all bikers are risk-takers and daredevils, with too many tats and a don’t-mess-with-me attitude. These stereotypes don’t really affect other people; they negatively affect you.
When it comes to a collision, this negative view of bikers can actually harm you, and it can impact the compensation you stand to receive. You know that you deserve full compensation for a wreck you didn’t cause, but ultimately it’s the insurance company that pays the settlement.
Will this stereotype impact how an insurance company views you and your claim? Do motorcyclists get treated unfairly by insurance companies?
Yes, insurance companies do treat motorcyclists unfairly. Whether they truly believe that you’re a danger, they will use this stereotype against you to minimize your settlement amount. They might claim that you were the one driving dangerously, for example, or taking risks, and that you were somehow responsible for the crash that injured you.
Even your own insurance company can treat you poorly. So why do insurers do this? They use these views of bikers for their own purposes. They will try to say that you are reckless and a daredevil to try to get out of paying on your insurance claim, or at the very least, reduce your total settlement figure.
Enlisting the help of a highly trained motorcycle accident lawyer in Illinois can help you secure the maximum compensation you deserve. Our team of attorneys have experience dealing with insurance provider’s underhanded tactics, and we can represent you throughout the negotiation process.
It’s difficult to fight against an insurance company on your own, especially after you’ve just been seriously harmed in an accident. You need an Illinois motorcycle crash attorney on your side that can fight to see that you receive every dollar owed to you.
Back to your question: Do motorcyclists get treated unfairly by insurance companies? Yes. But, your lawyer will not let them place blame at your feet when you weren’t the driver responsible for the crash.
Talk to an attorney at our firm during a free claim review. Use the form below to contact us or call Mahoney & Mahoney, LLC at 815-656-4600.