Hurt in Motorcycle Accident Near Route 100 or 422 and Have Medical Bills ?

If you were hurt in a motorcycle accident in Pennsylvania and have medical bills, it can be a difficult situation. Since Pennsylvania is a "no-fault" State for medical in accidents, it first goes to your insurance.

First, check with your motorcycle insurance. You might have medical coverage. If so, your insurance will pay up to the amount of the coverage. That's easy.

But, chances are, you won't have medical coverage on your motorcycle insurance (most policies do not in Pennsylvania and it's not required, unlike for car insurance). Then, you must look to your health insurance. If you have health insurance, show them proof that your motorcycle insurance doesn't cover medical.

If you don't have health insurance, you can be in a difficult situation. It is true that the person's insurance who was at fault is responsible for your unpaid medical bills. But, the problem is that their insurance company probably won't pay your medical bills unless you sign a release of any bodily injury claim. That is not a good idea if you have ongoing injuries. You might need to work with your medical providers to figure out something if you are making an injury claim. Sometimes your doctors will accept what is called a "letter or protection" that they will be paid at the end from the settlement or recovery against the at-fault insurance company.

If you are unsure, you should contact an experienced personal injury lawyer.

David E. Schreiber
(610) 792-3304

Where you drive and how long your commute is affects your insurance rates

When you apply for insurance, your insurance company will ask how long your commute is. They will also consider where you live. These are factors which go into their "underwriting" formula for determining your rates. Obviously, whether you were ever in a car accident and were at fault will affect your rates. But, many people don't realize where they live and where they drive affect their rates too. If you are not sure how your insurance company came up with your rate, you are entitled to ask them for an explanation.

What roads are more dangerous?

Injured in a car accident on Route 100? Hurt in an auto accident on 422? Truck accident on the Turnpike or Route 73? These are all common locations in the Chester County, Montgomery County and Berks County areas.

Which road is more dangerous? My view is that they each have certain dangers. Route 100 has a lot of sharp turns in the area from Pottstown to Exton which are on hills. So, in bad or icy weather, Route 100 is a rough place to drive. On 422 a common auto accident involves heavy traffic, stop and go traffic and a rear end accident. Someone was driving too close for conditions.

The best thing to keep in mind is to leave a safe distance in front of you and go with the flow of traffic.

The Insurance Company Wants A Recorded Statement

Let's say you were injured in a car accident and the other person is at fault. Their insurance company will likely call you. Your contact information will be on the Police Report. You probably should not give any statement, recorded or not, to the other person's insurance company. They are not "on your side". Their adjuster's job is to try to save their company money. They want to get a statement from you to hold it against you later. (NOTE: You likely have a duty to cooperate with your own company and if so, would have to provide your company with a statement upon request).

If you were injured from a fall on property, their insurance company may also request a recorded statement. You probably should not give any statement, recorded or not, to them either.

If you are unsure, you should consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer.

How Long Will My Personal Injury Claim Take?

So you have unfortunately been injured and have a claim with the insurance company. "How long will the claim take?". This is a question that is asked often. There is no set time as to when you should try to settle your claim. It all depends on who you do medically. Keep in mind that you will have to sign a release of your claim to settle; once a release is signed, you can't come back later for anything.

Your best bet is typically to make sure your doctors have determined what your maximum medical improvement is before you settle your claim.

Keep in mind, that for personal injury cases in Pennsylvania, there is typically a 2 year deadline ("statute of limitations"). This means that if you do not settle your claim, you must file with the correct court before the statute of limitations deadline. If not, any rights you may have would end. You should consult with an experienced Pennsylvania personal injury.