What do you do with your motorcycle After an Accident?

Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq. You have been involved in a motorcycle accident; now what do you do with your motorcycle?

Before discussing this subject, I want to discuss the subject of “Road Side Assistance Plans,” such as AAA, and/or insurance company provided plans.

I recommend that you always have a Road Side Assistance plan because it will not only help you out if your motorcycle breaks down, or run out of gas, and can also save you lot’s of grief if you do have a motorcycle accident.

There are two types of accidents; (1) The type where your motorcycle is totaled and/or not drivable; and the type of accident where you motorcycle is drivable, and (2)there is also the situation where you may be too injured to make any decisions about your motorcycle at the scene of an accident. We will not discuss that scenario right now.

If your motorcycle or vehicle is obviously totaled and/or not drivable, I first recommend if you are able, that you call your insurance company from the scene of the accident to report the accident. Your insurance company should be able to give you a list of approved motorcycle shops that you can have your motorcycle towed to nearby, and you may find out that your insurance company will cover the cost of the tow. Often times your insurance company may arrange to have the motorcycle towed to the nearest approved motorcycle shop. Using this process will also help speed up the process of the insurance companies investigation, appraising the damage, and either having the motorcycle repaired or totaling the motorcycle. However, some insurance companies will not assign an adjuster to your case for 24-48 hours. Either way, try your insurance company first.

If the above is not possible, and you are in a situation where you can call your road side assistance company, call them, and inform them that you have been in an accident and ask them to send a tow truck to tow your motorcycle. With most road side assistance programs this service if free. If you allow the police to have your motorcycle towed, your motorcycle will usually be taken to a tow lot that will then charge you for the tow and storage until your motorcycle is removed from their lot. Although your insurance may pay for this, it will be harder to get your personal belongings out of the motorcycle in the short term.

If you motorcycle or vehicle is SAFELY drivable, then immediately ride it home or to your motorcycle shop to have get an estimate of the damage. It is very important to get the estimate in writing.