Hollywood Dave: How can bikers make sure they are completely protected by their insurance
Rob “The Shark”: Ladies and Gentlemen most important thing is California, =and several other States require liability. Without liability you will get your license suspended. That’s a basic fact. Everybody knows that. You also need, Comprehensive and Collision. If God forbid you go down and it’s your fault or someone doesn’t have insurance when they are at fault you will be stuck. Comprehensive and Collision will allow you to get your bike repaired or paid for. The most important thing that is underrated and nobody preaches about is uninsured motorist. Again, Uninsured Motorist is the most important thing. It’s not just about your bike, it’s about you. You go down. You’re injured badly. The other party does not have insurance. Or they carry the bare minimum, $10,000, $15,000 whatever the minimum of your state is and you are in the hospital with broken bones. Your case can be worth hundreds of thousands. Without uninsured motorist you get… nothing! Contact your agent and get the highest amount. That is going to cover you. It’s going to cover your loss of earnings, your emotional distress, pain and suffering. So it’s not just about your medical bills. Or contact Peter Kaye this magazine’s editor that he and his wife have a combined experience in the Insurance (and Motorcycle Insurance) area of over 20 years. They LOVE to help people and why Peter got had a successful career in Insurance. Again, I may sound like a broken record, but I cannot emphasize it enough. Uninsured Motorist and obviously there’s other little coverages that will benefit you.
Hollywood Dave: Why should I use and attorney if I am in an accident and I am not at fault?
Rob “The Shark”: Very simple. I’ll tell you this. Insurance companies are not your friends. Their job is to keep as much money in their pockets as possible and their job is to protect their driver. Not you. Our role as motorcycle injury attorneys is to protect you and to protect your interest, take their money and put it in your pocket. Their job is the opposite: to minimize all the damages. Their job is to take your statement, turn it, confuse it and try to put the liability against you. If you were involved in an accident, make sure you speak with your attorney. Do not communicate with your insurance company. Do not meet with them. Do not give them any kind of recorded statement. Your attorney should be the one doing everything for you. Your attorney should be protecting you. Your attorney should be fighting for your rights. And your attorney should be going after the highest settlement possible for you. Emotional distress. Medical Bills. Loss of earnings. You name it. Loss of use. Getting your bike repaired. Which by the way we don’t even charge for getting your bike taken care of. Whether its repaired or compensated. Talk to your attorney. Let them do the job.
Hollywood Dave: Do I have to pay up front for an attorney?
Rob “The Shark”: Generally, in a personal injury case, you don’t. You always have the option to pay up front. We don’t do that. Everything we do is on a contingency basis only. What that means is basically that we are only compensated if we win your case. You have nothing to lose. Very simple. Let your attorney go to war. If he wins for you? You win and so does your attorney. I can’t even explain it any simpler. No recovery and no fees. We win, you win. The more we win, the more you win. It’s teamwork and you have nothing to lose. Wherever you’re riding, make sure you’re riding safe and remember Shark Squad is always riding by your side.
Hollywood Dave: What if the police report is not in my favor?
Rob “The Shark”: You know that’s a great question. Having the right attorney means communication. You want to know what’s going on with your case 24/7. Let me give you an example. At Shark Squad, you have everybody’s cell phone number. You have my cellphone number. It’s available to you 24/7. If you can’t find me for whatever reason is because I’m in court. Text me. I can even reply sometimes via text if I’m in a deposition. Of course, I cannot if I’m in court. But you have the office number. You have my cell number. You have the hotline number. Communication is everything. Where am I with my case? What’s going on with my bike? All those questions will be answered to you, the same day and sometimes within the same minute. If I have my phone next to me, I don’t care where I’m at, I will respond to you. Communication is the key to success. Winning a personal injury case is about teamwork. The more knowledgeable you have the stronger we are as a team. And that’s our job. Communication.
Call me if you have any questions on any of the above and thank you for taking the time to read and educate yourself on how to protect you and your ride. And remember Shark Squad is always riding by your side. Office: 800-319-3573 Cell: 818-439-9137
