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Report the crash, seek medical care the same day, take pictures of everything before you move your bike, and tell your own insurer what happened. Do all four steps even if you feel fine and the damage looks merely cosmetic.
Motorcycle claims work differently than car accident claims in Florida, mostly because riders aren’t covered by PIP. That changes what you have to prove and what you can recover, so it’s worth asking a West Palm Beach motorcycle accident lawyer about your options before you accept any settlement.
Do you have to call the police after a minor motorcycle crash?
Usually yes. Florida law requires you to report a crash immediately, by the quickest means of communication, if it caused injury, death, or apparent property damage of at least $500. Even a low-impact crash can produce property damage of that level. Calling 911 and having an officer respond satisfies that obligation, and the police report becomes the neutral account of what happened.
Practically speaking, if you laid the bike down, the levers and fairings alone are almost certainly past $500.
If no officer investigates, the duty shifts to you. You have 10 days to submit your own written crash report to the state. That’s a separate form from the report an officer files, and skipping it leaves your version of events undocumented while the other driver’s memory improves.
Should you see a doctor if you feel fine after a collision?
Yes, and preferably the same day. Adrenaline masks pain for hours, and the absence of visible injuries means little: motorcycle crashes produce brain trauma, internal bleeding, and soft tissue damage that stiffens up two days later. Per mile traveled, NHTSA reports motorcyclists are almost five times more likely to be injured in a crash than passenger car occupants.
There’s a second reason, and it’s specific to riders. Car occupants have PIP, which pays medical bills regardless of fault as long as they’re seen within 14 days. You don’t have that. Your medical records from the days after the crash are the evidence tying your injuries to the collision, and a gap between the crash and your first visit is the first thing an insurance company points to when it argues something else caused your pain.
What should you photograph before you leave the scene?
Photograph the bike from several angles before you pick it up, if you’re able. Then take photos of the road and the scene, especially skid marks and debris, and the other vehicle from all sides, including the license plate. Get the other driver’s contact information and insurance details while you’re at it.
Video helps too. Capture the weather and the full roadway, particularly if no other vehicle was involved and you went down because of cracked pavement or an obstructed sign or signal. Scenes get cleaned up and repaved. Your photos are often the only record.
Is a claim worth filing for a low-impact accident?
Often, yes, and riders have an advantage here that most people don’t know about. Drivers with PIP can only sue for pain and suffering if their injuries clear a permanent-injury threshold. That threshold applies to people covered by the no-fault system, and because a motorcycle isn’t a “motor vehicle” under it, riders aren’t held to it. A rider with injuries that wouldn’t clear the bar for a car occupant can still pursue non-economic damages.
You generally have two years from the crash to file. If a road defect caused it, a claim against a city or county follows different rules: written notice within three years, six months for the agency to respond, and statutory caps on what a government body pays.
Your own insurer may also decline to pay while it decides whether another party is responsible. That’s normal claims handling, not bad faith, but it’s a good moment to get advice rather than wait.
Talk to a lawyer before you accept an offer
Eleven of the partners at Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath are recognized as Super Lawyers, and the firm has handled motorcycle claims across Palm Beach County for decades. There’s no fee to talk with us, and you pay no attorney’s fees unless compensation is recovered. Call us at (561) 655-1990 or contact us online for a free consultation.