What to Bring to Your Motorcycle Accident Attorney Consultation: A Printable Checklist

Bring your crash report number and the agency that issued it, any photos or video from the scene, contact information for witnesses, your motorcycle insurance declarations page, declarations pages for every car insurance policy in your household, your emergency room discharge paperwork, and proof of lost income like recent pay stubs. If you have none of these documents yet, come anyway, your attorney can get most records for you. But do not repair your motorcycle, throw away your helmet, or discard your riding gear before the consultation. These physical items are critical evidence.

What crash documents do I need to hand the attorney about the accident itself?

Bring the crash report number and know whether Hialeah Police Department (HPD) or Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) handled your case. Under Florida law, crash reports are confidential for 60 days, but you, your insurer, and your lawyer can get them during that window [Fla. Stat. § 316.066]. Insurers can also obtain it during that window, so your attorney should request it early. Write down the report number, the officer’s name, and the agency before your meeting. Also bring any photos, dashcam clips, traffic camera footage, or phone videos you took. Video is often erased or overwritten quickly, so time matters. Include witness names and numbers, even if they were not put in the official report. This resolves the common fear: “I don’t know what matters or whether I need a lawyer.” The attorney uses these pieces to reconstruct fault fast.

What information about the other driver do I need to bring?

Florida law requires drivers involved in a crash to give their name, address, and vehicle registration number, and to show their driver’s license on request [Fla. Stat. § 316.062]; also try to get the other driver’s insurer name and policy number. Bring whatever you received, ideally all of it written on paper or saved in your phone. If the other driver fled, gave fake details, or had no insurance, bring partial info like a photo of their car, a partial license plate, or a witness who saw them drive off. This directly addresses the worry heard in Miami: “I was rear-ended by someone with no insurance.” Even incomplete data helps your attorney trace the driver or explore other coverage options. Do not assume the case is over because the other driver was uninsured, that is exactly when your own insurance may step in.

Which insurance documents do I need, and what is a declarations page?

Bring the declarations page, the one- or two-page summary at the front of any insurance policy, for your motorcycle and for every car insured at your home address. This includes vehicles owned by spouses, parents, or roommates if they live with you. Motorcycles are not covered by Florida’s PIP system [Fla. Stat. § 627.736], so your medical bills and lost wages cannot be paid through your own auto PIP like they would for a car crash. Instead, recovery usually depends on the at-fault driver’s bodily injury coverage or your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage [Fla. Stat. § 627.727]. UM/UIM is optional but must be rejected in writing, if no one signed that rejection, it may still be active. Look for “UM,” “UIM,” or “Uninsured Motorist” on the declarations page and note the dollar amount. Also bring MedPay or health insurance cards. This counters the myth: “If there’s only $10,000 in insurance, that’s all you can get.” Additional UM/UIM from household policies could apply.

What medical records and authorizations should I bring?

Bring your ER discharge summary, any diagnosis notes from the day of the crash, imaging orders (X-ray, MRI, CT scan), results you’ve received, a list of all providers seen since the crash with visit dates, and every medical bill, even unpaid ones. Insurers often argue injuries “came from something else” if there’s a gap between the crash and first treatment. To counter this, early and continuous care matters. If you don’t have copies yet, sign a medical authorization form [Fla. Stat. § 456.057] so your attorney can request records directly. Bring your health insurance card too, it affects how liens are handled later. If you’re still in the hospital, we can meet you there. Do not wait to gather everything yourself; delays hurt your claim.

What happens to my bike, helmet, and gear, do I need to bring those?

Do not repair your motorcycle, replace your helmet, or throw away torn clothing or damaged gear. Insurance companies frequently look at a rider’s safety equipment to create an “equipment defense”, claiming proper gear would have prevented injury. Your attorney needs to inspect these items before anyone else does. If your bike is at a tow yard or impound lot, bring the facility’s name, address, and your tow receipt. If gear has already been discarded or the bike repaired, tell your attorney immediately, they may use scene photos as substitutes. Preserving physical evidence early helps prevent disputes about the facts later.

What if I don’t have any of this, and where does the meeting happen?

Come to your consultation even if you have nothing. We can obtain the crash report through HPD or the Florida Crash Portal [Fla. Stat. § 316.066], pull medical records with your authorization [Fla. Stat. § 456.057], request insurance policy details, track down witnesses, and seek preserved video. Meetings happen at our office at 1840 W 49th St in Hialeah, at your home, or in the hospital if you cannot travel. Ignore bad advice that says “try to handle this alone first.” In Florida, motorcycle cases involve no PIP coverage, possible UM/UIM claims, medical liens, and a two-year deadline to file suit for crashes on or after March 24, 2023 [Fla. Stat. § 95.11]. Missing one piece can cost you coverage you paid for.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get the crash report myself before my consultation?
Yes. You can request it from Hialeah Police Department’s records unit or download it from the Florida Crash Portal at flhsmv.gov. Use your report number for fastest access.

Does it matter that my motorcycle policy doesn’t have UM coverage if I have a car policy at home?
It might not matter. UM/UIM coverage on a household car policy, like a spouse’s or parent’s vehicle registered to your address, may still apply to your motorcycle crash if you were injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver, depending on the policy’s terms.

I was taken to the hospital by ambulance and have no documents at all. Is a consultation still worth it?
Absolutely. We can meet you in the hospital, and with your signature, we can retrieve your medical records, crash report, and insurance details right away.

The other driver had no insurance. Is there anything left to pursue?
Possibly. If you or a household member has UM/UIM coverage on any auto policy, that coverage may pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.

The insurer already called and asked for a recorded statement. What should I do before my consultation?
Do not give a recorded statement. Tell the adjuster you are consulting an attorney and will respond through counsel. What you say now can be used to reduce or deny your claim later.

Related reading: I was hit on my motorcycle in Hialeah. Does PIP cover me? · The 14-day PIP rule in Florida: what happens if you wait to see a doctor after a Hialeah car accident · How long do I have to file an injury lawsuit in Florida? The two-year rule after HB 837 · The driver who hit me in Hialeah has no insurance. What now?

Hurt in an accident in Hialeah? Call Wolfson & Leon at 305-965-3766 for a free consultation. We speak Spanish, and there is no fee unless we win.