In Pennsylvania, your own policy might pay first under no-fault rules. In West Virginia, the insurer will usually tell you this is a fault-based claim, they need a statement, they need time to investigate, and they cannot decide anything until they review the police report, vehicle damage, and medical records.

That part is only half true.

What is actually happening is the bus company's insurer is trying to lock down the story early, measure your injuries before treatment develops, and see whether they can argue you were 50% or more at fault. In West Virginia, modified comparative fault means if you are 50% or more responsible, you recover nothing.

Right now, do these things fast:

• Call 911 if it was not done already and make sure a report exists through Martinsburg Police, the Berkeley County Sheriff, or West Virginia State Police, depending on where the ramp crash happened.
• Get checked out the same day if you have pain, dizziness, numbness, headache, or shoulder/back symptoms. If it is serious, Martinsburg may stabilize you, but major trauma cases in West Virginia often end up at WVU Medicine Ruby Memorial or CAMC.
• Photograph the ramp, skid marks, bus number, company name, your bike or car, and every bruise.
• Do not give a recorded statement right away.
• Notify your own insurer promptly.

If you were driving for work or between healthcare job sites, this may be both a third-party claim against the bus driver/company and a workers' compensation claim through your employer. Those are separate tracks.

Behind the scenes, the adjuster will order the crash report, inspect both vehicles, pull witness statements, check for bus camera footage, and look hard at visibility issues common in spring and summer when motorcycles and cyclists are on ramps more often.

West Virginia also requires a crash report to the DMV in some situations if police did not investigate, especially when there is injury, death, or major property damage. Don't miss that piece while you are dealing with medical care.