You can’t beat the thrill of riding a motorcycle down open roads. It’s a fun, exhilarating experience that’s the epitome of freedom! Unfortunately, with almost 5,000 fatal motorcycle crashes each year, this popular mode of transport is also more dangerous than most.
Everything from potholes and bad car drivers to slippery surfaces can have disastrous consequences when you’re traveling at high speed on two wheels. Knowing the risks, it makes sense to stop and think about what to do after a motorcycle accident.
Are you trying to educate yourself on that precise subject?
Well, you’re in the right place. Today we’re going through 5 essential steps to take in the aftermath of these unfortunate events. Check them out and commit them to memory to ensure you act appropriately in worst-case scenarios.
Your physical wellbeing’s always the priority if you have been in a motorcycle accident. Assuming you’re able to walk away from the scene, you should seek medical attention ASAP. Go to the emergency department if you’re in considerable pain and/or schedule an appointment with your GP in the near future for a thorough examination.
Of course, in the most severe cases, it’s likely that an ambulance will arrive to whisk you off to the nearest hospital. More often than not, though, getting medical support’s up to you! And remember, just because you’re okay now doesn’t mean you will be in due course.
Symptoms of your injuries might have a delayed onset. It could be days or weeks (or even longer!) before you recognize something’s wrong, in which time the situation may have worsened. Seeing a doctor straight away should help you catch any problem(s) early and prevent that eventuality from occurring.
Furthermore, you’ll have medical records to support a future personal injury case! The doctor will detail your physical and mental condition, as well as any treatments they’ve prescribed. That paper trail makes it much harder for insurance companies to deny your claims.
Thinking clearly in the stress, chaos, and shock that follows a motorcycle accident is never easy. Wherever possible, though, strive to gather as much information from the scene as you can (before seeking medical attention). It’s true that law enforcement will be there to take notes, collect witness statements, and write down the contact details of everyone involved, but you can’t always rely on them to catch every last detail.
The last thing you want is for a minor mistake or missing piece of information to impact your claim to compensation, right? That’s why we recommend you take on this task before they arrive at the scene. Try to get the contact information from witnesses, names, and addresses of anyone involved, and their insurance details too.
Later down the line, you’ll want to get your hands on a copy of those police reports as well. You can usually order this online or in-person from the relevant motor department in your state. It might cost a minimal fee, but it’s another key piece of evidence to use in a future case.
Imagine showing images to a jury of the accident that you took immediately after it happened. It’d be ten times harder for any insurance company to refute your claim! After all, the evidence is available for all to see.
As you set about collecting relevant information from guilty parties and passers-by, then, grab your smartphone and photograph the scene as well.
Be thorough! Snap images from different angles, of specific details, and with particular emphasis on the severity of the crash. Photos of your injuries, the damage to your motorcycle, any marks on the road, and the positioning of other vehicles could all prove useful in the future.
Can you remember precisely what you were doing at a given time last week?
Probably not! If you’re like most people, you’ll forget everything from minor details to entire events as time passes. And that’s bad news when it comes to filing a personal injury claim.
When you’re being grilled by insurance companies on what happened in your motorcycle accident, it’s imperative to have a clear and accurate memory of events. Don’t, and they may use any gaps or mistakes to suggest you aren’t entitled to compensation!
For that reason, it’s sensible to keep a personal written record of events. At your earliest convenience, write down what happened before, during, and after the incident. Go into as much detail as possible, including how the event impacted your life.
Having professional support from a skilled motorcycle accident attorney will make an almighty difference if you intend to take your case to court. As specialists in this area of law, they’d work with you to secure the pay-out you deserve. Other benefits include:
Act fast though! Most personal injury cases have to be filed within a certain time frame to be viable. Wait too long to take action and that window of opportunity could pass.
Unsure how to find a motorcycle accident lawyer? Seek referrals from loved ones, read online reviews/testimonials, and consult with multiple firms before making your final decision!
Take These Steps After a Motorcycle Accident
Countless people own motorcycles in America nowadays. And who can blame them!? The freedom of the open road and the thrill of two-wheeled travel are compelling reasons to ride.
Unfortunately, this pastime isn’t all hunky-dory. There are myriad dangers involved, which cause accidents (some of them fatal) on a regular basis.
If you’re going to ride, then, it’s important to know what to do in the event of a motorcycle accident. With any luck, the insights in this post have shed valuable light on exactly that! Browse the blog to read more articles like this one now.