A motorcycle accident can be an extremely frightening experience. Many people are unsure what to do when they’ve been involved in a crash. However, you must act quickly and do certain things immediately after your accident to protect your legal rights and ensure you get the help you need afterward.
Here are helpful tips after a crash to ensure that you don’t put your health at risk or your rights under the law:
Call The Police Right Away After A Crash
Often, motorcycle accidents are caused by a negligent driver. When someone else was to blame for causing your crash, that person can be sued, and you may obtain money for your losses. However, you’ll have to show how the crash happened. A police accident report can be the best evidence you have.
When you call the police after a motorcycle accident, an officer will come to the scene, write a report and get the contact information of everyone involved. This information is invaluable later when making a case for damages.
Don’t Apologize For The Accident Or Admit Fault To Anyone
You don’t want to get into a situation where you admit fault or blame, especially if the circumstances of the accident are murky. You don’t even want to acknowledge that the accident may have been partially your fault since this could keep your right to compensation at risk.
When the police come, answer their questions politely but don’t apologize or volunteer information you don’t have to provide. Police can review the scene and make their determination.
Get Medical Help Immediately When A Crash Occurs
Medical help should be a top priority after a crash, along with calling the police. You should always go and get checked out, even if you do not necessarily feel as if you’ve been badly hurt. Some medical issues don’t show up right away. For example, whiplash may not begin causing symptoms for 24-48 hours. Brain injuries or internal bleeding/organ damage also may not show signs until time has passed.
When you get help from a medical professional right away, you can get checked out to ensure that you don’t have any serious internal injuries. Early medical intervention could save your life if you have bleeding in the brain or another severe internal problem.
The medical reports could also be useful in helping to prove you were injured when making an accident claim. If you delay and don’t get medical help for days or weeks, the other driver in the crash could argue that you are exaggerating your injuries or that the collision didn’t cause them. Getting prompt medical help ensures that you won’t have that problem.
Don’t Move Yourself Or Anyone Who May Have Been Seriously Hurt
If you or anyone else in the accident was seriously hurt, then you could do more damage by trying to move out of the position that you are in or by trying to move the other person. Some injuries, especially those to the spine, could be made worse if you try to move after the damage happens. Instead, you should call 911 and let rescuers come to your aid or to the assistance of others who are injured.
To ensure no one suffers more serious injury after the accident, you should try to secure the scene while you wait for the police. If you or anyone else is healthy enough, it can be a good idea to put up flares to alert other drivers of the crash.
Whether to move the cars and motorcycles out of the way before the police come will depend upon whether anyone is seriously hurt, whether the vehicles/motorcycle are drivable and whether the cars/bikes are in a location where they could cause other drivers to get into a crash. Often, it is best to leave them where they are so police can see what occurred.
Gather Evidence At The Scene Of The Crash
Because you need to prove your case to recover compensation, you’ll want to have as much information as possible. This means you’ll wish for evidence, including photographs from the accident scene. Getting the names of witnesses at the crash can also be helpful in case your version of the events is disputed. Writing down your crash account can be useful while the details are fresh in your mind.
Provide The Information Your Insurance Company Needs
When you contact your insurance company, you’ll need to answer some basic questions about the accident. You should answer the questions briefly and provide the necessary information while at the same time making sure you do not inadvertently say anything to affect your claim adversely. Check this site and get an experienced injury lawyer representing your interests to deal with the insurer on your behalf.
When the insurance company for the other driver asks you questions, you’ll need to be even more careful. You don’t want to help them make a case against you or undermine your claim for damages.
Don’t Trust That Any Insurance Company Is On Your Side
Neither your insurance company nor the other driver’s insurance company is focused solely on protecting your needs. Their focus is on protecting their profit margins. That can be directly at odds with your interests. While your insurer may be more helpful to you than the other driver’s insurance company, the company is still not a solid advocate for your rights.
Contact A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer As Soon As Possible After The Crash
A motorcycle accident can lead to expensive losses, and you cannot count on any insurance company to get you compensated fairly. You need help understanding your rights, gathering evidence, and proving your case. An experienced accident lawyer is a suitable person to help you.
An attorney will help you review your medical records and the medical treatment and care you receive to ensure your bills are getting paid. And an attorney will discuss with you what your case might be worth if your pain and disability were caused by another driver’s negligence or carelessness in a crash.
Hire an experienced attorney now!
