Important Steps To Take After A Motorcycle Accident

Last updated Thursday, October 6th, 2022

A 2018 Forbes article reported that motorcycle accidents occurred 28 times more than car accidents. In fact, statistics reveal that 11% of accidents on US roads are motorcycle-related. Certainly, these statistics are truly alarming. Hence, all motorcyclists need to observe extra care while on the roads. However, a motorcycle accident is an unforeseen incident that might or might not be easily preventable.

In the event that you are involved in a motorcycle accident, there are critical steps you should take to help when making your claim to your insurance provider or in a court of law.

The steps you take after a motorcycle accident are highly vital since they can have serious legal implications. If you want to have leverage when claiming damages as well as proving your innocence, take note of the following steps.

Safety Should Come First

Safety is a priority you cannot disregard. The first thing you should be mindful of after an accident is to ensure that your safety and that of other parties involved are taken care of. You should first check for any injuries that you might have sustained. If possible, check the condition of others involved in the accident for the same.

The most common injuries that motorcyclists sustain when they’re in accidents include broken bones, road rash, and facial disfigurement. Remember, your health is not negotiable, so you have to ensure that you are well. Consequently, if you have serious injuries, you definitely have to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

This is where you have to call emergency services to attend to your injuries before they worsen. In the same vein, it’s prudent, if you can walk, to move away from the road to avoid any further incidences.

Make Sure You Call The Police

After making sure that you’ve moved away from the road safely, you need to call 911 to inform the police of the accident. Reporting the accident to the police is vital.

It doesn’t mean that you’re responsible for the accident just because you chose to call the police. Talking to the police about the accident will be instrumental for the purpose of building your case.

While doing an interview with the police, you should exhibit cooperation and don’t be in a hurry to admit that you’re the one at fault. Remember, every detail of the information that you provide to the police can and will be presented in court. The police report will contain a detailed assessment of what caused the accident and the extent of damage from the crash. From a legal perspective, a police report will be essential when handling the case that develops.

Additionally, the police will play an important role in protecting the scene of the accident. This will avoid any interference that might, potentially, compromise the outcome of the case that follows.

Also, ensure that you take note of the names and badge numbers of the police officers who come to the scene of the accident.

This will help in case your lawyer needs any information regarding your case.

Collect Any Necessary Information

Collecting information from the scene of a motorcycle accident will help you gather your own evidence, which might be of help when making your claim.

By gathering important information, you’re simply protecting your legal rights and probable compensation for the damages you might have incurred after the accident.

For this reason, you should speak to witnesses, drivers, passengers, and even the police officers at the scene to gather every bit of information that you’ll need. For example, testimony from an eyewitness can prove extremely significant in the event that your claim is disputed.

The following are some of the details that you’ll need to gather from the relevant people:

• The contact information of all witnesses including names, email addresses, and phone numbers
• Information about all the vehicles involved in the motorcycle accident
• The contact details of the driver(s) involved in the accident
• The names and badge numbers of the police officers at the scene of the accident
• The details of the insurance companies of the parties involved in the accident

These pieces of information will be highly valuable. They will help you to navigate through the legal and insurance claim processes that follow.

Contact Your Insurance Agent

It’s always advisable that you inform your insurance provider as soon as you can after a motorcycle accident. It’s prudent never to admit that you are the one at fault and don’t be afraid of responding to the questions that your insurance provider asks you.

What you need to do is to make sure that you report the basic details of the motorcycle accident for the insurance agency to keep records. If your insurance company asks for your personal or motorcycle damage, it’s good to report that you’ll give the information after seeing a physician and mechanic.

Indeed, contacting your insurance company is important in documenting what happened at the scene of the accident for future review.

However, you should not be too hasty to offer injury and damage information to your insurance agent. This is because you might underestimate the extent of the expected compensation. What you need to ensure is that you inform your motorcycle insurance company about the accident.

Talk To A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Legal representation is vital when you’re involved in an accident. Chances are that you are not highly knowledgeable on the legal issues related to your case. Thus, it’s essential to seek the services of a lawyer to help you safeguard your legal rights.

For example, you might be in need of proving your innocence or seeking compensation from your insurance company. Therefore, choosing to involve a lawyer in your motorcycle case will be hugely valuable. This will allow you to receive legal support on how to navigate the communication among the parties involved.

Through the evidence gathered at the scene of the accident, an attorney will be able to build a case that will prove your innocence and help you to get compensation from your insurance agency.

Your lawyer will offer a great deal of help in such instances because of the legal aspects involved. Without such legal assistance from your lawyer, you’re likely to make mistakes that might cost you greatly.

Thus, seeking the services of a lawyer is highly advisable after a motorcycle accident. Primarily, because of the intricate legal issues that ensue.

Conclusion On What To Do After A Motorcycle Accident