Automotive News: What to Do If You Suffer a Motorcycle Injury
Driving a motorcycle can be a fun and exciting way to hit the road, but it’s not without its dangers. When you are on a motorcycle you are exposed to the open air and, as such, susceptible to greater injury in a crash. Of the frequent injuries resulting from car accidents, those stemming from motorcyclists are almost always more severe.
You may not be able to prevent an accident or injury from happening, but there are key steps you can take after the fact to protect your ongoing health and legal standpoint. Learn everything you need to do following a motorcycle wreck.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
First and foremost, you need to take care of yourself following a motorcycle accident. Assess all your injuries to see if there is anything severe that requires an ambulance to show up. Remember that you should always still go to a doctor after a crash, even if you don’t have visible injuries. Some, such as internal bleeding, concussions, or whiplash, may not present themselves right away.
If there were major injuries, then call 911 to get emergency help sent your way as soon as possible. Not only will this help get your injuries taken care of, but the report they generate can be used in court if a lawsuit occurs.
Document the Accident Scene
While it may not be the first thing on your mind following an accident that may have left you with injuries, you should try to document the accident scene as much as possible. If the various types of car accident evidence that you gather, physical evidence will be the most important. Take photos and videos of the scene and surrounding area, being sure to capture things such as injuries motorcycle damage, road conditions, weather conditions, and more.
Additionally, assuming witnesses are lingering around, ask if any of them would be willing to provide a statement on what they saw. This can help you with an insurance claim or lawsuit as well. Don’t be afraid to politely request the witness’s name, number, and any written statement as well.
Report the Accident
Ironically, the third step here is the one that most people often forget. You should file a police report after the incident if the authorities didn’t show up to the scene. This documentation will be crucial in providing your account of what happened. If you are speaking with law enforcement give them your unbiased account on what occurred so that there is an official record as well.
You should also notify your insurance company of the accident. Required timelines to do this vary from provider-to-provider so reach out as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours, just to be safe. Be sure not to admit fault for the accident on this call, rather keep it brief and simply mention that the accident happened.
Consider Legal Action
Depending on the circumstances of your crash, you may want to consider legal action once you have healed. If you suffered severe injuries, ongoing expenses, disputed liability, insurance issues, or anything else similar, consider contacting a motorcycle accident lawyer. Additionally, if you believe the other driver involved acted negligently in such a way that the accident wouldn’t have happened if not for that, consider getting a lawyer.
Lawyers can assist you by engaging in settlements and navigating your medical bills so that you can get fair compensation for the injuries you suffered. You may be entitled to both economic and non-economic damages depending on the scope of the accident for physical and non-physical damage to your person.
Protect your health and legal rights
Being involved in a crash on a motorcycle can be a frightening experience that leaves you reeling and wondering what to do next. This is especially true if you have suffered an injury during the crash. Regardless of who was at fault for the accident, you need to take steps to protect your legal rights while also securing your health. This will help set you up better in your recovery by taking worries off of your plate.
Always seek out medical attention as soon as possible following the accident. Utilize others at the scene, if not yourself, to capture evidence and get the authorities on site as soon as possible to take your statement. Your road to a healthy recovery also shouldn’t be bogged down by exorbitant expenses, so contact a car accident lawyer to fight for your rights in court if you believe negligent actions on behalf of another led to your crash.