What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident
Unfortunately, if you ever get involved in a motorcycle accident – Do Not Panic. As soon as you brush yourself off and is capable of standing on your feet, you will probably find yourself in an emotional state of mind. While recollecting your thoughts and senses and remaining calm will help you handle the challenging situation in a better way. You might be thinking what immediate steps are required to help you with the entire process since there are multiple aspects to consider from insurance coverage to legal conflicts. We recommend you follow a logical approach and avoid uttering anything that may further cause trouble or misinterpretation especially in case of insurance proceedings. Below we have discussed the important steps and considerations to help you with the entire situation.
Get Your Medical Checkup
If you have been involved in a motorbike accident, most probably the emergency response team will immediately appear at the site of the accident to transport you to the nearby emergency room for quick treatment. If you are able to walk on your own away from the scenario, remember to give foremost preference to your health and get your medical evaluation as soon as possible. Under these unexpected circumstances, the adrenaline rushes through your body to help you prevent the feeling of pain after the accident. Remember, certain injuries do not appear right away. Here we would specifically mention Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) that offer occur during motorcycle accidents even if you are wearing a helmet.
The helmet may alleviate the force of the impact, though hitting your helmet on the roadway can considerably damage. You might not be able to figure out the injury for several subsequent hours or even days. A few common injuries that may not visibly appear include internal bleeding and broken ribs. Consulting an injury doctor can even save your life. Moreover, your medical records work as an imperative evidence of the accident and injuries that can be used when seeking compensation. If you have all these medical records, insurance agencies or legal defense teams will find it extremely challenging to reject or argue on your case. Undoubtedly, it serves as legitimate evidence to help in negotiating a settlement.
Collect & Preserve Evidence
In any accident, one important consideration is collecting and preserving evidence. This goes even more important when it comes to motorbike accidents with a more likelihood of being seriously injured eventually strengthening your case. Apart from acquiring information on the drive, you can also get much information from other people around including witnesses, emergency personnel, and responding officials. If you are confused about what to do with the bike, you should probably keep it in the condition similar to the time of the wreck particularly if it’s the other driver’s fault. The condition of the bike can be an evident proof to help you with the case. Also, we recommend you to take photographs of the accident scene and the other vehicle involved. This might sound horrible, though try your best to use as many photographs to better document injuries.
- Collect contact information commonly including the names and contact numbers or email addresses of the people involved.
- Information about the vehicle including make and model of the vehicle along with the license plate number.
- The police report number and name & badge number of the officer.
- Vehicle identification numbers (VIN)
- Name and contact information of the insurance company for involved vehicles.
Get Police Report
Following the motorcycle accident, you will require a police or crash report sooner or later. In general, it may take law enforcement approximately 10 days to complete the document. You can also order the report online through the official website that may cost you around $12 as a convenience fee. As soon as the buying process is complete, you will have quick access to the police report. Make sure to download the copy within 48 hours. If you are preferring to get the copy in person, you can always visit the nearest Patrol Troop Station.
Take Photographs
Make sure the accident scene is safe to take photographs so neither you are at the risk of further damage not others. If you have a smartphone or camera at hand, take photographs from multiple angles. It’s important to document the motorbike and other vehicles involve along with the surrounding environment to assist you in the insurance process and that further support your case.
Contact Your Insurance Provider
Informing your insurance company immediately after the sudden collision is the smartest approach. We strongly discourage you admit any fault and avoid answering every question before consulting your attorney. Your foremost responsibility is to report the basic information about the accident to register your case. When they ask you about any vehicle or personal damage, simply tell them that you will provide all the essential information after visiting the doctor and mechanic. Do not compromise on the rightful compensation that you deserve.
Speak to the Attorney
There are multiple reasons why you should get legal protection. Whether you are looking forward to proving your innocence or getting money to compensate for the damages, an attorney can significantly help you with the situation. A motorbike accident attorney will assist you in navigating the important communications between the police and the other driver. This information is important evidence collected at the scene of an accident that proves you are not at fault. That way, you are well assured that you are receiving the right compensation for your motorcycle and motorcycle accident injury
.
Keep a Daily Journal
When bringing a lawsuit against the at-fault driver, it is crucial to consider the non-financial losses as well which are frequently difficult to quantify. Once you get physically active, you should prefer keeping an everyday journal explaining your thoughts on the piece of paper. This is particularly essential if you have experienced a traumatic brain injury. Keeping a journal will not only work as key evidence, but at the same time can provide your doctor with improved information regarding the symptoms you are experiencing to help them better understand your condition. On the other hand, if you have critical visible injuries, you should preferably take photographs of the healing process a few times every week.
Conclusion
Accidents are horrible experiences! If you find yourself involved in a motorbike accident, it can be quite overwhelming for you to handle the situation. Apart from feeling pain as a result of injuries, you will probably get emotionally disturbed. When you feel upset or trouble thinking about the situation, you need to be aware of the vital considerations. If you are lucky enough to walk away from the accident scene to a safer place, you are more likely to have multiple tasks at hand that need to be completed within minutes or hours as we have discussed above. On the contrary, if you are seriously injured or unable to undertake any of the immediate tasks, ask for help. Someone on your behalf will act. Stay Safe!