Have you or a loved one been in a motorcycle accident, and you’re unsure what to do? Below are steps you should follow to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Call 911
The first step you should take immediately after an accident is making sure that you and the other driver are okay. Call 911 and wait for the police to arrive at the scene before leaving. You might not be aware of the severity of the accident or whether you or the other party need immediate medical attention, so wait at the scene for the police to arrive and assess the accident before taking any further steps.
Document the Accident
Before moving your motorcycle out of the way, safely take as many pictures as possible of the accident. If the collision is near the main road or a highway and it’s unsafe to keep your motorcycle on the road, move it closer to the side of the road to avoid any further collision. If you can’t move your motorcycle or the other car to the side of the road, make sure that you and other drivers are safely out of harm’s way and waiting for law enforcement on the side of the road. When driving at night, it can be pretty challenging to see the scene of the accident from miles away, so it’s best to put out warning triangles right before the scene of the accident, open the hood of the car and turn on the hazard lights to alert oncoming drivers to slow down.
After the accident, avoid accepting any offers from the other driver or calls from their insurance company to eliminate the possibility of receiving an unfair settlement. At this time, you have no idea how much damage has been done to your motorcycle and how many injuries you might have sustained. No matter what the other driver offers you, politely decline until officers arrive at the scene and an official report has been written to document the accident and provide you with a detailed report of the incident. Don’t forget to ask the police officers present at the scene of the accident where you can obtain a copy of the accident report and if you can possibly take a photo of it on your phone.
Exchange Information
While waiting for the police to arrive, you can exchange the following information with the driver to be able to contact them for a settlement in the future:
- Name
- Phone Number
- Address
- Insurance Company
- Insurance Policy Number
- Driver’s License Number
- Driver Plate Number
Don’t accept any calls or provide any information to insurance companies after the accident. You must wait until you have fully assessed the damages and injuries you have sustained to file a claim and agree on a settlement that rightfully covers all damages and injuries.
Seek Medical Attention
Whether you have apparent injuries or not, you must seek medical attention immediately after a motorcycle accident. When driving a motorcycle, you can still sustain injuries such as concussions, soft-tissue damage and internal bleeding even while wearing the proper equipment and headgear. Your symptoms might not be apparent right off the bat, and you might feel fine after the accident, but that is not a clear indication that you are 100% healthy. Some injuries can take hours, days or even weeks before you notice any symptoms, so make sure that you visit your family physician or the closest ER after leaving the scene of the accident. If you don’t feel like you can drive back or your motorcycle is totalled after the accident, call a family member or a friend to safely drive you to an ER.
Contact an Injury Lawyer
Filing a claim for a motorcycle accident is not a simple task. Every province has different laws and regulations on settling a motorcycle accident claim and requires extensive knowledge of all the legalities. Speaking with a motorcycle accident lawyer will allow you to focus on recovering from your injuries while they fight for your rights.
With over 250 years of combined experience in representing thousands of personal injury cases, James H. Brown and Associates will provide you with all the tools necessary to get fair compensation and focus on your recovery. Our team of lawyers has successfully represented bicycle, car, and motorcycle accident victims. We understand how frustrating it is to balance the complexity of filing a claim while also following up with test results and doctor’s visits. After experiencing such a terrifying accident, you should take all the time you need to fully recover while we take all the necessary steps to fight for your rightful compensation.
Focus On Your Recovery While We Fight For Your Right
Don’t delay your legal right for compensation after experiencing a traumatic motorcycle accident and contact us today to book a free injury claim evaluation with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers.
If you’re a victim of a motorcycle accident involving lane sharing, read the following blog to help you determine the legalities of sharing a lane with another vehicle.
