Steps You Should Take If You Were In A Motorcycle Accident

Like other types of road collisions, motorcycle accidents happen all the time. The difference is that motorbike accidents tend to be more frightening, and they can often lead to more severe injuries than most other types of road accidents. If they don’t cause fatalities, most victims are left with an extensive amount of emotional trauma, not to mention huge medical bills, pain, and suffering. So if you ever find yourself the victim of a motorcycle accident, you’ll need to know the measures to take to be on the favorable side of the law. In no particular order, here are some steps to take after being a victim of a motorbike accident.

1. Make Sure Everyone Is Okay

One of the most dreaded results of an accident is the loss of lives. Accidents claim millions of lives every year, some of which could have been saved if the people present at the scene had taken the necessary steps. Once an accident has occurred, it is essential to ensure that you, your passengers, and everybody else involved in the accident are okay. Call an ambulance regardless of whether everyone seems to be okay. Some injuries aren’t apparent right away but might manifest later on, and only trained medical personnel could give you a clean bill of wellness at that point.

2. Call a Competent Attorney

Motorcycle accident injuries can change a victim’s life forever. Even if the accident doesn’t leave you disabled, the injuries could be severe and costly to treat. Recovery might take several months or even more. This means that in addition to pain, suffering, and high medical costs, you will have lost income since you may not be able to work. Because motorcycle accident cases are sometimes incredibly complex, the legal pros at dsslaw.com/motorcycle-accident-attorney/ recommend working with a competent and reputed accident attorney. A motorbike accident lawyer will help ensure you get compensated for your losses and pain, in or out of court. They will help gather evidence and build a case that will best convince your jury, judge, and insurance company to compensate you fairly for the damages you suffered.

3. Contact the Authorities and Gather Available Evidence

You are always advised to dial 911 whenever you are in an accident. This will allow the authorities to come to the scene and conduct the necessary inspections. The evidence they gather is usually very important, especially if the accident will be followed by a lawsuit. If for example, you are in no position to gather information or gather evidence from the accident scene, the police will do a good job for you on that bit. The report they create from the accident might prove quite instrumental when seeking compensation.

If you can manage to do so, it is always good to collect any information you find useful. This is because the best evidence from any accident will exist at the scene. For instance, some of the information you could collect includes:

• Contact information of all involved parties
• License plates of the involved vehicles
• Photos of the incident, especially property damage and any visible injuries

With this, you stand a chance of winning a case if the need arises to go to court.

4. Seek Medical Attention

Whether you feel okay or not, it is always good to seek medical care after an accident. This is because you never know if there are internal injuries that will manifest later. Here is a list of the most common injuries when you are involved in an accident:

• Internal injuries
• Concussions
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones
• Road rash

When you are in the hospital, the doctor will keep a record of your injuries and the cost of treatment. The report they create will always come in handy while in court, especially when negotiating compensation. Make sure to keep a journal of all incidences to complement all the other reports that will be availed.

5. Contact Your Insurance Provider

Most insurance companies will require that you file a claim once you have been involved in an accident. If so, make sure to file the accident claim as soon as possible. Make use of your lawyer on this to make sure your insurance provider lives up to their obligations.

6. Negotiate with the Person Responsible for Your Injuries 

Using the court to get compensation can be a time-consuming venture, and a costly one as well. This is why it is always good to try and negotiate with the defendant out of court. However, always ensure your accident lawyer is present when negotiating with the other party or their insurance company. This will help ensure you get the compensation that is worth your injuries or the damaged property. If you can’t agree mutually, proceed to court.

Finally, the court will be the best arbitrate if an out-of-court settlement is not agreed upon. With the help of your lawyer, you will need to file your lawsuit early to observe the statute of limitations applicable in your state. Your attorney will help pursue fair compensation for you even as you focus on your treatment and recovery.