Steps To Take After a Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle accidents are common on major roads and highways. Worst of all, they happen when you least expect them. Therefore, it’s important that motorists know what to do after being involved in an accident.
That said, the state gives you the right to file a compensation claim if you’re involved in a motorcycle accident. The person responsible for the accident should compensate you for your injuries. They should also cover your medical expenses, lost wages or earnings, damaged personal items, etc. However, you must prove beyond any reasonable doubt that you suffered damage due to someone else’s negligence.
Here are some crucial steps to help file a successful motorcycle accident claim.
- Contact An Accident Lawyer
A lawyer will help you in many ways. For instance, they’ll file a case against you, thus, allowing you more time to seek treatment and heal from your injuries. Besides, hiring an accident attorney ensures that your compensation claim is filed on time.
Additionally, the hired solicitor will help interpret some complex state laws surrounding your lawsuit. This ensures that you remain compliant with the law when filing your case or seeking justice.
You must also understand that computing your total compensation for your claim can be challenging. That’s true since you might not know what damages and expenses are eligible for compensation. However, an accident lawyer can advise you accordingly. Just ensure that you compute your total compensation correctly.
Note that the responsible party for the accident may try everything they can to reduce your compensation. And if you aren’t careful, you won’t find the right justice. That’s why you should consult with an accident lawyer.
During training, accident lawyers acquire negotiation skills. They continue to enhance these skills by representing people in motorcycle accidents who are seeking compensation. Therefore, hiring one can help negotiate for a better settlement.
Working with a lawyer can be a game-changer for your motorcycle accident claim. However, you must partner with the best legal service provider.
For instance, any attorney you hire should hold the relevant credentials. Besides, they must have prior experience assisting clients with cases like yours. Additionally, ensure you hire a solicitor who’s familiar with your area. This helps you apply the right laws while filing your compensation lawsuit.
You can learn more about finding and hiring the best motorcycle accident lawyer in your region by browsing online.
- Get To Safety And Seek Medication
Promoting your health should be your top priority after being involved in a motorcycle accident. Therefore, you should ensure your safety, and the best thing to do is to remove yourself from the accident scene. This helps to avoid sustaining more injuries from other road users.
After ensuring your safety, you must seek medication. That should happen whether or not you sustained physical injuries. That’s important since internal injuries may not always show symptoms immediately.
Doctors will examine your body to determine any injuries and prescribe the necessary medication. They’ll also provide professional advice to ensure you don’t develop mental disorders like depression and trauma. All of this contributes to your recovery.
The benefit of seeking medication isn’t solely for your health. It can also help to strengthen your case, thus receiving adequate compensation. For instance, the health officers will provide official medical reports or documents you can present in the courtrooms as evidence of your injuries. Besides, the medical bills you receive from the hospital will play an integral part in computing your total compensation.
- Collect And Gather Evidence
You must understand that the success of your motorcycle accident claim will most likely rely on the amount of evidence you provide. Therefore, it’s important to collect and document as much evidence about what happened.
One of the best ways to gather accident evidence is by taking photos of your bike and motorcycle or the car that collided with you. You can achieve that using your smartphone. Additionally, consider taking pictures of the areas around the accident scene.
Besides, it’d be a good idea to take photos of any physically injured parts of your body. This provides evidence of how your bruises looked like immediately after the accident. It’s necessary since your case may sometimes take a while before it commences. Therefore, your injuries may already have healed, and it might become a challenge to tell whether you suffered accidents in the past.
- Look For Witnesses
In addition to taking photos of the accident, it’d be a fantastic idea to look for witnesses. These people saw what happened at the crash scene and can testify about it. They provide additional evidence of the motorcycle accident and may help strengthen your claim.
Therefore, look around to see if you can find a few witnesses immediately after being involved in a motorcycle accident. When you come across them, take their contact information, including names, phone numbers, email addresses, and physical locations where you can find them. That enables you or your lawyer to contact them when they’re called to testify in the courtrooms.
- Call Police Officers
Most of the traffic laws are well-known to police officers. It only makes perfect sense to contact them if you’re involved in a motorcycle accident. They’ll arrive on the scene and help determine the at-fault party to the accident.
Additionally, contacting police officers is essential in filing a compensation claim from your motorcycle insurance service provider. That’s true since any insurance company will almost certainly require a police statement and abstract of the accident before repairing or replacing your damaged bike.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if the other driver doesn’t stop after a hit and run?
If you are the victim of a hit and run, try to get as much information about the other vehicle as possible, including the make, model, and license plate number. Then, contact the police and file a report. If you have comprehensive insurance, your insurance company should cover the damages to your vehicle.
What if I am not wearing a helmet during a motorcycle accident?
If you are not wearing a helmet and are injured in a motorcycle accident, you may still recover compensation for your injuries. However, it may be more difficult to prove that the other driver is at fault if not wearing a helmet.
What if the other driver is at fault but does not have insurance?
Suppose the other driver is at fault for the accident but does not have insurance. You may file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver to recover compensation for your injuries. You may also file a claim with your uninsured motorist coverage if you have it.
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit?
The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is usually two years from the accident date. However, it’s important to speak to a lawyer as soon as possible after the accident to ensure that you don’t miss the deadline.
Final Words
A motorcycle accident is an unpleasant experience that anyone would want to avoid. However, no matter how careful you’re on the road, you’ll occasionally be involved in an accident.
If the accident wasn’t your fault, you should consider filing a compensation lawsuit. While that’s the case, filing a motorcycle accident compensation case can be challenging, especially if it’s your first time. However, by following the steps outlined above, you can be guaranteed of filing a successful claim and receiving adequate compensation.
