In 2017, 5,172 individuals lost their lives because of motorcycle accidents, a 3% decrease from the previous year. Few things can beat the rush of tearing through the highway in your motorcycle, but don’t let the rush get to you. Motorcycle collisions are fatal, and you could end up a statistic.
However, if you’re lucky enough to have survived a motorcycle accident, you’re not out of the woods yet. The thing about accidents is they happen when you least expect them. As such, you can never be sufficiently prepared for a motorcycle accident.
After such an accident, your next few moves will either ameliorate or exacerbate the entire situation. Although the accident might have startled you, do your best to keep calm and collect your thoughts. Whether you’re the motorcycle rider, the passenger, or an innocent bystander, the worst you could do is get into a frenzy after the accident.
Panicking may hurt your chance of getting proper insurance coverage and also affect subsequent legal disputes. In this post, we’ll be delving into what you should do after a motorcycle accident.
1. Get to a Safe Place
After an accident, the first thing to do is to take in a few deep breathes to help you calm down. Once you’re calm, analyze your vicinity and see if you can find a safe spot away from traffic and all the commotion. Of course, this depends on the severity of your injury.
If you can move yourself to a safe spot, then do so as soon as you can. If there’s anyone else hurt in the collision, try to get them to safety or away from the commotion.
2. Leave Your Protective Gear on
The adrenaline from a motorcycle crash may preclude you from feeling any hurt or recognizing your injuries. Despite not feeling any pain, it would be unwise for you to remove your protective gear. So let your helmet and knee pads stay put, at least, until the paramedics arrive.
3. Take Photos of the Accident Site
After getting to a safe spot, try to take as many pictures of the accident scene as you can. You can use your phone for the pics or a camera if you have it at hand. Make sure you take the photos from different angles to be as comprehensive as possible.
Also, note down details of the motorcycle and other vehicles involved in the accident. Doing so can help your insurance claim in court. Make sure you take these photos as fast as you can, especially if your motorcycle is causing a traffic snarl-up.
4. Get Your Bike Away From the Road
As soon as you’re done taking pictures, take your motorcycle off the road. Leaving your motorcycle on the road is another accident waiting to happen. Not to mention the huge traffic jam your motorcycle will be causing.
Do your best to get your bike away from the road. If you’re too injured to do so, then ask any bystander to help you. However, remember only to get your bicycle off the road after you’ve taken enough pictures of the accident scene.
5. Call the Police
Don’t forget to call the police soon after the accident. Law enforcement will contain the situation and also gather any necessary information that will be useful in court. If you were involved in a serious accident, the police might arrive with paramedics.
6. Gather All Necessary Information
Taking note of vital information is essential for a smooth insurance claim and excluding yourself from liability. Despite being shaken by the accident, do your best to gather all the relevant information. Doing so will be vital for proving your case in court and to the insurance carrier.
Talk to the police, witnesses, and anyone else involved in the party. If you’re too injured to write or don’t have a notebook and pen, you can use your phone to record conversations. Later, you can jolt down all the vital information you need.
When gathering information, make sure you get the following:-
- Contact information- This includes the names, phone numbers, and addresses, and all witnesses
- The name and badge number of the police officer overseeing the accident
- Information on all vehicles involved in the accident
- Vehicle identification number of all vehicles involved in the accident
- Insurance carrier information for all persons involved in the accident
Make sure you’re as detailed as you can while collecting this information. The more the details, the better your chances of getting fair compensation for the accident. Also, remember to be completely factual with your information gathering.
7. Look for Medical Care
Regardless of whether you feel fine or not, make a point of visiting a medical professional to check you out. Sometimes it may take weeks or even days before injuries start to show up. To be on the safe side, get to a medical professional as soon as you can.
After an accident, you’re prone to internal bleeding and broken bones or a traumatic brain injury if you never wore a helmet. The only way you can detect internal bleeding or damage is if you get to the hospital. You have nothing to lose by taking a trip to the doctors, especially if you have solid insurance.
8. Talk to a Motorcycle Accident Attorney
You’re probably going to need some legal counsel to get proper compensation from your insurance company. When it comes to talking to a lawyer, the earlier you do, the better your chances of landing a fair claim. Also, remember to inform your insurance provider about the accident.
Makes sure you gather all the essential documents before meeting your motorcycle accident lawyer to better your chance of getting a fair claim. Do some digging, and settle for one you think can serve you best.
Take It Step by Step
A motorcycle accident can be pretty traumatizing, especially if it was a serious one. Despite the initial shock, remember to keep calm and to do what you’re supposed to do. Never settle on an incompetent lawyer when filing your claim; you’ll live to regret it.
For more informative reads, be sure to check out the other pieces on the site.
Amanda Byers is a graduate of Columbia, where she played volleyball and annoyed a lot of professors. Now as Zobuz’s entertainment and Lifestyle Editor, she enjoys writing about delicious BBQ, outrageous style trends and all things Buzz worthy.
