You’re riding down the road on your motorcycle with the wind blowing through your hair. Life is good until a car cuts you off and sends you flying off the road to avoid it.
Fortunately, you’re okay other than a few bumps and bruises. Many who get into a motorcycle accident don’t come out so lucky.
Motorcyclists have their protective gear, but it’s not the same as being surrounded by a car’s steel frame. To this end, accidents that involve them are much more devastating. If you’ve been in one, chances are you’re going to have a medical bill a mile long.
If you can walk after the crash, there’s a series of things you’ll have to do to make sure you get compensation for your injuries. Keep reading to learn more.
Get as Close to Safety as Possible
After you’ve been injured in an accident, we realize that things are going to be a bit overwhelming. Do your best to gather yourself and access your situation. Where are you?
Is your motorcycle in the middle of the road? How badly are you injured? Can you still move?
If your answer to the second and last question is yes, pick yourself up and get out of the highway. Once you’re in a safe area, look around the accident scene.
If there’s an unconscious person who isn’t as fortunate as you and you can manage it, pull them to safety as well.
Keep Your Gear On
You might be tempted to take off your helmet and other gear after the accident. We’re here to tell you to keep it on. When adrenaline kicks in, it might prevent you from feeling the full extent of your injuries.
If you remove your helmet, you might make some of your injuries worse than they already are. Don’t remove anything until a paramedic gives you the okay.
Dial 911
The next step is to take out your phone and dial 911. Someone has to report the accident. This way, the police and in most cases, the paramedics can get to you as soon as possible.
When the police arrive, they’ll start talking to witnesses and making a report of the scene. You’ll want to obtain a copy of this report, but we’ll get into that a little bit later. For now, let the paramedics check you over.
Get Checked Out by a Doctor as Soon as Possible
You need to get checked out by a medical professional sooner rather than later. It doesn’t matter if you think you’re injured or not. Nine times out of ten, serious medical issues don’t pop up on day one. You might not know anything is wrong for few weeks or even a month.
Not only will seeing a doctor save your life, but it will also turn things in your favor when you make a claim. If you wait too long, the insurance company might try to say that your injuries were from something unrelated to the accident.
Gather Contact Info
The police will collect information at the scene and make a report, but there’s always a good chance that they’ll miss something. That’s why it’s so important for you to do a little digging of your own.
If the other people involved in the accident aren’t being seen by first responders, go over and get their contact information. You want to know their vehicle VIN, their names, email addresses, phone numbers, and insurance info. You must be careful when you’re gathering this information.
Their insurance company can twist anything you say in their favor and deny your claim. Get the basic contact info and move on to talk to any witnesses at the scene.
Get Video and Photo Evidence
Before the accident is cleaned up, you need to take photo and video evidence of the scene with your phone. Take as many pictures as you can from every angle that you can think of.
If you’re taking videos, move your phone slowly. You don’t want the footage to be too blurry. You won’t be able to use it in court if that’s the case.
Talk to a Lawyer
Calling a motorcycle accident attorney should be your top priority after you leave the scene and get medical attention. We’re not saying that all insurance companies are sleazy. What we are saying is that the other driver’s company will do all it can to get out of giving you a settlement.
A lawyer will be able to access your situation, tell you your rights, and make sure you get the compensation you deserve. You can read this article to learn more about what the best motorcycle accident attorney can do for you.
Ask for a Copy of the Accident Report
The last step is getting a copy of the accident report. You’ll need it when you’re filing your claim. You’ll have to fill out a request form and pay a small fee to have it mailed to you.
Alternatively, your motorcycle accident lawyer can get a copy of the police report for you, so you don’t have to bother with it.
Taking Care of Yourself After a Motorcycle Accident
Getting into a motorcycle accident can be devastating. The injuries you obtain could leave you out of work for a long time and give you a huge medical bill to take care of.
You shouldn’t have to deal with this stress. Talk to an experienced lawyer today. They’ll make sure that you get the compensation you deserve.
Are you looking for more ways to navigate your way around the law world after an accident? Check out our blog daily for all the latest tips.
Wayne Probert is a senior reporter at Zobuz, covering state and national politics, and he is a grantee with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. Before joining Zobuz, he worked as a freelance journalist in Kentucky, having been published by dozens of outlets including NPR, the Center for Media.
