Due to the lack of protection for motorcyclists, motorcycle accidents have the highest fatality rates among vehicle accidents. Statistically, the majority of motorcycle accidents are not caused by the person riding the motorcycle. Instead, accidents are caused by other drivers becoming distracted and getting too close, causing the motorcycle to lose control and hit them or cut them off.
If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident, getting medical help and contacting a personal injury lawyer is necessary in order to ensure that your rights are protected. In addition, hiring an experienced motorcycle accident attorney can help ensure that you get the compensation you need to cover all medical costs, losses, and suffering.
Call the police
When the accident first happens, the police need to be notified. When the police arrive, they will take photographs and assess the scene of an accident. Additionally, the police will ask you to provide a detailed summary of the events leading up to the accident in order to create a police report and determine the at-fault driver.
If the other driver tries to leave, make sure to look at their license plate or take any kind of photo of the vehicle that you can. Although this can be seem difficult immediately after an accident, it will serve as crucial evidence later on. If possible, ask the other driver for their contact information and insurance information.
Notify emergency medical services
Even if you feel like you’re unharmed after the accident, it’s still necessary to call emergency medical services and go to the hospital. When you call emergency services, make sure to request an ambulance. It’s not uncommon for victims of an accident to experience an adrenaline rush or to suffer internal injuries that do not show external symptoms. As a result, you might not feel any pain until several hours after the accident.
Going to the hospital will also create additional records of the severity of the accident and possible injuries. With the help of a motorcycle accident attorney, these medical reports will serve as evidence when proving that your injuries were caused by the accident.
Contact a personal injury lawyer
The defendant’s insurance company will attempt to contact you in the days following the accident. It is in the best interest of the insurance companies to get you to agree to a settlement as soon as possible. Insurance companies believe that they are more likely to get a settlement in their favor if you agree quickly without talking to family, friends, or legal representation.
Therefore, it is important to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as you can. Once you have legal representation, you can tell the defendant’s insurance company that they need to speak with your lawyer. Additionally, your personal injury lawyer will be able to advise you on how to move forward and can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.
Find police records
Once you are home and feeling better, you can find the police records online for the person that caused the accident. This will include the accident you were involved in if they were charged with anything from the accident, as well as previous charges that may support your case. If you’re not sure where to start, companies like Go Look Up make it easy for victims of accidents to find police records online.
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, figuring out which steps to take next can seem stressful and overwhelming. Hiring an experienced motorcycle accident attorney can help you obtain fair compensation for your injuries while ensuring the at-fault driver is punished.