What Should I Do After a Motorcycle Accident?

Motorcycle accidents are different than typical car accidents. Motorcycles lack many of the essential safety features that can protect occupants in a car accident. Unfortunately, this increases the risk that someone involved in a motorcycle accident will be seriously injured or even killed. Motorcyclists are 5 times more likely to be injured and 26 times more likely to be killed in a crash than those involved in a passenger vehicle accident.

If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, you probably have a number of questions and concerns. What do I do now? Can I afford the medical bills that are going to accumulate? Will I have to take time off of work? What if the other driver does not have enough insurance? Can I sue the other driver? It is completely normal to ask these types of questions. After an accident, it’s important that you take the right steps so that you’re protecting your case and setting yourself up for future success.

1. Make Sure that Everyone Involved in the Accident is Okay

First, make sure that you, the other driver, any passengers, and pedestrians are all safe. Immediately following the accident, you should be focused on your safety and the safety of those around you. Call an ambulance if needed. Make sure everyone is at a safe distance from the collision, and try not to disrupt the traffic pattern surrounding the scene. Once everyone is safe, it is time to move on to the legal aspects of your case to ensure that you are in the best position to get the compensation you deserve.

2. Get the Insurance and Vehicle Information of the Other Driver

Unlike car accidents, there is rarely a collision with a motorcycle that leaves no damage or injury. Chances are, you’re going to be filing a claim. You’ll want to ask the other driver involved for their driver’s license and insurance information. Be sure to write down the make and model of their vehicle. It’s a good idea to take photos of all the documents as well as write down the information.

3. Gather and Preserve All Evidence

In any accident, it is important to gather and preserve all evidence. With motorcycle accidents, there is an increased chance of injury, which increases the importance of being able to successfully prove your case. Try to get as much information as possible from other people at the scene, including witnesses, responding officers and emergency personnel, and anyone else who comes on the scene and provides assistance after the wreck. If your motorcycle is damaged, do not get rid of it. Keep it in the condition it was in at the time of the wreck, in case the other driver disputes fault. The bike may contain evidence, or it can be used in an accident reconstruction to show who was truly at fault. Take pictures of the accident scene, any injuries, weather conditions, traffic conditions, and of the other vehicle.

4. Get the Necessary Medical Treatment

It’s important to get the necessary medical treatment after an accident. First of all, this is critical to your well-being. You need and want to get better, and the best way to ensure you receive a full recovery is to seek medical treatment and follow the doctor’s advice. Another reason is that it helps prove your injuries and damages. Insurance companies are notorious for using delays and gaps in medical treatment to challenge somebody’s injuries. Getting immediate medical treatment and all the required follow-up treatment helps prove your injuries.

5. Locate All Sources of Insurance

You may not know all of the possible sources of insurance that apply in a motorcycle accident. For example, the vehicle that hit you should have liability insurance, and the at-fault driver may have an additional insurance policy as well. The at-fault driver could have been in a company vehicle or driving in the scope of their employment, which could open up an additional source of insurance. You may also be entitled to uninsured motorist coverage. Your personal injury attorney can help identify all of your legal options and potential sources of insurance.

6. Seek the Right Legal Guidance

Often, motorcyclists find themselves frustrated with the outcome of their injury claim because they did not work with the right attorney. While motorcycle accidents are considered a type of motor vehicle accident, they really should be treated as their own practice area. Just because an attorney handles personal injury cases or car accidents, this does not mean that they are experienced in dealing with motorcycle accidents.

If you have been in a motorcycle accident in the Atlanta, Georgia, area, contact The Champion Firm, P.C., today.

Our attorneys are very experienced in helping riders receive the financial compensation they deserve after a motorcycle accident. We can answer any questions you have regarding the next steps in the process and the actions you need to take to successfully advocate your case.

Call us today; we want to help you return to your normal life as quickly as possible.