If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident, you may already know just how important it is to stay as calm as possible and remember as many details as possible. While it’s very helpful to write down notes at the time of your accident, we all know that this isn’t always achievable – especially if the other party flees the scene or there are any other factors involved. In this guide, you’ll find a few crucial tips that’ll help you deal with this difficult situation.
1: Get a Police Report
The first thing you should do is call the police and get a report filed. This will help you prove that you were in an accident – if needed, that is – and then you can turn this over to your insurance company to make the process as smooth as possible. In many cases, it’s mandatory to have a police report filed within a certain period of time, so if you can’t call the police right away – make sure to do it as soon as possible.
2: See a Doctor
Even if your injuries don’t seem very severe, you should still see a doctor or go to the hospital – especially if you didn’t do so at the scene of your accident. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and it doesn’t hurt to have a doctor check whether or not you have any internal injuries that might stay undetected without proper examination.
3: Collect Information
Collect information from all people involved in the accident – including witnesses if possible (and safe to do so). Make sure you get the following from every person:
– Full name
– Address and phone number
– Insurance information (policy, carrier, company)
It’s a good idea to have all of this information written down – even if it seems unnecessary at the time. This will help you immensely in case anything goes wrong.
4: Take Pictures
Take a few photos of the accident scene, but make sure this is safe to do so and that you don’t put yourself in any danger. You can use your cell phone to take photos, but be sure to stay safe – especially if you’ve been injured.
5: Talk to a Lawyer
If it turns out that someone else was at fault for your accident, make sure you talk to a motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. The sooner you get in touch with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney, the better your chances of getting compensation for medical expenses and other losses. In fact, many lawyers won’t charge you a dime unless they win your case.
6: Gather Evidence
Make sure to gather as much evidence as possible – especially if you’re planning on taking legal action. There are a few ways to do this, but the more evidence you have at your disposal – the better your chances of getting compensation from all parties responsible for your accident.
7: Negotiate
If you can’t come to an agreement with the parties responsible for your accident, try negotiating. Just make sure you’ve got as much evidence as possible before you start negotiations, and try to get the settlement amount in writing.
8: Take Legal Action
If negotiating doesn’t work out, it’s time to take legal action – especially if the other parties involved are clearly negligent or reckless. This isn’t always easy to do on your own, so it’s a good idea to have an experienced attorney by your side to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.