Emergency medical attention is often required after a motorcycle accident. It’s often witnesses or uninvolved parties that make the call for emergency assistance.
If the severity of the accident is not such as to require medical care, here are some steps to take:
1. Call 911 Immediately
The police have experience in accident investigation and can usually determine who was at fault. The police determination of fault usually greatly influences the decision of insurance companies about whether to accept responsibility for an accident. However, police can get it wrong too.
2. Look for Witnesses
If you are the victim of the accident, and one or more witnesses approach you, by all means take down their name and contact information. When the investigating officer concludes someone is at fault, they will include witnesses that support their analysis in the report. However, witnesses who give statements not supportive of what the officer concluded sometimes don’t end up in the police report. Police can also make an honest mistake and forget to include a witness on a report.
Witness who leave the scene before the office arrives are often not included on a report. Witnesses who don’t speak English well may end up being omitted from a police report.
3. Take Photographs
Most people have a cell phone in their possession pretty much all of the time, and most of those cell phones have cameras. Pictures tell more than words ever could and can be a critical component of a motorcycle accident case.
If possible, photograph all vehicles involved in the crash at a distance, as well as taking close-up pictures of damage. Do the same with injuries. Photograph the injuries from different angles, and continue taking photographs as the injuries heal.
4. Use Caution in Speaking to the Other Driver
You may need to speak to the other driver to get their insurance and contact information, but keeping the conversation limited to the basics is best.
Don’t apologize to the other driver even if you feel your driving was a factor in the accident. Their fault may be greater than yours, if you are at fault at all. Berating the other driver or acting out of anger is not going to help you and to the contrary will likely hurt you.
Anything you say at the accident might later come back to affect your case, and your statement may be distorted by the person that heard it. Keep the conversation between you and the other driver as limited as possible and speak only to the police officer that arrives at the scene and paramedics if they are there.
5. Seek Emergency and Non-Emergency Medical Care
If you are not transported to the hospital by ambulance, it is wise to promptly seek Urgent Care treatment or treatment with another provider.
Even if you don’t feel like you were hurt, you may be in shock and may not be feeling any pain from your injuries. Failure to seek medical attention after an accident can come back on you later if you file a motorcycle injury accident claim.
The other driver’s insurance company or their attorneys may allege that you weren’t injured badly enough to promptly seek medical attention after the accident. So, best to promptly seek medical attention.
6. Contact an Experienced Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Contacting an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer promptly after an injury accident is in your best interests. It’s important that you have adequate legal representation as soon as possible following the crash.
An attorney can help you take the appropriate steps to protect your legal interests and your right to compensation.
At Eric H. Woods Law Offices, we have the expertise and resources to help you get your life back after a motorcycle crash. We’ll guide you through filing a claim and dealing with insurance companies, and we’ll be fighting for your rights and best interests every step of the way. Call (702) 737-0000 or fill out our contact form for a free consultation today.
