Accidents can happen at any time, anywhere. You should expect the unexpected and stay prepared and defensive to face any mishap. Researches also show that the probability of a motorcycle accident is 27 times more than that of a car accident. The accidents on a motorcycle can be fatal than of cars.
Therefore, it is substantial to understand what you have to do after a bike accident, whether or not you’re the rider, the passenger, or simply a harmless bystander. You cannot predict an accident, but you can prevent it by securing yourself.
In order not to be surprised, it is best to always be on the defensive. Knowing what steps you will have to make now will enable you to respond appropriately. Read on some simple steps to do after a motorcycle accident.
Contents
1. Get to safety
After getting into an accident, the first and main thing to do is to observe your surroundings, the current situation, how badly you are hurt, and how bad your condition is. Then, if you can move, if there are other people around you, ask them to help, and if you are alone, you should remove yourself away from the traffic and the road.
If there’s anyone with you involved in the accident, too, make sure to help them, take them out from the area of the incident, and get them to safety as quickly as possible.
2. Do not remove the protective gear
If you are wearing a helmet or other protective gear, you shouldn’t take them off. Because you don’t know if there’s any bleeding or not, maybe the safety gear you are wearing could be blocking the blood loss.
To stay safe, you should not take off the protective gear. Many injuries that you might think are minor at first can later lead to severe and chronic pain, can cause long-term damage, and may even prevent you from living a normal life ahead.
3. Call the police
If you can make a call after you got away from the road, you should call 911, report them about the incident, provide them your location and ask for help. Depending upon the situation, the police or the ambulance will be dispatch to your location to help you.
Make sure not to get the fault on yourself. Do not tell the police if it was your fault. Even if it were not your fault, you would be held accountable for the scene and all the injuries for other people. You can go to jail as well.
4. Seek medical attention
During the wait for the police or ambulance to arrive at the scene, you should try to find out if you are injured or not. Always try to ask for help from the people present at the scene. You will find someone who could help you keep you awake or help you make the call as well.
You can get good medical attention after the ambulance arrived. Make sure to tell them every injury you got from the accident. You are more likely to experience serious internal damage, broken bones, and internal bleeding, requiring immediate medical attention.
5. Gather information/evidence
When everyone is safely out of the scene, try to talk to everyone involved in the accident. Get the information like their names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance information, and number plate numbers of all drivers.
Take a picture of the cars, and write down the registration code numbers, vehicles models, and an outline of any cars involved with inside the accident. Gathering information can help you prove your point to the police.
6. Communicate with witnesses
Accident witnesses play a crucial role in every legal case. If you are not much injured or can talk, try to interview all witnesses of the accident and record the conversation on your phone with a recorder, or you can also write the information on a piece of paper if available. Then, when the incident occurred, immediately collect as much information as possible.
7. Talk to a lawyer
You may question yourself that When should I talk to a compensation lawyer? And the answer to that is “The sooner, the better.” Hiring a professional lawyer that deals with motorcycle accidents can have a significant impact on your insurance benefits. Therefore, it is better to consult a lawyer before agreeing to any settlement.
8. Speak with your insurance company
In most cases, the insurance company will provide the cheapest possible amount. Still, only a professional motorcycle accident lawyer can help you negotiate with the insurance company and help you get your cut.
However, your attorney will normally communicate with your coverage enterprise on your behalf, no matter who contacts your coverage. Therefore, you need to communicate with them in a well-timed manner continually.
9. Do not take the blame on yourself.
It is also important to note that you should never plead guilty if you have only one accident. The term “guilt” can be used against you. This also applies when you are talking to another driver, the police, or the insurance company. The exact cause of the accident is usually not clear right after the incident.
Accidents can be disturbing, and it can take hours or even days to remember all the details. Be very careful about your statements on the crime scene, as those statements can cause serious legal consequences in the future.
Final Verdict
As we mentioned above, researches show that motorcycle accidents are more dangerous than a car or any other type of accident. Therefore it is important to know all these steps that you should take after a motorcycle accident. To sum it all, the first and foremost important thing you should do is seek medical care if you are badly injured, call the police right away and hire a professional lawyer who can deal with the after mess and talk on your behalf.
