It’s safe to say that motorcycles are one of the most popular vehicles in the world, particularly among the ones who are “addicted” to adrenaline rush and speed. Those who have been riding them for a while will tell you that the sense of freedom they have with this vehicle is like no other.
However, just like with most things, motorcycles come with certain drawbacks as well. With them, you are at a greater risk (in comparison to any other vehicle) of ending up in a road accident.
That’s precisely why those who frequently ride them, must be extra careful. Now, if you’ve been recently injured while being on a motorbike, and would like to know what you’re supposed to do next, then just pay attention to the tips below.
Make Sure You Are Safe
A vast majority of motorcyclists are extremely emotionally attached to their vehicles, which is why the first thing they’ll do after an accident is to check if everything’s okay with their motorbike, whether it is damaged, has missing pieces, and many other things.
Although you may not perceive it as a mistake, that’s actually not a good idea, for a number of different reasons and they include the following:
- If you stay at the accident location, you can put yourself in the direct path of crash for others on the road. How come? Well, that’s because a lot of people tend to target-fixate on a particular object on the road and run into it because of it. Therefore, one of the best things that you can do is to leave the crash scene, even if it means abandoning your vehicle.
- If you try to move your bike, you can worsen your current injuries. When people go through an accident, many of them experience a massive adrenaline rush which can oftentimes mask the injury, even the most severe one.
- Moving your vehicle right after the collision can compromise evidence. Since it is perceived as a crime scene, you aren’t supposed to mess with anything. Plus, your insurance company will demand pictures/videos of it if you seek compensation.
It Would Be Smart to Talk to the Lawyer
This is something that’s practically mandatory, especially if you weren’t the culprit, plus you sustained serious injuries. Why is this so critical? According to these motorcycle accident attorneys in Nebraska, a seasoned and skilled lawyer will not only guide you through the entire legal process but will fight for your rights and compensation as well. Do not forget that you’ll be obligated to deal with an insurance company too, which can often be very draining and challenging.
That’s because these people will do whatever it takes to ensure you do not receive a substantial amount of money, even if you were seriously injured. Consequently, you need an advocate by your side who’s capable of negotiating with them.
There’s no need to remind you how dangerous road accidents can be, particularly the ones where bikes are involved. That’s exactly why it’s important to prioritize your safety, and everyone else’s who was involved in a crash.
There are a couple of things that need to be taken into consideration in these types of situations, and they include:
- Thoroughly check yourself and others for injuries. If you conclude that any of you are injured, then you must immediately seek medical help. If you have it within your reach, then make sure to use a first aid kit until the ambulance comes.
- You must get rid of your helmet, or any other piece of equipment that you have, to prevent making things worse in terms of your injuries.
- Turn off the engine to prevent fuel leaks, since they can result in a fire
- If God forbid, somebody dies, is injured, or certain vehicles are damaged, then you should call the police as soon as you can, so they can document everything and write a police report
If by any chance, you are not able to properly assess the situation and seek help, then you should ask someone to do this on your behalf.
Be Sure to Collect the Evidence
Even though this may not be one of the first things that will come to your mind after a motorcycle accident, that’s something that you must do at some point, because (as previously stated) the insurance company will demand it, plus it’s going to greatly benefit your case.
If you’re not able to, you can always ask someone to take pictures and videos of the crash scene and to do it as thoroughly as possible. What does it mean? It means that every inch of the collision scene should be covered, starting from your bike to the vehicle of the other driver, as well as gravel, skidmarks, sun position, roadway features, and other important aspects of it.
Another thing that you can do is to search for the surveillance cameras because they might have caught everything that occurred during this incident.
Exchange the Information with the Other Driver
There are certain sorts of information that should be exchanged in these types of situations with the other driver. Why does this matter? Well, that’s because you’ll need all of it if you decide to file a lawsuit against them. This information should include:
- Full name of the other driver, along with the contact information
- Vehicle registration number
- The contact number of the insurance company, as well as policy details
- Driver’s license information
- Full name and contact information of the witnesses
During this process, it’s essential for every single piece of information to be correct, otherwise, your claim may potentially be declined.
Track Your Costs
Since you’ll most likely have huge medical expenses (such as for medications, different treatments, doctor’s visits, etc.) it’s pivotal to document all of them since they will impact your settlement.
Unfortunately, no one can ever predict these sorts of things, however, what you can do (once it happens) is to take the aforementioned steps because they are going to help you not only recover faster but get fairly compensated.