In the immediate aftermath of a motorcycle accident, victims may want to take steps to ensure they can fight back, should another party try to stymie their recovery.
Specifically, victims of motorcycle accidents can do legwork at the scene of an accident that can protect them in civil court. Moreover, this initial work can help victims recover compensation for their losses. Interested parties can work with motorcycle accident attorneys to safely but effectively work within the scene of an accident before taking a case to court.
Reacting to a Motorcycle Accident
Following a motorcycle accident, make sure you take particular steps to address concerns at the scene and prepare yourself for a successful recovery. These steps can include the following:
Check for Injuries
The first thing you need to do in the wake of a motorcycle accident is to assess yourself and anyone around you for injuries. The longer you leave an injury unattended, the worse it can become. Work with emergency responders and contact 911 as soon as you can.
If you have the faculties and or means to do so, you should seek relevant information regarding your condition from the emergency responders. While you may not have access to comprehensive information at the scene of the accident, knowing how to get in touch with these parties later down the line makes it easier for you to elaborate on your losses.
Do Not Admit Fault
The moments following an accident can be highly emotional. Even so, you need to be aware of what you say. If you’re not careful, even a well-meaning apology or expressed concern can be interpreted as an admission of guilt.
As such, make sure any conversations you have with a possibly liable party are polite but careful. Ideally, you’ll want a motorcycle accident attorney on the scene with you as soon as you can, as these parties can help you determine what to say both to the liable parties and attending police officers.
Learn More About the Other Parties Involved
It’s important to understand who specifically you’ve got into an accident with and how they’re reacting to your circumstances. For example, not every motorist on the road is driving a personal vehicle. Truck drivers, commercial drivers, and rideshare drivers all work under the umbrella of a company.
As such, these drivers may be responsible for your accident – but so too may their employers be. You’ll never know if a corporation can take responsibility for your losses unless you ask.
A lawyer can help determine if the driver who hit you is operating a private vehicle, an independent contractor, or a corporate employee. When you bring your case to a motorcycle accident attorney, we can discuss how the parties involved can impact your pursuit of compensation.
Exchange Insurance Information and Contact Your Provider
It is the standard post-accident procedure for you to exchange information regarding your insurance coverage with the party allegedly liable for your accidents. When you exchange information, you make it easier for all involved parties to protect themselves from incoming losses.
Note that your insurance provider may also require you to contact them ASAP in the wake of an accident. In most cases, you have 24 hours from the time your accident occurs to bring your motorcycle accident to the attention of an insurance provider. The sooner you can get in touch, the better off you may be – but don’t speak to an insurance agent without a lawyer.
Gather Signs of Negligence
Should you want to take action against the party responsible for your motorcycle accident in civil court, you need to gather evidence of negligence. Negligence can serve as the source of a variety of accidents, but it is also the hinge on which personal injury cases like motorcycle accident cases can turn.
Bringing forward evidence of negligence can be tricky, as it requires you to have some idea of who you want to hold liable for your accidents. In most cases, however, you can present a personal injury attorney with physical debris, footage of your accident, and bystander statements to elaborate on the behaviors that resulted in your losses.
You may not even be obligated to gather this evidence on your own. If you have a personal injury attorney with whom you feel comfortable working, you can call them to the scene of your accident and have them start on your investigative process for you. The faster you can get your hands on evidence, the sooner you can bring a case together.
Secure Witness Statements and Contact Information
Bystander testimony is one of the most important elements of a civil case, should you choose to pursue one. That said, contacting the bystanders who witnessed your motorcycle accident isn’t always easy. If you have the facilities to do so, it’s important to get statements and contact information from bystanders while you are still at the scene of your accident.
This is easiest to do when you have an assistant, like a personal injury attorney, on hand. If you don’t have help, however, you can still take action to your own benefit. While some bystanders may leave the scene, connect with those who stay, get email addresses or phone numbers, and let them know that you may be in contact.
Contact an Experienced Attorney for Help Today
There are steps you can take at the scene of an accident that will make your recovery more bearable. If you have the opportunity to gather evidence of negligence, communicate with other involved parties, and protect yourself from mistreatment, definitely do so. Moreover, know that you can benefit from the help of a motorcycle accident attorney.
Our law office can connect you with attorneys who can protect you from the misrepresentation threatened by liable parties. For more information about what you can do in the wake of a motorcycle accident, call or contact our office online.
