Being involved in any type of accident can be scary. The most urgent thought that we have is about any injuries that we’ve sustained. However, the next thoughts are often related to how we should respond to the accident, how we are going to pay for everything, and what the next steps are supposed to be. Being able to remain calm and maintain our peace of mind during these types of situations begins with knowing what to do beforehand. If you are a motorcyclist who has either been in an accident or who prefers to be prepared for any potential accidents, here is some guidance on what you should do after a motorcycle accident.
Stay calm and assess your current physical state as well as those involved in the accident.
The first instinct you may have in a motorcycle accident can be to panic. However, doing this can make it harder to receive the medical attention that you or others may need if you have been injured. The first step to take in a motorcycle accident is to remain calm and to ask yourself, have I been injured in any way? Am I currently feeling pain? Am I able to get up and walk around normally? If not, make sure that you or the other person involved in the accident reaches out for emergency help. If any others are injured, take the same course of action. Your health and physical safety are the most urgent aspects to take care of.
Because motorcycles lack the inherent safety of automobiles, it is likely that there may be an injury during the course of your accident. If you do find yourself harmed, you will want to reach out to a personal injury lawyer that can help you receive the compensation you need to pay for your medical expenses and other associated damages (and, according to Orange County injury attorney Daniel Kim, this makes all the difference in properly coping with your accident and receiving the desired outcome). The success of your case will also depend upon you following the other tips provided below.
Report the accident and acquire driver information as well as any other evidence you may need
Once you have made sure to get help for the injuries, if any, collect the information of the driver involved in the accident and file a police report. Make sure that you have witness testimony from any others who may have seen the accident as well as all of the information of the police officer responding to the call. Why? Making sure that you not only have all of this on record but having the detailed information can help you if you need to build a case later on. This is especially important if the accident was not your fault. You should also take care to gather other evidence such as pictures of all sustained damage, the bike (with all of its damage still included), any damaged clothing or motorcycle gear, and your own detailed account fo the accident.
Once you have taken action on the following advice above, you will be better prepared to move forward with fixing any damage of property or persons that may have occurred during your accident.
Preemptive Actions to Take
Making sure that you are covered now will save you a lot of time, money, and stress in the future. First, look at your health insurance to make sure that it will cover you in the event of a motorcycle crash. Not all insurance providers have this in their plan and if you are not covered when you crash, those expenses may come out of your pocket. Secondly, make sure that you have motorcycle insurance to help you deal with any physical damage that your bike may take. Covering yourself ahead of time is the only way to maintain your peace of mind when you ride.
The key to being able to navigate an accident with more success begins with knowing what to do in these situations. Before you find yourself in a motorcycle accident (which, hopefully, you will not), use the advice provided above to remain one step ahead and ensure that you take all of the necessary steps to cover yourself and your bike.
