It is important that you take the right next steps after a motorcycle accident. Despite the importance of what you do, deciding what to do first can be hard. Continue reading to learn what to do after a motorcycle accident.
Contacting an attorney is the best way to ensure you receive full and fair financial compensation for your losses and injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury or were killed in a motorcycle accident, contact a Little Rock motorcycle accident lawyer today. Consider taking the following steps after a motorcycle accident.
What You Should Do After Getting Into a Motorcycle Accident
What you do immediately after a motorcycle crash is critical to your physical well-being and legal claim. Consider doing the following to protect yourself after a motorcycle crash.
Ensure Your Safety
You and all others involved in the crash should ensure their safety after a motorcycle crash. Get to safety as soon as possible after an accident.
Call Emergency Services
You might need to seek emergency medical services after a motorcycle crash. Contact emergency medical services if you have suffered an injury in an accident.
Get Medical Attention
Get medical attention immediately after a motorcycle accident. Getting proper medical attention promptly can help save your life and protect your legal claim. Here are some common injuries that happen after motorcycle accidents:
- Head and brain injuries
- Road rash
- Fractures
- Spinal injuries
- Internal injuries
- Chest and rib injuries
- Facial injuries
- Knee and hip injuries
- Dislocations
- Burns
- Psychological injuries
The road to recovery after a motorcycle crash may be long and challenging. Seeking medical treatment right away and consulting a personal injury attorney can help ensure you receive the necessary care and fair compensation for your injuries.
File a Police Report
File a police report after the accident. State law or your insurance company might require a police report. Insurance companies often rely, first, on the police report for an initial narrative about how the accident happened. The police report is an important part of the process.
Notify Your Insurance Company
Your insurance company might require you to file a claim to comply with your policy’s terms. Notify your insurance company as soon as possible. Provide the insurance adjusters with all the relevant accident details, including the police report and the information you collected.
Speak to an attorney first! Be cautious about making statements to the insurance company, especially if they ask about fault or liability. It is often best to let your personal injury lawyer handle communication with insurers.
Preserve Evidence
Keeping necessary evidence from an accident can be vital to the success of your motorcycle claim. Hold on to all records related to the accident, such as medical bills, repair estimates, doctor’s notes, and receipts for any expenses incurred. Keep a journal of your pain, emotional distress, and recovery process, as this can help with non-economic damages in your claim.
Consult With a Personal Injury Attorney
You should always speak to an attorney and get legal advice after a motorcycle accident. An experienced Little Rock motorcycle accident lawyer can help you understand your rights, negotiate with insurance companies, and ensure you receive the full compensation you deserve.
What Not To Do After a Motorcycle Accident
What you do after a motorcycle accident is just as important as what you avoid doing after a motorcycle crash. Avoiding the following actions can help avoid losing your right to fully recover financially after a motorcycle crash.
Do Not Leave The Scene
You should never leave the scene of an accident before exchanging the personal and insurance information required by law. Leaving the scene of an accident can be a criminal offense. Depending on the circumstances of the crash, leaving the scene of an accident can leave the driver with either a misdemeanor or felony criminal conviction.
Do Not Admit Fault
Never admit fault for an accident. You need to speak to an attorney to learn more about how to respond to questions from the defendant, insurance company, or third parties. Something as simple as saying “I’m sorry” after an accident can be interpreted as an admission of liability and may negatively impact your claim. The determination of fault should be left to law enforcement and insurance companies based on the evidence and facts.
Do Not Accept The First Settlement Offer
You should never accept a settlement offer before speaking to an attorney. Insurance companies often offer a quick settlement to accident victims, but initial offers often do not cover all of the victim’s losses. Discuss the pros and cons of an initial settlement offer with legal counsel to ensure you get everything you deserve after a motorcycle accident.
Do Not Delay Reporting the Accident to The Insurance Company
Do not delay reporting the accident after a motorcycle crash. Most insurance companies and policies require prompt reporting of accidents, and delays can jeopardize your claim. While you must report the accident, be cautious about giving recorded statements to the insurance company immediately. It is better to consult a Little Rock motorcycle accident lawyer before making detailed statements, as they might ask leading questions that can affect your claim.
Do Not Forget To Collect Evidence
You should collect and preserve as much evidence as possible after a motorcycle accident. If you can do so, do not forget to take photos of the accident scene, the vehicles involved, injuries, road conditions, and any contributing factors. Do not miss the opportunity to gather contact information from any witnesses to the accident. Their statements can be key in proving fault and establishing the circumstances of the accident.
Do Not Discuss Fault On Social Media
Never discuss the accident on social media. It is normal to take all of the day’s problems to social media but resist the urge to post about the accident on social media. Anything you post online can be used against you after a motorcycle accident.
Do Not Sign Anything Without Understanding It
Do not sign anything before speaking to an attorney first. You need legal representation to ensure that you are getting everything that you need and deserve after an accident. Never sign any paperwork related to the accident, including insurance settlement offers or releases, without fully understanding the consequences. Signing a release might prevent you from pursuing further claims.
Do Not Underestimate Your Injuries
Do not underestimate your injuries. Do not downplay your injuries. Ensure you track your recovery process, including any new symptoms or changes in your condition. Failing to document ongoing or emerging issues properly can affect your case later. Always be honest about your injuries to the police, the insurance company, and your Little Rock motorcycle accident lawyer.
Do Not Handle Complex Issues Alone
Never handle complex case-related issues alone. Personal injury cases, especially those involving motorcycle accidents, can be complex. Do not navigate insurance disputes, legal matters, or medical claims without professional help. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you understand your rights, negotiate with insurance companies, and ensure you receive the full compensation you deserve.
How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents?
Motorcycle accidents are more common than you might think. Motorcycles make up the smallest number of motorists on the road each year but still make up a disproportionate number of accidents nationwide.
According to the National Highway Safety Administration, in 2022, there were more than 6,000 motorcyclists who were killed in traffic accidents across the country. This number represents around 15 percent of all traffic fatalities nationwide.
How Can a Motorcycle Accident Attorney Help Me?
Getting legal help is the best way to ensure that you get everything that you deserve after an accident. Here are some of the most common ways a motorcycle accident attorney can help get the financial recovery you deserve.
Negotiate With Insurance Companies
Negotiations are a large part of any motorcycle accident claim. However, speaking to an insurance company can be overwhelming for an individual. An attorney can help get the results you need from the insurance company to move forward with your life.
Help Prepare Your Case and Represent You at Trial
If a fair settlement cannot be reached, your attorney will take your case to court and represent you before a judge or jury. Motorcycle accident attorneys are skilled at presenting evidence, arguing on your behalf, and fighting for your interests in the courtroom.
A skilled attorney will work tirelessly to ensure you receive the maximum compensation possible for your injuries and damages, using all available legal tools to your advantage.
Investigating The Accident
An attorney will help investigate the accident and find the root cause of the crash. Investigating the crash can be difficult because some pieces of evidence are hard to find for individuals. For example, having an accident reconstructionist can give you valuable insight into how the accident happened, but hiring a professional on your own can be difficult.
Determining Liability
Determining liability is the most important part of any accident case. The liable driver or party is responsible for paying for the accident-related damages, so getting the responsible party right is important to recover your financial losses after the accident.
Assessing The Value of Your Claim
An attorney can help you properly assess the potential value of your claim. While there is no way to guarantee the final value of your claim, an attorney’s professional assessment can give you an idea of the financial value of your case and whether it is a good idea to move forward and pursue compensation.
Protecting Your Rights
An attorney’s job is to protect your legal rights after a motorcycle crash. Having an attorney review the facts of the case, evaluate your total losses, and defend you against insurance companies and third parties can help protect your legal right to compensation after an accident.
Handling Medical Claims
An attorney can help by handling your medical claims after a motorcycle accident. Some insurance companies will pay for your treatment while your case is pending, but they want to be repaid once it is finalized. This is a process called subrogation. The subrogation process can be complex, so having an attorney can help navigate the process.
Handling Medical Liens
The subrogation process can also involve medical liens. State law might require that medical liens be paid first from the settlement or court verdict awarded. Failure to handle medical liens might cause legal issues in the future. An attorney can help manage and handle medical liens.
Handling All Legal Aspects
Having an attorney means that you have a professional who is focused on all the legal aspects of your case so that you can focus on your physical recovery.
Providing Peace of Mind
Knowing someone is on your side throughout the process can provide great peace of mind. You will have a person to ask questions to, gather information from, and help you understand the next best steps after a motorcycle accident.
What Compensation Is Available After a Motorcycle Accident?
Various compensations are available after a motorcycle accident. There are three general categories of damages: economic losses, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.
Economic damages include tangible and physical losses after a motorcycle accident. These losses are usually easily identifiable and can include medical expenses, lost earnings, and property damages, among other physical accident-related losses.
Non-economic damages include the intangible and non-physical losses that an accident victim might face. Examples of non-economic losses can include loss of enjoyment or reduced quality of life, inconvenience, and embarrassment, among other types of losses.
Punitive damages are rarely available but are sometimes awarded to plaintiffs when a defendant’s behavior is outrageous.
Contact a Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today!
After a motorcycle accident, you need legal assistance. Contact an injury lawyer immediately to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your case and the potential that you have to collect financial compensation. Do not delay. Call a Little Rock motorcycle accident lawyer today.
There are strict timelines for filing claims and lawsuits in these cases, and the sooner you take action, the better chance you have of successfully resolving your claim. Reach out to a trusted attorney today to discuss your case and explore your legal options.