Steps to Take After a Motorcycle Accident

Riding a motorcycle gives us an incredible sense of freedom. However, motorcycles also leave us more vulnerable on the road. When an accident happens, bikers can suffer severe injuries from much larger vehicles. What steps should you take after a motorcycle crash to protect yourself both physically and financially?

Get to Safety

Immediately after an accident, your top priority needs to be getting out of harm’s way. Remain calm, and do not remove your helmet or protective gear yet. Carefully get yourself and your motorcycle out of active traffic lanes if you can, reaching the shoulder or a sidewalk. Leaving the motorcycle behind is perfectly fine if it allows you to get to safety quicker.

Only once out of traffic should you consider removing your helmet, especially if you suffered no head injury. However, even minor motorcycle accidents can lead to unseen issues from internal bleeding, organ damage, fractures, sprains, and trauma. Do not assume you escaped unharmed yet.

Call 911 and Seek Medical Attention

Take stock of any injuries you can identify, feeling for tenderness or pain. Administer basic first aid to passengers or other drivers if properly trained. However, you should arrange professional medical care right away by calling 911. Paramedics can fully evaluate your condition, while the ambulance provides safe transportation to an emergency room.

Even accidents at low speeds can inflict internal damage to organs, spinal discs, connective tissues, and the brain. The adrenaline rush after collisions often masks underlying harm, making it vital to get examined by doctors for possible spinal cord injury compensation. Diagnostic tests like X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs can uncover issues not visible externally.

Common motorcycle crash injuries include:

• Broken bones in arms, shoulders, legs;
• Sprains and tears of muscles, tendons, ligaments;
• Bruising, abrasions, burns;
• Head and brain trauma;
• Neck and back damage.

Secure the Accident Scene

The next steps to take after a motorcycle accident involve securing the accident area. If possible, without putting yourself in danger, try to move your motorcycle to the shoulder of the road or sidewalk, too. This prevents another vehicle from striking it.

You can also set up road flares, cones, or warning triangles to alert oncoming traffic about the incident. Turn on your hazards as well if they are still operable. Once paramedics arrive, let them know you have already contacted the authorities, so police are dispatched right away.

Gather Information

After ensuring safety, try to exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver if possible. This includes names, phone numbers, driver’s license details, license plate numbers, and insurance providers. Having this information helps speed up the claims process later. If injuries prevent you from gathering their details, ask any police or witnesses at the scene to collect it on your behalf before the driver leaves.

Before leaving the scene, try to gather contact details from any witnesses who saw the accident unfold. Their future statements can prove invaluable for assigning fault and receiving injury compensation.

After documenting the accident site from multiple angles as evidence with your cellphone, make sure to review both Uber and Lyft policies after an accident. Capture any car damage, skid marks on the pavement, debris scattered around, or traffic signs and signals that factor into the incident. Documenting these details meticulously can be crucial for your car accident lawyer in Chicopee to build a strong case on your behalf.

Report the Crash

According to the laws of Massachusetts, you must file an official report on the motorcycle accident with the police in specific instances. Wait at the scene to provide a statement to responding officers about what occurred. They will want information on the other vehicle and the driver involved. Ask the police for a copy of their eventual accident report or steps to obtain it later. This crucial document contains unbiased crash details that help support your compensation claim. By being knowledgeable about the steps to take after a car accident, you’re not only protecting your interests but also making sure that you have all the necessary details for any legal or insurance proceedings that may follow.

If the police did not show up, visit the local or state police station soon after your hospital discharge. Describe the incident to them and request an accident report. Stay as factual as possible without speculating on fault.

Contact Your Insurance Provider

Notify your motorcycle insurance company about the crash as soon as possible. Describe the incident in detail, specify your injuries, and inform them if you require medical treatment. Discuss the process for submitting a claim to cover vehicle damage, lost gear, medical expenses, and other costs relating to the accident.

Review your motorcycle policy documents to understand what coverage applies to injuries or losses. Budget extra time for this as conditions likely appear foggy after any accident. Take notes on key clauses you have questions about later.

Consult a Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Consider scheduling a free initial case review with specialized motorcycle accident lawyers like Cava Law Firm. Discuss your collision details and emerging consequences during an in-depth consultation. Gain insights on all compensation avenues open for you and the value of moving forward with a lawsuit.

Hiring an attorney proves essential for maximizing your payout in settlements or court awards. Their legal experience saves you headaches when navigating insurance negotiations, government disability programs, and courtroom litigation.

Why Hire a Lawyer?

Retaining a qualified motorcycle accident lawyer offers the best possibility of receiving full and fair compensation for your damages, injuries, losses, and suffering. At Cava Law Firm, we make winning your case NO accident!

Instead, it is the result of thorough work, which includes:

• Boosting settlement payouts through knowledgeable negotiating tactics;
• Determining all liable parties accountable for the crash;
• Gathering further evidence like cell phone records, surveillance video, or data downloads;
• Interviewing additional witnesses to establish key details;
• Proving negligence claims in court against guilty drivers and companies.

Attorneys like those at Cava Law Firm also understand the unique dynamics of motorcycle incidents. Our expertise helps craft arguments that overcome common defense strategies, blaming riders for their own misfortune.

Preserve Evidence from the Collision

Insurance companies and defense lawyers examine all documentation surrounding an accident to minimize settlement offers. Taking prompt action to gather and preserve evidence bolsters your position later.

Important items to secure include repair estimates, all medical diagnostic reports, specialist referrals, treatment plans, pharmacy receipts, and any accident-related correspondence. Maintain detailed notes about the accident aftermath while events remain fresh in your mind. Describe all injuries suffered, the recovery process, expenses incurred, and anything suggesting negligence by the other motorist.

Focus on Recovery and Healing

Full health restoration needs to become your central concentration at this stage. Adhere to all physician-directed treatment plans to ensure injuries heal. Attend scheduled therapy or counseling sessions, too, for your mental well-being. Fill prescriptions as directed and take medications that promote healing.

As part of the healing process, you may experience anxiety, flashbacks, fear, or other emotional disturbances from being involved in a traumatic accident. Talking to a mental health professional can help process and overcome these sensations. They can also assist when you start riding again. It is common to worry about freezing up on a bike or not trusting your skills after a bad crash.

Contact Cava Law Firm Today

Recovering after a motorcycle accident takes concerted efforts across many fronts – medical, legal, financial, and more. While the steps outlined here simplify the process, consider leaning on others like family, friends, or professionals to lighten your load.

If you or a loved one suffered an injury in a motorcycle accident, take the first step toward justice and recovery by contacting our experienced legal team at Cava Law Firm for a free consultation. Call (413) 737-3430 or (413) 781-CAVA (2282) to schedule your appointment. You may also use our online contact form.

Attorney Jennifer L. Cava-Foreman

Attorney Jennifer L. Cava-Foreman would like to take the guesswork out of choosing a lawyer by letting the facts and her winning verdicts speak for themselves. Attorney Cava-Foreman is known in the local courts and has firsthand experience with many types of cases ranging from personal injury to criminal defense. Attorney Cava-Foreman understands that every case and every client is different. Whether a client is injured or mixed up in a criminal matter, she will provide the legal advice needed and stand up for her client in court. [ Attorney Bio ]