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This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal advice.
Accidents are very common to motorcycle riders. It does not matter how safe you ride; you may end up having an accident due to other vehicles. There are things you should do after a motorcycle accident and things you should not do. Most crash victims are not prepared for what to do at the crash scene. Today, we will discuss what to do after a motorcycle accident in brief.
Most motorcycle accidents happen due to careless driving. If the reason behind an accident is not your fault, then you can sue the person. To obtain money for your losses, you have to show how the crash happened. There is no better evidence than a police report in court. So, you have to contact the police, and a police officer will arrive soon. You have to tell him exactly everything to file a report, including the contact information of everyone involved. This report will be a vital element for your motorcycle accident lawyer when you sue the person responsible.
You should to get medical help immediately if the accident is severe. You should always check your body even if everything feels all right. Certain medical issues do not show symptoms in the first one or two days. This medical checkup is another precious document and can be used in court. It is advantageous when making an accident claim.
Evidence is the thing that matters most in the court. You have to prove your case to recover compensation, so you have to gather as much information as you can. So, you can take pictures of the accident scene from different angles. Another thing is you can get the names and contacts of the eyewitnesses. Besides, you can also take note of everything that happened while the details are fresh.
You should not apologize for the accident or admit fault to anyone. It seems generous to apologize after an accident, but this can keep you in serious trouble. You must not even partially acknowledge that the accident was your fault. It may lessen the chance of your right to compensation. Similarly, you must answer the questions cordially when the police come, but you must not volunteer information they did not ask. Also, you must not show any attitude that you are to blame for this accident when the facts are still being sorted out.
Motorcycle accidents and spinal injuries are close to each other. So, it would be best if you do not move yourself or anyone else who is seriously hurt after an accident. If you try to move someone who is seriously injured, instead of helping, you may end up doing more damage to them. So, it is always recommended to call 911 and wait for the professionals to come. Moreover, it is best to leave the accident scene and vehicles so that the police can see what happened. If someone is seriously hurt, only then you are allowed to move the vehicles. If there is a chance of a second accident at the same place, then you can move the vehicles as well.
You should not sign a waiver, release, or settlement from an insurance company or an insurance claims adjuster without talking to your lawyer. Similarly, you never sign and cash a check from an insurance company without talking to your lawyer. These releases, checks, and paperwork accompanying the checks can release the insurance company from all liability for compensation. Recently, some auto insurance company claims adjusters have been using languages in their releases to trick the crash victims into settling their injury claims for less than those claims are worth. So, you have to be careful with these singings.
Finally, accidents are uncertain and we cannot avoid them altogether. All we can do is wear safety gear to minimize the damage if something goes wrong. A certified helmet, gloves, boots, etc., can take the maximum hit if worn correctly.
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