In this article, you will get to know everything about What To Do If You Are in a Motorcycle Accident in 2022. Keep reading this blog for more info.
First and foremost, take care of your health
The most important thing to do when you are in a motorcycle accident is to address the health of the parties involved. If there is any suspicion that the parties have received anything other than minor injuries, call 911 so they can send paramedics to the scene or, if you are unable, get someone else’s assistance to call you.
Even if you think you have only suffered minor injuries, it is a good idea to get checked out by a health care professional within 24 hours of a motorcycle accident. We often see accident victims whose injuries turn out to be worse than initially thought. In many instances motorcyclists thought they had just scratched or scratched their knee or shoulder and eventually discovered that their ligaments were torn, requiring further treatment. Without proper treatment in the early stages, the original injury and symptoms may intensify.
Get all Involved Party and Witness Information
Don’t wait for the police to get this information. The parties and witnesses can leave the scene before the police arrive. If you can’t find the information, ask someone else for help. Find all phone numbers and addresses, businesses and homes, and all insurance information. Carry paper and a pencil.
Police Report – Make sure your version is accurate
Assuming the police arrive at the scene, it’s important to make sure they take your statement correctly. Police officers are not infallible. We sometimes see police reports that slightly change the version of the party which can ultimately cause problems in resolving the claim against the delinquent driver.
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If the police indicate to you that they do not intend to report, you should ask them to reconsider, however, some police agencies will not provide a formal written report if no one is injured. You should oversee the preparation of the report and review it after review to determine if there are any errors. If mistakes occur, it is generally advisable to contact the police agency immediately and file a supplementary report with appropriate corrections.
If you do eventually file a claim and you have had the opportunity to review the police report but do not request a correction, months later any claim you make that the report is false will raise a big question mark. You’ll have an obvious question: “Why didn’t you tell the police that the report was wrong as soon as you read it?”
In that regard, you should make sure the police report has the appropriate location of the accident site if it affects your version at all. In one incident, a motorcyclist was injured when the delinquent driver crossed the double solid lines of the carpool lane and hit the motorcyclist in the fast lane. A major issue that eventually had to be addressed was whether the other driver had actually crossed the double lines or whether the lines were broken at the accident site.
Your Bike
If your bike is towed from the scene, arrange to have it taken to a location where you are not going to incur storage charges as soon as possible. We’ve seen cases where a bike sits in the tow yard and is sold in a lien sale to pay the storage fee. Not only have you lost your motorcycle and its value, but you have lost valuable evidence to support your claim.
Insurance Companies – Who to Talk With
If you intend to file a claim against the delinquent driver through an attorney, it is generally advisable not to speak to that driver’s insurance company. Often, an insurance company will try to obtain a recorded statement at an early stage. You may still be in pain or under the influence of medicine and your thoughts may not be clear. Later statements against you can be used to try to show that you are not entirely sure how the accident happened – this happens even if you were thinking straight at the time of the original statement, as most people The versions of this will vary somewhat in facts each time. are relayed.
Generally, you have a contractual duty to notify your own insurance company about the accident in a timely manner, especially if you are going to make a claim under your policy for damage to your motorcycle or an uninsured/underinsured one. Going to claim for a claim. Failure to notify your insurance company in time may result in a claim by the insurance company that it did not have sufficient notice to investigate the accident; hence, you may find it difficult to settle any claim with your insurance company.
Photos – Protection of Evidence
Photos are very important. The photograph should include all damage to property, including damage to your motorcycle and gear, visible injuries, and the scene of the accident, if practicable.
Photos of the motorcycle are important to show the nature and extent of the impact and damage and can be helpful to the accident rebuilder if it becomes necessary at some point to help you prove your claim. Pictures can also be helpful in evaluating damages for reimbursement purposes.
Take a picture of your damaged gear, as the nature of the damage may be relevant evidence to show how the accident occurred and to establish that your injuries are indeed related to the accident. At the very least, if the other party is at fault, you can request reimbursement.
Photos of your visible injuries are extremely helpful in conveying the full nature and extent of your injuries, as well as the accompanying aches and pains.
As mentioned above, if the exact location of the accident is important, photographs taken at the scene are likely to quell any ambiguity. Photographs of slippery marks, road conditions, and debris may also be helpful later, although it may not always be practical to take visual photographs immediately after an accident.
Reporting Requirements
Many states require you by law to notify the Department of Motor Vehicles within a relatively short period of time that you were involved in an accident if the injury or property damage reaches a certain dollar value.
In some states, if the police do not arrive at the scene and someone is injured, you must also report the accident to the appropriate police agency.
Remember, it is often difficult to think clearly in the early stages after an accident. You may need any information on the spot, and enlist the help of a friend or an onlooker to be mindful of what you say to whom. Follow up as described above to make sure you’ve covered all of your bases.