A motorcycle accident is typically the result of unique and unforeseen circumstances. The condition of the road, your bike, and the actions of other vehicle drivers often cause the crash. Surprisingly, close to 75% of bike collisions involve a passenger car, and invariably, the motorcycle driver sustains severe injuries to the neck, head, and face. If you’re involved in a crash, it is preferable to retain the services of a motorcycle accident lawyer who can help you get fair compensation and damages for the trauma and loss of property.
Most Motorcycle Accidents Are the Result of Misjudgment
Misjudgment is most likely the cause of the accident. Statistics suggest that motorists often don’t see the motorcycle until it is too late to avoid a crash. They are just not aware that the bike is present or may open a parked vehicle door in the path of the moving motorcycle. Crashes also occur when the vehicle makes a left turn and collides with the biker who is headed straight. For this reason, drivers are warned to be extremely cautious about passenger vehicles and errors that can result in the biker ending up in the hospital with a badly damaged vehicle.
Whatever Are the Circumstances, Determining Fault is Essential
Whatever may be the circumstances of the motorcycle accident, a criminal defense attorney can help determine where the fault lies. If you can prove that the other driver has committed an error, you might be able to recover at least some of the costs for getting medical treatment and making repairs to your bike. The best way to identify responsibility is to gather all the information about the incident on the spot. Unless you’ve suffered severe trauma, stay calm, and focus on what you can do to get a fair claim.
Here’s What to Do After a Crash
How you act right after the crash can help secure your position and get the maximum compensation possible.
- Your first actions after the collision should focus on ensuring safety. Move the bike out of the open road onto a safe place on the shoulder where you won’t obstruct traffic. Most importantly, pay attention to oncoming traffic that can worsen the situation.
- Check that no one is hurt and in need of urgent care. If they are, do what you can to help, and call the police and emergency assistance right away.
- Whatever you do, never apologize, even though saying, “I’m sorry!” comes naturally. Apologizing is construed as taking responsibility for the incident even if it wasn’t your fault.
- Take pictures of the entire scene including broken vehicle parts and any other objects on the road. Create a record of the closest milestone or landmark, so the police can put together a detailed report of the entire incident.
- Talk to the other driver and gather information like identification, license plates, insurance details, and type of vehicle.
- Talk to the witnesses and ask them to recount what they saw. If you can make an audio recording, that would be great. You might also want to take down their names and contact information in case you need to get in touch with them again.
- Contact your lawyer who will guide you on how to contact the insurance company and proceed with a claim.
- Don’t get rid of the bike or send it for repairs. The police and insurance inspector will want to examine it as evidence.
- Get a doctor to perform a complete physical exam. You might have hidden injuries even though you feel fine.
If you’re involved in a motorcycle incident, you can raise your chances of getting a fair claim by hiring the assistance of an expert attorney. Rely on an expert to gather the relevant information and present your case.