One minute you travel along the highway, listening to the flow of wind and the rumble of your engine, and from nowhere you get another car. Get more information from Redkey Gordon Law Corp a personal injury law firm in Stockton.
This can happen in an instant and after the right steps after a car accident is essential for any driver, but especially for motorcyclists, because injuries tend to be more serious, and legal procedures are more difficult.
Here's a checklist of what to do if you are involved in a motorcycle accident:
1. Call the police.
The first thing you need to do if you get into an accident is to call 911. First, it will alert the medical assistance that will be sent to the scene if someone is injured. Often injuries do not occur at first, so only medical personnel will be able to determine whether a person needs further care.
Secondly, police officers will present a report and begin a legal process to determine who is guilty of the accident. Without a police report, the motorcycle accident lawyer will not be able to file a case against you, so this step is necessary for future claims for compensation.
2. Obtain contact information from all parties involved in the accident.
When you wait for the police to arrive, you will receive a name, insurance information, address and contact information of any persons involved in the accident. Make sure that the other driver shows you his license to prove that they are allowed to drive the vehicle.
You can also ask for written statements from any witnesses about the accident for future use in proof of error.
3. Discuss only the case with the policeman.
Wait until the police officer comes to discuss the details of the accident, and, most importantly, never accept responsibility for the accident. Riders can work when what they recognize at the scene is used as evidence against them in court. Answer the officer's questions simply by presenting the facts and preserving them.
4. Take notes and pictures of the scene of the motorcycle accident.
It is always recommended for a motorcyclist to carry a camera (preferably digital) if you have an accident. If you do not have a camera, use your phone. Take as many photos as possible – damage to your motorcycle, damage to another car, debris, weather conditions, etc.
Also, write down everything that happened immediately. Over time, the details of the accident can be distorted or forgotten, especially after an incident that sounds like a motorcycle crash. These data can mean the difference between getting compensation or not, so write down the order of events for later use.
5. Do not leave the scene of an accident before.
Before you leave the scene, make sure that all the wounded were helped in the first place. Also, consult an officer to find out if they need additional information from you, and get a copy of the police report.
6. Inform your insurance company.
Immediately after the accident, you must notify your insurance company and provide them with all the necessary documents. Failure to do so may be grounds for rejecting your case in court.
7. Visit the doctor.
Do you think that you were injured or not, contact your doctor? If you have injuries from an accident, the doctor will be able to provide diagnosis and treatment. Also, the doctor's testimony may be required in court to determine the extent of your injuries, which is necessary to calculate the compensation for which you are entitled.
8. Contact an attorney.
Accidents on motorcycles are different from car crashes due to the seriousness of most incidents, as well as the prejudices faced by many bikers from jury members. The only way to get the best legal protection is to contact an accident lawyer on a motorcycle.