A few things you should do after a motorcycle accident include getting medical care, contacting a motorcycle accident lawyer, and filing a police report.
The things you do after a motorcycle accident can have a major impact on the weeks and months to come. Making the right choice now means giving yourself the best chance of getting the medical care you need and recovering compensation for your injuries.
If you are injured in a motorcycle accident, Call Dan Next! Our Tacoma motorcycle accident lawyers can help you understand your rights and choose the best path forward. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
1. Get Medical Care
If you didn’t go to the hospital after the accident and have yet to get care, see a doctor as soon as possible. This is important, even if you think you are fine. Some head injuries can take days or weeks to appear, and what you think is soreness could be a sign of something worse.
Visiting a doctor ensures you are getting the medical treatment you need to deal with any injuries you may have suffered. It also helps document your injuries and shows you are serious about your health.
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2. Contact a Motorcycle Attorney
Personal injury lawyers offer free consultations, so there is no reason not to reach out to an attorney to discuss your case. An attorney can clarify your rights, help you understand your next steps, and explain how to get compensation for your damages.
The advice of a skilled lawyer can also prevent you from making mistakes that could damage your legal standing. You’ll have assistance with the claims process and someone to advocate for you when negotiating with insurance companies.
3. Inform Your Insurance Provider
You need to follow the correct steps to keep your insurance company involved. Washington is an at-fault state, meaning the liable party is responsible for damages in an accident. You’ll be relying on the other driver’s insurance to cover your damages.
Your attorney can investigate your accident, assess your damages, and help you file claims with the appropriate insurance companies. They can handle interactions and correspondence for your case and provide information requested by the at-fault party’s insurance provider.
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4. File a Police Report
In Washington State, you are required by law to report an accident to the police if it results in injury, property damages of over $1,000, or death. If you are hurt and your bike is severely damaged, you’ll need to file a report with the police.
It is a good idea to involve the police anyway. The accident report and the officer’s testimony could prove essential in any legal actions you need to take against the other driver. Your attorney can use this information as part of their investigation.
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5. Document the Scene
While your attorney will investigate your accident eventually, it would help if you document the scene as soon as possible after the crash. You can take photos, get the names of witnesses, and take notes.
At the very least, you’ll want to take photos of your damaged motorcycle from every angle. This can help prove your case for property damage later on.
6. Write a Narrative
As soon as possible, write a description of the accident from your perspective. Include things like location, weather conditions, road conditions, the level of traffic, time of day, and any observations about the other driver’s behavior.
It’s helpful to do this while events are still fresh in your mind. It can help your attorney understand what happened and where to focus the investigation.
7. Keep Copies of Receipts and Invoices
When your attorney calculates the maximum compensation you can expect when you file your claim, they consider your economic damages and the financial hardships you have endured. These damages have a specific cost attached to them.
To help ensure all of your costs are accounted for, keep all receipts and invoices you can attribute to your accident. This could include medical bills, pay stubs showing lost wages, and invoices listing the repairs necessary to your motorcycle.
8. Adhere to Medical Advice
Follow your doctor’s advice and stick with your care program. If you avoid treatments or therapy appointments, an insurance company may be able to use it against you and show you aren’t as injured as you claim.
Following your doctor’s orders is among the smartest things you can do after a motorcycle accident. It keeps you healthy and provides documentation to prove your injuries.
9. Keep a Journal
Your attorney may be able to argue for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering as part of your settlement. These damages are tough to prove, but keeping a journal outlining how the accident has impacted your mental, emotional, and social health can help.
10. Protect Information on Your Case
There is nothing wrong with keeping your family and friends updated on your situation, but don’t reveal too much, especially on social media. Insurance companies may try to use your words against you, and if those words are in writing, they may succeed.
Get Help With Your Motorcycle Accident Case
The things you do after a motorcycle accident matter. Personal injury cases are always tough on the victim, but motorcyclists are especially susceptible to hardship. You are vulnerable out on the road, and no matter how careful you are, accidents and injuries can happen.
When they happen because of other people, you have the right to seek restitution for your damages. You may recover compensation for your medical care, lost wages, future medical expenses, the cost to repair your damaged bike, and possibly pain and suffering.
At NextLaw, our attorneys have over 50 years of combined experience fighting for injured victims. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation to learn how we can help with your motorcycle accident injury claim.
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