What Steps Should I Take After a Motorcycle Accident?

Knowing what steps to take after a motorcycle accident can help you protect your health and rights if you need to pursue an injury claim. You should:

• Call 911. This will summon paramedics and law enforcement to the accident scene.
• Collect evidence. Take photos or videos at the crash site. Include pictures of the vehicles involved from multiple angles, your injuries, and any environmental evidence (such as skid marks or road debris) that could be relevant to your case. Also, keep any medical bills, medical records, the police accident report, earnings statements, and other documentation related to the motorcycle accident.
• Seek medical attention. If you didn’t need emergency care, seek medical attention as soon as possible after the wreck. A doctor will conduct an examination to identify injuries and document them in your medical record. Some serious injuries may have a delayed onset, so it’s important to be examined even if you don’t notice any signs of immediate harm. Be sure to tell your doctors about any pain you are experiencing to any body parts.
• Stick to your medical plan. Be sure to follow your doctor’s treatment plan and attend every medical appointment. In an injury claim, it’s essential to show that you’re taking proper steps to recover.
• Keep a pain journal. Consider keeping a pain journal to document your injuries and the recovery process. This journal may provide helpful evidence to support your claim later.
• Don’t accept a quick settlement offer. The insurance company is not on your side. Insurance adjusters use all kinds of tactics to minimize their payouts. An aggressive insurance company tactic is to offer you a quick settlement, perhaps within days of the crash. It may be tempting, but the first settlement offer is rarely even close to what you are actually entitled to. Do not accept any offer until you talk to an experienced motorcycle accident attorney.
• Contact a motorcycle accident lawyer. At Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, our motorcycle accident attorneys will launch a full investigation into the crash and negotiate aggressively for maximum compensation from the insurance company. If your case does not settle and the facts are on your side, we will take them to court until they pay you what is fair and reasonable to compensate you for all of your pain, suffering, harm, and losses.
• Don’t discuss the accident online. It is best to refrain from talking about the motorcycle accident on social media until your claim is resolved. The insurance company will be looking for ways to reduce or deny your legitimate claim. Don’t give them extra help.