No matter how many precautions you take to protect yourself on the road, accidents can and will happen. How you act in the aftermath can make a big difference on your ability to file a case and receive the maximum compensation you deserve for your injuries, any lost wages, and pain and suffering you may experience as a result of the accident.
If you ever find yourself involved in a motorcycle accident, your next moves are critical for the health and safety of you and any other participants in the crash as well as your liability (or lack thereof) in the incident:
Remain calm
Don’t say or do anything brash or off the cuff. Take a moment to stop and breathe. Calm yourself down as you are probably peaking on adrenaline having just survived the accident.
Get out of traffic
If your bike or anyone else’s vehicle is in the path of traffic, move yourself and any other individuals and their vehicles out of the road to the shoulder.
Check for injuries
This is very important because that adrenaline rush you’re currently experiencing could be masking any pain or discomfort you might be feeling from an injury you may have sustained in the accident. Check your head and your body for blood. Can you move all of your extremities? Is your clothing torn or damaged? If you are on the ground, you may not want to get up immediately. Stay down until a medical professional can determine that you haven’t sustained any head or neck injuries.
Call 911
Let them know there has been an accident and if you or any other parties in the incident are injured. Emergency services will be dispatched to the scene including police, medical response, and possibly the fire department if one of the vehicles is ablaze or the driver is unable to get out of their automobile.
Get the other driver’s information
It is crucial that you get all personal and insurance information from the other party or parties that have been involved in the accident. If possible, get photos of the scene and document everything you can about the circumstances leading up to the crash in addition to the conditions of the road and surrounding environment during and after the accident. If you can, get the contact information of any witnesses who are willing to offer a statement as to what occurred at the time of your crash.
Never admit fault
Most important, never, ever apologize or give anyone a “my bad” after the accident. Admitting fault can and will be used against you at the time you decide to file a case, even if you were not responsible for the accident.
