What to Do When You Have Been in a Motorcycle Accident

What to Do When You Have Been in a Motorcycle Accident

There is nothing quite like the feeling of riding your motorcycle down the highway with the wind in your hair.  While motorcycles are fun to drive, but they aren’t without their dangers and accidents do happen.  If you ride a bike regularly then you need to know what to do when you have been in a motorcycle accident.  What happens after the accident can affect legal problems in the future or what happens with your insurance.  Here’s what to do if you have been in an accident.

Check for Injuries

Making sure that yourself or anyone else involved in the accident should always be your first priority.  If anyone has been injured then call 911 immediately.  Calling for help does not imply liability in any way.  Turn all engines off and make sure your hazard lights are on to warn any other drivers.

Capture the Scene

Once you have determined that everyone is safe then it is a good idea to get some documentation of the accident scene.  Use your phone to take some pictures, that being said do it safely, don’t get hit by a car trying to take pictures.  Get as many angles as you can it will help you with your case in the future.

Call the Police

If anyone has been hurt and you called 911 then the police will show up anyway.  However, if no one has been injured you should still call the police if the other person in the accident has been drinking or fled the scene.  The officer assigned to the accident will investigate and ask you to make a statement.  You should get in touch with an attorney before you do that, they will let you know what to do.

Call an Attorney

Not every accident needs the help of an attorney but more often than not you’re going to need one.  If you have been accused of causing the accident or you have any injuries because of the accident then you are going to want an attorney.  Insurance companies often refuse to pay out or they offer far less than what you are owed and an attorney can make sure that you are treated fairly.

Call Your Insurance Company

Lastly, you will have to get in touch with your insurance company.  They are going to want some basic information from you including the policy number and the details surrounding the accident.  They will probably also require a police report of the accident to verify the details.

Motorcycle accidents can be confusing and you may not know what to do.  Follow these tips if you need them, but always ride safely.