Four Steps to Take After a Motorcycle Accident
After a motorcycle accident, you may feel emotionally distraught, whether or not you suffered injuries. But, you should know what to do and what not to do after a crash to protect yourself or to possibly sue the party who caused the accident. The following are the important steps to take after a motorcycle accident.
Gather Contact Information
While you may be traumatized from your motorcycle accident, do not leave the scene immediately. If possible, get yourself out of the road safely and exchange contact information with the other party involved. Gather information such as names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance details, driver’s license, and plate numbers. If you can, consider taking photos of all damaged vehicles, take note of the motorcycle’s make and model and write a description of the accident.
Call the Authorities and Seek Medical Attention
Call 911, so the police can arrive at the accident scene as quickly as possible, especially if someone has been seriously injured. Also, seek medical attention right away and file a police report if there is extensive property damage.
In addition, note the names and badge numbers of any police officers who respond to the accident. Include this information in the records of the incident and provide it to your personal injury lawyer syracuse ny. Your lawyer will use any details relevant to your claim to strengthen your case and ensure you fair compensation for your damages.
Be Mindful of What you Say
Even if you believe you contributed to the accident, do not try to apologize to the other party or feel that you are sorry for what happened. Otherwise, the other party of their insurance company will take this action as an admission of guilt. The specific cause of the accident may not be clear until a thorough investigation from experts, so don’t try to claim you are responsible for something. Be mindful of what you say at the scene because your statements can be used against you later, possibly ruining your injury claim.
Call a Personal Injury Lawyer
Once you take all precautions, you should contact a personal injury attorney immediately. There are many steps and complexities involved in filing personal injury claims or lawsuits, so it can take time. Keep in mind that there is a deadline to meet when it comes to this filing and hiring a lawyer as soon as possible will ensure you can file on time.