All car accidents should be taken seriously, but the danger that motorcycle accidents present to their operators can be catastrophic and even fatal. In fact, according to research from the NHTSA, motorcyclists are 12 times more likely to die in an accident than those driving a car. You may be wondering, “What steps should I take after a motorcycle accident?”. In this blog, we discuss the most important steps you should take if you are involved in a motorcycle accident.
Even at low speeds, motorcyclists are at great risk of injury in the event of an accident. It’s important to understand what steps to follow if you are involved in a motorcycle accident. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the most important things you should do after a Indianapolis motorcycle accident. Oftentimes, the fault for an accident comes down to the physical evidence, which may include pictures.
5 Steps You Should Take After a Indianapolis Motorcycle Accident
Many people automatically assume that motorcyclists are at fault for accidents because of the increased danger they face, but this is not always the case. Distracted drivers frequently hit motorcyclists because they were not paying attention and did not see them in their blind spots.
#1 – Collect Evidence
The first thing you should do after a motorcycle accident is take as many pictures as you can. It’s likely that because of stress and shock the details surrounding the accident will start to fade after a few hours. To keep this from happening and to ensure you have all of the evidence you need, take pictures of everything you can at the scene of an accident. This should include photos of both vehicles and the damages they sustained as well as any skid marks or other damages to the road. It’s also a good idea to write out your own account of the crash and include any details you can remember.
#2 – Preserve Your Motorcycle
Secondly, you should preserve your motorcycle as best you can. Your motorcycle contains important information about the accident that your attorney can analyze to prove the other driver was at fault. Refrain from repairing your motorcycle right after the accident and speak with your lawyer about repair options.
#3 – Seek Medical Attention
Even if you do not believe yourself to be injured after an accident, you must get yourself to the emergency room and have your injuries looked at as soon as possible. Many injuries may not present with immediate symptoms, and neglecting to seek treatment for them can lead to further damage to your body and a longer recovery. Some of these injuries include:
- Whiplash
- Brain injury
- Internal organ damage
- Concussions
Not only is it important that you remain healthy and minimize the damage done to your body after an accident, but a doctor will provide medical records for all of the injuries you sustained, which may help your case. You should also make sure to report any injuries to both the police officer who fills out the report as well as the EMTs who escort you to the hospital.
#4 – Gather Contact Information
Upon safely removing yourself and your vehicle from the road, it’s important to collect contact information from everyone involved in the accident including passengers, drivers, and witnesses. If there are any security cameras that may have caught the accident, be sure to collect contact information from the person or business owner who owns the camera and its footage. Collect the following from everyone involved:
- Name
- Address
- Phone number
- Insurance information (for drivers)
- License numbers (for drivers)
#5 – Never Admit Fault
Though it often comes as second nature to some, even giving a polite apology to the other party could reduce the compensation you receive because a court may see it as an admission of fault. Being in an accident is traumatic and jarring, and it is likely you may not be thinking perfectly straight afterward. To the best of your ability, do not say anything that is not absolutely necessary to the police or anyone involved.
Contact an Indiana Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today
If you were involved in a motorcycle accident, Crossen Law Firm is here for you. Our Indianapolis personal injury lawyers are ready to answer all of your questions and help guide you through the steps of your case.
To schedule a free consultation with our reliable team, dial (317) 401-8626 today. Or contact us online.
Video Transcript
Many times, the fault for an accident comes down to the physical evidence, including evidence from the motor vehicles involved in the accident, and evidence for the motorcycle. We have experts that can look at this evidence and determine who may be at fault in causing that accident. Many people always blame the motorcyclist for an accident. That’s not always the case.
Most times, it’s due to poor driving of a motor vehicle, or the motor vehicle driver not seeing the motorcyclist. There are excellent motorcycle drivers out there on the roadway. Most of the time, they’re not at fault and causing these accidents.
.jpg)