Steps To Take After Being Involved In A Motorcycle Accident
Here are six steps to take after a motorcycle accident, and what actions to engage in from a legal standpoint.
Collect Contact Information
As much as you might be traumatized from being involved in a motorcycle accident, do not immediately leave the scene. Instead, make sure everyone is safely out of the road and exchange contact information with anybody else involved. Among the information, you should collect are names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance details, and driver’s license and plate numbers. Be sure to take photos of all damaged vehicles, mark down the make and model of the motorcycle, and write a description of the accident.
Alert Authorities & Seek Medical Attention
You should always call 911 so that police can arrive at the scene of the accident as quickly as possible, especially if you or anybody else is seriously injured. In this case, be sure to seek medical treatment immediately. If there is extensive property damage ($500 or more, according to Riderz Law), you should file a police report.
It is also important to note the names and badge numbers of any police officers who respond to the accident. This information will all be included in the records of the incident and help your lawyer follow up with any details relevant to your claim.
Make An Assessment Of Your Surroundings
Speak To Witnesses
In any accident or legal situation, it is always crucial to interview eyewitnesses. Record their accounts of the accident on your phone or by writing it down on paper, although the former is preferable. Then, gather all of these witnesses’ contact information so that you and your attorney can interview them later if necessary to corroborate any details or to verify that all descriptions of the incident are consistent.
Never Admit Fault
It is typically instinctive for at least one party in an accident to apologize, although you should never admit to being at fault even if you believe you are. This is because the exact cause of the accident may not be completely clear until much later (it can sometimes take hours or days to fully remember all the details), so there is no point in confessing to being responsible for something if it is just going to turn out that it was not, in fact, your fault. Always be mindful of what you say at the scene, as your statements can have severe legal consequences further down the line.
Notify Your Insurance Company
Be sure to alert your insurance company as soon as possible about the motorcycle accident and give them any information you have regarding it, including the names of the people involved and those of any witnesses.
Contact A Personal Injury Attorney
Speak To Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys
Speak to the experienced personal injury attorneys at Parnall & Adams Law in Albuquerque, New Mexico for more information about how to deal with a motorcycle accident, including whether you can sue anybody else involved for negligence.
Charles Parnall has extensive experience litigating against insurance companies and helping injured clients throughout New Mexico. He has obtained favorable decisions and verdicts from both state and federal courts.
Parnall & Adams offer free consultations and know how to tailor each case to its victims’ unique needs. Call us today at 505.600.1417 or contact us online for more information.