Physically and financially recovering from accidents depends on the actions you immediately take.
Here is what you need to do after motorcycle accidents.

The first thing you need to do is check if you or others have injuries. If you’re able, call 911.

Call the Police – Even if no one has injuries, you still need to report the crash to 911 immediately. You’ll need to file a police report and they will need to investigate and take statements. The police report is vital for your lawyers to help you build a strong, solid case. You’ll want to recover damages for your injuries, bike and any other items involved. Make sure to note down the responding officers’ badge numbers and names. Your lawyer will need them to follow up and get vital information for your case.

Collect Information – The police will take information from witnesses and involved parties. But they can miss people, or make errors. To be on the safe side, if you’re able, gather this information yourself. Gather as much information as you can from involved parties and anyone who saw the crash. You should take down: names, contact details, information from passengers of any cars, license information, insurance information, witness statements, and vehicle plate numbers. In some cases, a motorist might want to flee the scene as fast as possible. Especially if they’re the ones at fault, or they have violations on their record.

Get Photos – Get as much photographic evidence as you can. It’ll be more reliable than anything handwritten. Including any statements given the stressful nature of the accident. An accident scene will provide valuable evidence on what happened, why and who was at fault. So get pictures of the scene from as many angles as you can. The police will also take photos for their records, but the sooner you do it, the better. The scene will be fresher and less disturbed. It also helps protect you before all the evidence goes away. Take a video or photos of your motorcycle damage, and any damage to other vehicles or objects. Each accident is unique, so take photos of things you think will help your case. Think of things like debris, skid marks on the road, vehicle position. As well as any hazards that may have contributed and any visible injuries. The more evidence you get the better, as it help builds a picture of events leading to the accident.

Don’t EVER Admit Fault – When you bump into another person, it’s common for both to say they’re sorry. It’s part of human politeness. If you’re involved in a motorcycle accident, the stress can leave you numb. You might go on automatic pilot and apologize without thinking. Don’t! Most of the time, the exact cause isn’t clear right after the accident. Accidents can fog the brain, and details may take a few days to recall once the shock wears off. Be careful what you say! You shouldn’t ever say anything that may harm your case or could go against you. And saying sorry can class as admitting fault. Down the road, this can cause you a world of legal pain. Never admit fault at the scene.

Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer – You should hire a lawyer after your motorcycle accident for a few reasons. These include: if you’re innocent the other party is claiming you’re at fault, your insurer is denying your claim, damages exceed your policy cover, your injuries are major and costly. By hiring an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer, an expert will have your back. They’ll know how to deal with difficult insurers. Also, they’ll know what evidence they need to prove your innocence and build a solid case. Moreover, they can take that stress and burden off your shoulders. A motorcycle accident is hard enough to deal with. You don’t want to worry about not getting the compensation you deserve on top of this.

Get a Copy of the Police Report – After your motorcycle accident, you should follow up with the police and ask for a copy of the police report. Be aware, it could take 10 days for the police to put this together. You will need the name and badge number of attending officers as we stated earlier. Your lawyer will need a copy of this so that they can match it against their own investigations. It’s important you get a copy as it could help build a solid, iron clad case in your favour.

File an Insurance Claim – You should contact your insurer as soon as possible to make a claim. Most insurers need you to record an accident with them, even if you’re not at fault. Check your policy to see if this applies. Once you call up, they’ll get started with their investigation. They’ll also get in contact with the at-fault party’s insurers. If you don’t have insurance, then you’ll need to notify the at-fault party’s insurers of the accident. You need to remember that an insurer isn’t your friend. Not yours, and definitely not the at-fault party’s. Report the accident, but don’t say anything else. Only state an accident happened at the date and time. The insurer will then send an adjuster/investigator out to get what they need to work out liability. If you talk too much, you might admit fault by accident. Or give them something to use against you in their case to deny your claim. Or even blame you.

If you need a personal injury lawyer after a motorcycle accident, call Accident Attorney John Fagan at 777-JOHN!