Motorcyclists are at greater risk of life-threatening injuries after they’ve been in an accident on the road. They are not protected by a compartment like car drivers and are fully exposed to the pavement. Even with protective gear on, motorcyclists may have severe wounds. If you were in a terrible motorcycle accident that you believe wasn’t your fault, you should take these steps to help you start your settlement case.
Take Pictures
After you’ve been in a horrible accident, you need to take pictures of the scene to show how you got into your motorcycle crash. This will help show how bad the damage is and prevent the crash from being blamed on you. You can show the positioning of your bike and the other cars and take pictures of your cuts and wounds.
Ask for Contact Information
Get the contact information of the driver who is responsible for your accident. You can also take a picture of their license tag as additional evidence.
Wait for Police to Arrive
Don’t leave the scene before the police arrive so that you can inform them of how the accident occurred. They will take into consideration both you and the other involved drivers’ opinion of how it happened. This official record can later be retrieved as evidence.
Get a Medical Checkup
Even if you don’t think your injuries are bad, still see a doctor. You may have hidden injuries that take days or weeks to appear, such as soft tissue injuries or minuscule fractures. If you wait too long to announce your injuries, they may be taken less seriously, or it can be harder to prove that they are connected to your motorcycle crash.
Call Your Insurance Company
You should inform your insurance company of how you got into a motorcycle crash. Give them as much detail as possible and send pictures of your property damage. They may be able to cover some of your losses and even medical bills depending on your insurance policy coverage.
Decline Other Insurance Company Settlement Offers
The other driver’s insurance company may reach out to you and offer you a settlement. Do not accept it. If your damages far exceed that of the settlement you agree to, there is no going back. First, let your attorney calculate your damages fairly and accurately. This will prevent insurance companies from undercutting the amount you are due.
Get In Touch With an Attorney
Your attorney can calculate your economic and non-economic damages using traditional industry methods. They can also guide you on communicating with insurance companies if they try to offer you settlements. Attorneys are also great at obtaining evidence for your cases, such as traffic camera footage, cell phone data usage, and other reliable information that can prove how the other party was at fault.
What to Do Next To Begin a Motorcycle Accident Settlement
Once you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, it may be a long way to recovery before your life goes back to normal. A Fresno motorcycle accident lawyer can make life easier by getting you the compensation you deserve so you can focus on your recovery. Medical bills, wage loss, and property damage are too expensive to take on alone. Instead, a lawyer can help you secure a settlement to cover these costs.