What Should I Do After a Motorcycle Accident?

Motorcycles might comprise a small percentage of traffic, but they are more likely to get involved in catastrophic traffic accidents compared to other vehicles on the road. A large part of what makes motorcycle accidents so dangerous is the lack of protection offered by the vehicle to the rider. Unlike a car or truck, there is no metal chassis to shield the rider from impact; if they are not wearing proper protective gear like a helmet, they might sustain fatal injuries in seemingly minor traffic accidents. The inherently dangerous nature of motorcycle riding also makes these injuries different and more severe compared to other traffic accidents.

If you got injured in an accident while riding your motorcycle, you might be able to pursue legal action against the driver responsible for your incident and injuries. An experienced lawyer can help you file a lawsuit and get your legal affairs in order while you focus on recovering from your injuries. For a successful legal defense, it is important to remember to follow some essential steps after your accident that can help secure your legal rights in the case of a complicated legal battle that might ensue. The experienced motorcycle accident lawyer at Salamati Law in Los Angeles, CA has provided a very important guide on what you should do after a motorcycle accident.

Stopping at the Accident Site

Regardless of whether or not the accident was your fault, you should stop at the site of the accident. Fleeing an active accident site is a criminal offense and can put you in serious legal trouble.

Ensuring Safety

Immediately after stopping, your first action should be to check yourself and any passenger on your motorcycle for signs of visible bleeding or injuries. If you find yourself or your fellow passenger in immediate danger, you should call for help and try to get away from the motorcycle and to a safe spot on the side of the road.

Calling for Medical Assistance

You should immediately call 911 and ask for medical assistance and let them know about the accident so that they might send the local law enforcement to document the incident. When the police officers arrive, you should try to obtain a copy of their official report regarding the accident for future reference.

Staying Calm and Vigilant

One of the most important things to do after an accident is to stay calm and avoid placing any blame on anyone involved in the accident. You should also remain vigilant about not signing any documents or giving any information without legal opinion on the matter.

Collecting Physical Evidence

After you have obtained medical help for your injuries, you should use your cell phone to document the scene of the accident, including your physical injuries, damage to your motorcycle and the other vehicle involved in the incident, and brief eyewitness statements regarding their interpretation of events, and noting down the weather and traffic conditions for future use.

Contacting a Lawyer

No matter the severity of the accident, contacting a lawyer is inarguably one of the most important steps to take after an accident. An experienced attorney can help guide you through the tricky process of filing a lawsuit and compiling all your evidence to form a plausible narrative regarding the culpability of the party at fault for the accident.

Conclusion

Although it may be difficult to think clearly and logically after being involved in an unforeseen motorbike accident, following the steps outlined above is required to ensure the protection of your legal rights in case of future litigation. A skilled lawyer is your best option for obtaining fair compensatory damages through a lawsuit.