When you take the big step to purchase a motorcycle and get your license to drive it, you may be so excited to get out on the road that you forget about the risks that go along with driving a motorcycle. While you may be the safest driver in the world, the road conditions and other drivers can make the act of driving a motorcycle dangerous. As such, you should get to know what you should do when you have been in a motorcycle accident just in case the situation ever happens to you when you are out and about on your bike.
Accept Offered Emergency Medical Assistance
Being on a motorcycle rather than in a car means that you are more exposed to possible injury because you do not have the glass and metal surrounding you or the seat belt that you would have in a car. As such, in the event of an accident, you should never decline an offer of emergency medical assistance on the scene. This is true even if you think your injuries are minor.
Adrenaline can cause you to experience less pain in the moments after the accident than you would otherwise, meaning your injuries could be more serious than you think. Additionally, in terms of insurance coverage and any lawsuit that may occur, refusing medical care on the scene could be used against you as a way to claim any medical care you needed later on was not related to the accident.
Document Everything That You Can At The Scene
One of the most important steps that you can take after you have been in a motorcycle accident of any kind is to get documentation. If you are able to safely do so, try to document as much as you can at the scene of the accident. This will ensure that, if you need to contact a motorcycle accident attorney after the accident and go to court, you have what you need to prove your case.
Try to snap pictures of your motorcycle, the other vehicle or vehicles involved in the accident, as well as any visible injuries on your body. Again, if you are able write as many details down as you are able (or dictate it to yourself on an audio recording on your phone). You can also record conversations you have after the accident as long as you make it known you are recording. This can help fill in any memory gaps you may have later on.
Now that you know a few of the steps to take when you have been in a motorcycle accident, you can be sure to do so if the situation ever affects you. Remember to also contact a motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible after the fact, especially if you have been seriously injured, so that you can protect your interests.
