When you are involved in a motorcycle accident, the most important thing is to ensure you and others involved in the crash are safe. However, there are several steps you may take immediately after the crash to help you receive compensation for your medical treatment, loss of income, and pain and suffering.
Likewise, you may also consider contacting Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak’s experienced motorcycle accident attorneys in South Bend to discuss your claim. We will review your accident and resulting injuries to help you determine if you have a case against the at-fault party.
To help you secure your motorcycle accident claim, we have provided the below guide that details what you can do after the crash to help secure your claim. To learn more, contact us and schedule a free, no obligation consultation.
Check for Injuries
After an accident, your main concern should be your health. If possible, check yourself for injuries after the crash.
Also, ask others involved in the accident if they have been injured. If possible, try to help them to receive the medical treatment they may need.
Call 9-1-1
As soon as you are able, call 9-1-1 to report your motorcycle accident and request medical help for anyone who was injured. Give your location as best as possible – look for street signs and highway mile markers that will tell you where you are.
The responding law enforcement officer will create a detailed report about your accident. The police report will be helpful in proving your case, as the officer will note which party he or she believes to be at fault and other details about the accident.
When you are free to leave the accident scene, be sure to ask the officer for a copy of the report or which agency you can obtain a copy from.
Seek Medical Treatment
Seek medical treatment for your injuries right away. If your injuries are severe, an ambulance will take you to the emergency room for treatment. If your injuries are not severe, you should schedule an appointment with your primary physician for evaluation right away.
Even if you do not think you are injured, you may still be hurt – motorcycle accident injuries can take hours or even days to show symptoms.
Insurance companies may argue that if you did not seek medical treatment, your injuries cannot be severe. Seeing a doctor immediately following your accident will document any injuries you sustained and tie them to the crash as their cause.
Photograph the Accident
Photographs are useful evidence to use in a personal injury claim and can provide a clear picture of the events that occurred during an accident. This includes pictures of the accident scene and your injuries, if possible.
After a motorcycle accident, try to take pictures of the following:
- Position of the vehicles
- Damage to the vehicles involved in the accident
- Damage to the area or property surrounding the accident scene
- Skid marks and other markings on the road
- Street signs and traffic signals
- Road conditions
- Street lights located near the crash
- Hazards in the roadway, such as potholes or uneven lanes
- Scars that remain after healing
Talk to Witnesses
Witnesses can be useful in proving your claim and showing that the other party was at fault for the accident. If there were any witnesses who saw your accident, be sure to ask for their name, contact information and permission to contact them at a later date to discuss the accident.
If possible, try to record comments from witnesses at the accident scene. It is helpful to gather all details right away, as memories of the accident can fade and information can be lost over time.
Collect Your Medical Records
Collect all medical records pertaining to the diagnosis and treatment of your injuries. Medical records that can be used in a personal injury claim include:
- Physician’s notes
- Medical test results
- Diagnostic tests results
- Surgical records
- Medical bills
- Treatment plans
- Prescriptions for medication
- Rehabilitation notes
If future treatments are required, your physician should detail this information in your medical records. If your doctor has placed you on restricted work duty due to your injuries, your medical records should also reflect this.
Collect Your Employment Records
If you have been forced to miss work due to your injury, collect your employment records to show the income you have lost since the accident. Your employment records may include recent paycheck stubs or a signed letter from your employer stating your position, salary and benefits at the time of the accident. The letter should also state the time you missed from work.
Do Not Admit Fault
Do not apologize or admit fault for your motorcycle accident. This includes while you are at the accident scene talking to others involved in the motorcycle crash or in conversation following the accident.
It is imperative to remember that your statements can be used against you. When you are contacted by an insurance adjuster, he or she will ask you to provide details about the motorcycle accident. This may include if you believe that you partially caused the accident. Admitting fault may cause the adjuster to blame you for the accident and deny you compensation for your injury.
For this reason, you should never admit to being at fault for an accident. Only provide basic details about your crash and do not speculate about what may have occurred. Also, you should consult with an attorney before speaking with an insurer. Your attorney will know how to communicate with insurers to prevent you from being assigned unfair blame for the crash.
Contact Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak to Discuss Your Claim
Motorcycle accident victims may be entitled to compensation for the injuries they suffer due to another’s negligence. If you believe you were injured in an accident that was not your fault, contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible.
Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak’s South Bend personal injury lawyers have helped numerous motorcycle accident victims pursue the compensation they needed for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
We understand the difficulties you may be experiencing, and will help you pursue the justice and compensation you deserve. When working with our attorneys, you only pay us if we recover compensation for you. There is no risk in contacting us to schedule a free, no obligation consultation.
Call (844) 678-1800 and speak to a lawyer today.
