When you hit the road on your motorcycle on any of Nevada’s scenic highways, the last thing you expect is to get involved in a crash. However, accidents do happen and you need to know what to do to guarantee your well-being and right to compensation. At Pacific West Injury Law, we’ll be there to protect your legal rights, but here’s what you should do immediately after a motorcycle accident.
Move to a Safe Location
Motorcycle accidents typically occur in the middle of busy highways. After the crash, it’s best to stay calm and move to a safer location to avoid the moving traffic. Moving to a safer point will allow you to calm down, assess the accident scene, and handle everything else responsibly.
Call Emergency Medical Services
Your well-being should be your top-most priority after a motorcycle accident. Motorcycle crashes are often serious because riders and their passengers have lesser protection than other motorists. Seek emergency medical attention even if you don’t have visible injuries.
If someone else at the accident scene is injured, keep them calm, still, and in a comfortable position while waiting for medics to arrive at the scene. Be as truthful as possible when seeking treatment, and see a doctor even if you don’t feel any pain immediately after the crash.
In the confusion that follows a motorcycle accident, the extent of your injuries may not show immediately, but getting checked by a medical practitioner prevents such injuries from worsening. It’s also helpful to have everything on record, especially if you decide to pursue compensation later. The medical report will help link your injuries to the crash.Identify Witnesses
Before you leave the crash scene, it’s best to identify potential witnesses and collect their contact information. These may include other motorists, pedestrians, and anyone else who might have witnessed the incident. It’s equally important to note the at-fault party’s contact details and insurance information.
When pursuing compensation, eyewitness statements play an essential role in holding the at-fault driver responsible for your injuries and losses. If you can’t collect witness information, ask someone else to do it. Better still, a motorcycle accident attorney at Pacific West Injury Law can find potential witnesses who can help sway the case in your favor.
Collect Evidence from the Scene
It’s essential to collect as much evidence as possible from the accident scene because it can affirm your compensation claim later on. If you can stay at the accident scene, gather crucial evidence that might help hold the at-fault driver responsible for the crash and the resultant injuries and losses.
Take videos and pictures of the accident scene, including the other motorcycles/vehicles involved, the location of the crash, the damage on your bike, your injuries, and even the road conditions. Document the accident scene from different angles without compromising your safety. The evidence you gather at the scene can help accident reconstruction experts pierce together details of the accident and determine who’s at fault for the accident.
Note any odd behavior by the at-fault driver, including signs of intoxication. It’s equally advisable to contact our team right away to allow us to secure any time-sensitive evidence gathered from the scene. The earlier our team starts investigating the crash, the more opportunities we’ll have to build a strong case against the at-fault driver and other responsible parties.
File a Police Report
According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), highway patrol or police officers should get alerted about an accident, even if there are no injuries. Calling law enforcement officers allows you to file an accident report.
When they arrive at the crash scene, convey all details regarding the accident to the officer drafting the accident report. The police report will act as crucial evidence when you file a personal injury compensation claim against the at-fault driver.Notify Your Insurance Carrier
It’s best to notify your insurance company within 24 hours of the crash. You shouldn’t give away any details about the accident since they can use it to reduce the compensation payout due to you. Informing your insurance carrier about the accident is the standard operating procedure, but your attorney can handle the rest on your behalf.
Contact an Attorney
There’s no better way to protect your rights after a motorcycle accident than contacting an attorney. They will help to assess your damages and the available legal options. You may have legal recourse if the crash was caused by someone else, and we’ll help you recover the compensation you deserve.
A motorcycle accident is likely to leave you with serious injuries, not to mention you might be out of work for a while. For this reason, we’re dedicated to helping motorcycle accident victims to get compensated for their losses.
Our team understands that insurance companies will try to avoid responsibility and pay you as much money as possible or nothing at all. When you come to us, we can try to prove that the at-fault party breached the duty of care owed to you, resulting in the accident and your injuries and losses. Our team can also act quickly to ensure you recover compensation within the shortest time possible.
Talk to an Experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today
Having a skilled attorney from Pacific West Injury Law by your side can help protect your rights. We’ll provide unmatched legal representation and ensure the at-fault party’s insurer doesn’t arm-twist you into accepting a low settlement. As soon as you contact us, we can collect critical evidence, represent you, defend your interests, and negotiate on your behalf.
Pacific West Injury Law works on a contingency fee basis. We won’t charge you a penny until we secure compensation for your losses and injuries. So, if you or a loved one got injured in a motorcycle accident, contact us today for a free case review so that we build a strong case early.
