What Should I Do After a Motorcycle Accident?

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Motorcycle On Its Side After an AccidentIf you are in a motorcycle accident, the first thing to do is to check yourself and others for injuries. Of all the traffic accidents that occur in Washington, motorcycle wrecks can cause catastrophic injuries and emotional devastation to accident victims. This is due, in part, to the lack of protection a motorcyclist has compared to drivers of enclosed passenger vehicles.

What Should I Do at the Scene of the Crash?

If you suffered injuries in the crash, you—or someone else—should immediately call for an ambulance and police assistance. On the other hand, if you are physically able, you should take the following actions.

Call the Police.

If you plan to file a personal injury claim or a lawsuit, having a police report to document the accident is crucial. This report contains key details about the accident, and it may name the party who caused the crash. Your auto insurance company and the at-fault driver’s insurance company will want a copy of the police report when processing your claim.

Exchange Information With the Other Party.

Obtain the following from the other party or parties involved in the accident:

  • Names, addresses, and telephone numbers;
  • Vehicle information;
  • Driver license numbers; and
  • Auto insurance information of all drivers involved in the accident.

Also, get contact information for any eyewitnesses willing to testify about the accident. To avoid altercations, do not argue with any uncooperative drivers or pressure them for information.

Take Photographs of the Accident Scene and Injuries.

Use your smartphone to take photos of your injuries, your motorcycle damage, and the overall accident scene while waiting for police.

Contact Your Auto Insurance Company.

Insurers want to know about accidents as soon as possible. Provide your insurance company with basic details about your wreck, but avoid volunteering extra information. If you say you might have caused the crash, for example, it could hurt your ability to collect compensation.

What Should I Do After Leaving the Accident Scene?

Because bikers are more susceptible to sustaining serious injuries, you should seek medical attention after leaving the accident scene. Motorists usually report feeling pain in the following days after an accident. However, motorcyclists can feel severe pain at the accident scene.

You should also call your auto insurance company if you were unable to do so at the accident scene.

What Should I Do in the Days After the Accident?

The most important thing to do is to recover from your injuries from the motorcycle accident, particularly if you spent time in the hospital after the crash. Unfortunately, as you recover, the accident that caused your injury remains an open case. In the days and weeks ahead, bills for emergency transportation, hospitalization, and medical treatment will begin to arrive in your mailbox.

You can use the motorcycle accident claims process to file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company to recover compensation. However, if you do not have solid evidence to hold the driver liable for your accident, your claim may get denied. Before filing a claim, consider contacting a motorcycle accident attorney for a legal consultation.

How Can a Lawyer Help Me After a Motorcycle Wreck?

A motorcycle crash lawyer can explain the legal options available to you for recovering compensation for your injuries, if you did not cause the crash. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you may be able to file an insurance claim, a personal injury lawsuit, or a wrongful death lawsuit if your loved one died due to a fatal crash.

At Max Meyers Law, we help motorcycle accident victims pursue the compensation they deserve under Washington fault laws. In Washington, the party at fault for causing a crash pays for damages victims suffer in the accident. We help our clients hold the guilty party responsible for their negligent actions.

How Do I Build a Motorcycle Accident Case?

Our legal team can build a case by investigating your accident and demonstrating how the at-fault driver’s negligence caused your injury. Our case must show that the driver owed you a duty to use reasonable care to avoid causing an accident. The driver, however, breached this duty, and you suffered damages as a result.

We will prove negligence and causation by securing the following evidence:

  • A police report of the accident;
  • Traffic camera video or other video surveillance footage;
  • Photographs of the accident scene;
  • Eyewitness testimony; and
  • Your medical records stating the nature and severity of your injuries.

With this and other relevant proof, we can file and negotiate a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. If your loved one died in the motorcycle accident, you may be able to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit or a survival action.

How Can I Get Help From a Lawyer?

If you have questions about your motorcycle accident, call Max Meyers Law today at 425-399-7000 to schedule a free legal consultation. Be sure to ask for our free motorcycle book for riders injured in an accident. 

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Max is a Kirkland personal injury attorney handling cases in Seattle, King County & surrounding in WA State.