Motorcycle accidents account for 14% of all traffic fatalities. Crashing a motorcycle is a scary thing that can lead to lifelong consequences, including:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Amputations
- And paralysis
No one ever plans to get into an accident, but unfortunately, accidents do happen, and it is important to be prepared. This article is not about a fun subject, but it can save your life one day. Knowing what to do if injured in a motorcycle accident will help you safeguard your health and secure your legal rights.
Keep reading to learn what to do after a motorcycle accident.
Steps To Take After an Accident on a Motorcycle
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, make sure to follow all the steps detailed below.
Check Yourself and Move Away From the Flow of Traffic
First, you need to check yourself. Do you have any injuries? Is there a need to call an ambulance? Keep in mind that if you are physically unable to walk or move, your priority is to call an ambulance.
If you can walk and move, you need to check yourself for other injuries and then move away from the flow of traffic. You don’t want to run the risk of getting hit by a car.
Don’t rush into going into your bike to check it out or to pick up your belongings that may be on the road. Making sure you are safe is the most important step.
This will ensure you don’t get more injured in a motorcycle accident.
After moving away from the traffic flow, it’s important to gather evidence. Eventually, you will need to call your insurance company and let them know what has happened.
Gathering as much evidence as possible will help you get a positive response from them. This means taking pictures and recording videos of everything.
Take a picture of the scene as a whole, of your motorcycle, the other vehicle, and the license plate numbers from the vehicle involved. It’s better to have too much information instead of too little.
After taking videos and photos of the scene, you can take your bike off the road.
Call Law Enforcement and First Responders
Calling law enforcement is important because they will work to control the traffic, create a written report, and collect the statement of all witnesses. Assuming that you were not at fault in the accident, their reports can help you contact your insurance company and file a claim.
The first responders will make sure you are not hurt, or if you are, they will take you to the hospital. Even if you feel you are okay, it’s extremely important to get checked out by a medical professional.
Leave Your Helmet and Safety Gear On
One of your instinctive reactions after an accident can be to take your helmet, gloves, boots, or other pieces of gear off. Don’t do this. Taking your helmet or gear off can cause more damage to an existing injury. Trying to limit your movements is the best thing you can do.
Collect Information About the Other Driver and Vehicle
Always remember to write or take a picture of the license plate number of the other vehicle. Ideally, you should also take pictures of the driver’s license of the other person involved in the accident and get his phone number.
In motorbike accident claims, you are going to need to have the other drivers’ information, so your lawyer can file the motorcycle accidents claim.
Collect Information About Any Bystanders and Witnesses
If there are witnesses nearby the accident scene, make sure to get their contact information. But if they don’t want to talk, don’t pressure them.
Always treat them politely. Say something like:
“Would you be willing to give me your phone number? You saw what happened, and there’s a possibility of my insurance company wanting to contact someone present at the scene. Would be great if you could help”.
Always be thankful and appreciative if they are willing to help you. The testimony of a witness will be of great help in your motorcycle accident lawsuit.
Take Note of Any Odd Behavior From the Other Driver
In an accident situation, remaining calm is very important. Remember to stay calm and don’t get into fights with other people involved. It doesn’t matter who’s at fault.
If the other driver is getting angry and behaving aggressively, make sure to take notes of it. If possible, record a video, or if there’s any police officer on the scene, make sure to let him know. Witnesses can also be of great value in cases like that.
But no matter what happens, don’t get involved in a fight. It will not help your case in any way.
Cooperate With Police
The police’s job is to get as much information as possible. So, give them your ID, insurance card, and all the information they request. Answer all their questions and never lie.
Tell them exactly what happened, but don’t admit fault. If the office is talking to you in the scene, you can always say that you don’t remember much now and will probably remember more in the next few days. This will buy you time to speak with a lawyer.
Speak With a Lawyer and then your Insurance Company
Speaking with an attorney, even before your own insurance company can help protect your interests in a personal injury matter.
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident caused by another driver, your claim will likely fall into the personal injury case, and you can file a motorcycle accident lawsuit. And an experienced lawyer will help you seek the compensation you deserve.
If you were at fault, there’s a chance the other driver will hire a lawyer to sue you. In this case, you need to talk to an expert. Motorbike accident claims can result in expensive lawsuits.
Motorcycle injury law in Texas can be different from other states’ laws. When it comes to motorcycle accident lawyers in Austin, Texas, we have a team of experts. It’s very important to hire someone familiar with the state laws.
Common Injuries Suffered by Motorcyclists in Accidents
Head Injuries, Including Concussions
A head injury is a very common type of injury in motorcycle accidents, ranging from mild to severe cases. Mild cases can include contusion or a cut on the head, while the more severe cases can include internal bleeding, damage to the brain, skull fracture, and concussions.
A concussion is a popular term for an injury to the head. It can cause loss of awareness, headache, nausea, dizziness, grogginess, confusion, and memory problems.
Facial Injuries, Including Potential Disfigurement or Loss of Sight
A facial injury can cause loss of function, pain, and a disfigured face. Facial fractures can include a broken jaw, teeth loss, broken bones in the midface, and a broken eye socket.
A broken eye socket can cause orbital rim and orbital floor fractures, leading to loss of sight, black eye, and eye pain. More complex injuries in the face will probably require surgery to reconstruct it.
Neck and Back Injuries, Including Potential Paralysis
Neck and back injuries can cause spinal cord injury and permanent paralysis. If you think you have neck or back damage, you should avoid any type of movement. Symptoms of neck and back injuries include:
- Localized pain
- Stiffness
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Paralysis
Severe Injuries to Limbs, Including Possible Amputation
Limb injury is any injury in the leg, arms, toes, and fingers. It includes broken bones, sprains, strains, and bruising.
In the most severe cases, it can include the need to amputate. Amputation involves the loss of a body part. There are two types of amputation:
- Traumatic amputation: the accident itself causes the loss of a limb.
- Surgical amputation: the injured limb gets a loss of blood supply and needs to get amputated surgically.
Internal Organ Injuries
You run the risk of damaging a lot of internal organs during an accident, such as the liver, kidney, and spleen. It is very important to get examined by a professional because internal organs can be difficult to diagnose alone. The symptoms can include back pain, soreness, abdominal pain, and reduced blood pressure.
Severe Cuts and Bruises
Severe cuts are wounds that go through the skin and fat tissues. If the cut is split open and there is a lot of bleeding, you’ll probably need a suture.
In the case of bruises, the bleeding occurs under the skin. Most bruises are harmless, but in some cases, they can indicate a more severe problem.
Road Rash, Including the Possibility of Infection
Road rash occurs when your skin is scraped against the road. Commonly, it will not cause serious problems. However, in rare cases, road rash can cause blood poisoning, a severe infection that spreads to the bloodstream.
Motorcycle Accidents Can Cause Permanently Disabling Injuries
Motorcycle accidents can cause lifelong impacts on a person’s life. In the worst cases, you can get a limb amputated or suffer damage in the spinal cord that leaves you unable to walk for the rest of your life.
It’s also possible that you need to get hospitalized for a length of time, which can lead to a loss of wages and even a job loss.
With that in mind, you should always do your best to prevent getting into an accident.
Preventing Motorcycle Accidents
Many motorcycle accidents can’t be avoided, but some precautions can help you:
- Follow speed limits
- Never drive through the influence of alcohol, medication, or drugs
- Avoiding driving in bad weather
- Keep a safe distance from the other vehicle
- Ride responsibly
Motorcycle Safety
Taking the steps necessary to prevent an accident should always be your priority. But it is also important to invest in your safety to minimize risk and damage in the case of an accident. These investments include:
- Quality gear
- Quality helmets
- Gadgets
- Training
Contact the Office of Lee, Gober & Reyna Law Firm Today
That was it, now you know what to do after a motorcycle accident.
If you or a loved one have been the victim of an accident, you can file a motorcycle accident claim. An experienced lawyer can evaluate your case to see if you are eligible to collect compensation.
Are you looking for a motorcycle accident lawyer in Austin, Texas? Then it’s important to hire an attorney who has experience with motorcycle injury law in Texas.
Lee, Gober & Reyna Law Firm is here to help. Our experienced team of lawyers is committed to helping individuals protect their rights. Don’t wait; get in touch with us today to discuss your case.