What You Should Do if You Are in a Motorcycle Accident?

What to do after a motorcycle accident? Actually, once you face a motorcycle accident due to another driver’s negligence, you are eligible to receive compensation. This compensation will help you cover the cost of your treatment.

Also, if another driver is at fault for your accident, it is the responsibility of that driver to cover the cost of your treatment.

Risk of Motorcycle Accidents

In general, motorcycle accidents are more dangerous than other types of vehicular accidents. Apart from that, the damage a person may incur in a motorcycle accident is more than that of a car accident.

Motorcycle accidents are on the rise. According to statistics, in 2019, about 84,000 motorcycle accidents occurred, resulting in physical injuries and bodily harm.

In fact, in the same year as the total number of vehicle accident fatalities recorded, motorcycle accidents accounted for 14 percent.

Also, the injury rate of motorcycle accidents is much higher than that of car accidents. One out of 100 motorcycles has suffered physical injuries due to motorcycle accidents.

Worryingly, these statistics only cover registered motorcycles. There are some unregistered persons who must have suffered severe physical injuries due to motorcycle accidents.

Statistics also show that motorcycle riders are more prone to sustaining severe injuries and fatalities than passengers when involved in a motorcycle accident.

According to data recorded by the US traffic regulators, motorcycle riders accounted for 94 percent of motorcycle accident fatalities. 

This is because the collision impact when involved in such an accident is directly to the driver. Whereas, if you were in a car, the body of the car takes some of the impact, hence lessening the potential physical injury.

The law recognizes these worrying statistics, so riders may file a suit to receive compensation for their injury.

Compensation for Motorcycle Accidents

Like car accidents, motorcycle drivers may also receive compensation when they are in an accident, especially if another driver is the guilty party.

This compensation primarily covers their medical expenses, emotional damage, and other damages the driver may have incurred.

Just like when you sustain injuries in a car accident, motorcycle accident compensation also covers the same types.

You may receive damages and compensation for the possible loss of income, emotional damage, medical expenses, and wrongful death.

• Loss of income: The accident may stop you from going to your workplace and earning a living. Also, the law recognizes that you may suffer serious injury to a vital part of your body that may render you indisposed to work.
• Medical expenses: No doubt, you will incur medical bills to treat your injuries after a motorcycle accident. You may receive personal injury claims that cover your medical bills. 
• Wrongful death: In this case, the family of a victim may receive compensation for wrongful death. This is the case when the victim dies due to the injuries sustained in the accident.
• Emotional damage: The legal system understands that accidents take a toll on a person financially and emotionally. Hence, you are eligible to receive compensation for emotional damage in a motorcycle accident. 

What to do After a Motorcycle Accident? – Steps You Must Take

Once you face a motorcycle accident, you will need to follow certain necessary steps. This way, you will be able to ensure your safety, preserve your health, and increase your chances of receiving compensation.

Therefore, in the aftermath of a motorcycle accident, do the following:

1. Call the Police 

This action increases your chances of getting fair compensation for your injury. Also, you should ensure that you call the police immediately after your accident and report the entire event as it happened. 

In addition to that, your lawyer may use the police report as evidence to show the insurance company. Your lawyer may also present it in court to ensure you receive fair compensation.

2. Get Medical Help

Seeking medical attention is essential for your health. Also, it increases your chances of getting the best compensation. Immediately after your involvement in a motorcycle accident, you should seek a medical professional to check you and treat your wounds. Going to a hospital is the best course of action. 

“This will ensure that your injury does not escalate into a medical problem that may become difficult to treat. Also, your lawyer may submit your medical and treatment record to ensure you get the best compensation for the treatment of your injuries,” says personal injury attorney David Gordon.

Laws Guiding Motorcycle Accidents

The laws on motorcycle accidents and compensation are jurisdictional. That is, each state has its set of laws guiding motorcycle accidents and personal injury.

That is why it is essential to understand the state laws on motorcycle accidents and personal injury in the state where the accident occurred before pursuing a case in court.

It is also crucial to emphasize that most states have a statute of limitations for motorcycle accident cases.

You need to act proactively. Hence, you do not have all the time to master the personal injury law of your state before instituting a claim. That is why it is advisable to engage an attorney from the outset. 

How Can an Attorney Increase Your Chances of Compensation?

As mentioned in this article, personal injury motorcycle accident laws vary from one jurisdiction to the other.

You will need a working knowledge of the jurisdictional laws of the state in which your accident occurred. Basically, you will get an idea of what to do after a motorcycle accident.

Furthermore, dealing with insurance companies and judges proves challenging, especially immediately after the accident.

You are trying to nurse your wounds and still coping with the emotional damage. So, you may need an attorney to help you with your case and ensure you receive the fairest compensation.

You may also need to negotiate your compensation with the other driver’s insurance company. This may drag on for many days, and the insurance company may look for ways to ensure you do not get the maximum compensation due. 

However, an attorney is skillful enough to understand negotiation tactics and may use that to get fair compensation.

Also, your injury may not have been caused by another driver’s negligence but by a manufacturer’s fault. You may not know this. 

However, when you engage an attorney, they will investigate, help you build a case, and may identify that the accident is a manufacturer’s fault. They may then help you file for compensation from the manufacturer in court.

Read More:

• Understanding the Duration of Personal Injury Cases in Pennsylvania
• What Are the Key Elements of a Successful Personal Injury Lawsuit?