What to do After a Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle Accident,Personal Injury - March 28, 2024 by Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates
If you or somebody you care about has been involved in a motorcycle accident, it is crucial that you take certain steps to help ensure your well-being and secure any compensation you may be entitled to. We know that the aftermath of any type of vehicle accident can be confusing and stressful. However, we want to list some of the basic steps that you can take in order to ensure that you are properly cared for.
Steps to Ensure You Recover Maximum Compensation
There are various steps that you can take in order to ensure that you recover the compensation you are entitled to if your motorcycle accident was caused by the actions of another driver.
1. Seek immediate medical care
It is crucial for motorcycle accident victims to seek immediate medical care following an accident. Even if a motorcyclist does not feel much pain after an incident occurs, they need to be evaluated by a doctor. The truth is that some motorcycle accident injuries may not show signs or symptoms for hours or even days after the incident occurs. If a motorcyclist fails to seek medical care immediately, this could be used as evidence by insurance carriers who may try to say that the incident did not cause any injuries at all.
2. Report the incident to the police
Just about every vehicle accident has to be reported to the police in Illinois. It is crucial for a motorcyclist to make sure that law enforcement officials come to the scene of the incident to conduct a preliminary investigation. The police will be responsible for filling out the accident report and obtaining basic information related to the incident, including information from the other driver(s) involved. Insurance carriers are always going to ask for the police report related to the incident.
3. Gather evidence if you can
Motorcycle accident victims can gather evidence at the scene of the incident, but only if they do not have to seek immediate medical care and only if the scene is safe. Those involved in these accidents can use a cell phone or another type of camera to take photographs of everything they see, including damage, injuries, debris and skid marks, traffic and weather conditions, and more.
Additionally, if there were any eyewitnesses to the crash, motorcycle crash victims should get the names and contact information of these individuals. Eyewitness accounts could be helpful for insurance carriers and even during a personal injury lawsuit.
4. Contact an attorney immediately
The quicker a motorcycle accident lawyer in Illinois can get involved, the better. These cases often become complicated, particularly because insurance carriers and other parties have unwarranted biases against motorcyclists. This can lead to a motorcyclist facing blame even if they did not cause the incident. An attorney will begin an investigation in order to determine liability. They will handle all negotiations with insurance carriers and even file a personal injury lawsuit if necessary.
5. Document everything
In the aftermath of a motorcycle crash, injury and property damage victims need to document everything. This includes keeping all medical records and bills as well as property damage estimates or receipts. Additionally, we encourage motorcycle accident victims to keep a daily journal that logs everything that has happened, including any pain and suffering they experience.
6. Continue all medical treatment
It is crucial for motorcycle accident victims in Illinois to continue all medical treatment recommended by their doctor. This includes any physical therapy or rehabilitation as well as using any medical devices that are necessary. If a person discontinues medical care against the advice of a doctor, this could be used as a sign by insurance carriers that the injuries were not really significant.
