Important Steps to Take After Being Involved in a Motorcycle Accident

Riding a motorcycle is one of life’s simplest joys—there’s nothing like riding as the sun comes up or stopping your ride at the end of the day to watch the sunset over the horizon. Unfortunately, this hobby comes with more than its fair share of risks. Many drivers are not trained on how to drive safely around motorcycles, which means that they often take unnecessary risks. Knowing what you should do after an accident can save time when every moment matters and help you fight for fair and full compensation.

Ensure Your Safety
The immediate priority after a motorcycle accident is to ensure your safety and the safety of others in the area. If possible, move yourself and your motorcycle to a safe area away from traffic to avoid further accidents or injuries. When you’re in a car accident, you often don’t want to move your motorcycle until a police officer or emergency dispatcher tells you to do so. But when you’re on a motorcycle, that simply isn’t the case—drivers are unlikely to see your bike in the middle of the road, which makes additional accidents likely.

Once you’ve ensured that you’re safe from additional collisions, assess your physical condition and check for any injuries. If you or anyone else is seriously injured, call emergency services immediately.

Report the Accident
Properly reporting the accident and notifying the relevant parties is essential for the claims process. Immediately report the accident to the police if you have not already called emergency services. The West Chester Police Department may respond to the scene. You will also want to contact your insurance company as soon as possible to report the accident and start your accident claim.

At some point shortly after the accident, the other party’s insurance company may also reach out to you. Be very cautious about what you say and consider whether or not you even want to answer the phone. If the other party’s insurance company calls you, you may be better off talking to your attorney before you take their call.

Gather Evidence at the Scene
Collecting evidence from the accident scene is vital for building a strong motorcycle accident case. Take photographs and video footage of the accident scene. Ensure that some of your photos and videos include the positions of both vehicles, damage to the vehicles, skid marks, traffic signs, license plates, and any visible injuries. These visual records can be useful to your insurance provider and your attorney as they establish what happened and figure out who is liable.

If anyone stops at the scene to provide assistance or their view of what happened, get their contact information. Their statements may become a critical part of your accident claim, especially if there are major discrepancies between your side of events and what the other driver says.

If possible, preserve any physical evidence related to the accident. This may include damaged parts of your motorcycle, clothing, or objects at the scene.

Seek Medical Care
Even if your injuries initially appear minor, it’s important to get checked out by a doctor. Some injuries may not be immediately apparent, and a medical professional can provide a thorough evaluation and documentation of your injuries. There are several facilities in the West Chester area, including AFC Urgent Care West Chester and Chester County Hospital Emergency Department.

Talk to An Attorney
If pursuing compensation is one of your top priorities after a crash, it is important to talk to a motorcycle accident lawyer right away. They can take over communication with the other party’s insurance company, gather important evidence, and build a case supporting your right to compensation. They will also handle negotiations in an effort to get you the fair and full compensation you are owed. Ideally, you should talk to an attorney as soon as possible after your collision.

The team at Kingbird Legal understands the devastation a motorcycle accident can cause. We’re here to support you as you fight for a fair settlement. Take the first step in your claim right now by calling our West Chester, PA office today at 484-289-4880 or by sending us an online message.