When you get involved in a motorcycle accident, you must follow some essential steps as a biker or road participant. The moments preceding the accident are critical and can influence the legal actions you intend to take. Here is what you should do if you get injured in a motorcycle accident.
Call the police
Once everyone is out of the roadway and out of danger, call the police to the scene. File a police report if there has been property damage. And if someone involved in the accident is injured, ask for medical support. The police report is essential in the process of claiming compensation for damage to your vehicle, other property, and physical and emotional health problem. Some injuries aren't evident in the first hours after the accident because your body is under the moment's rush.
It's easier to build a case when the police know there has been an accident because they keep records of each road event they can provide in case of a lawsuit. Before leaving the scene, write down the responding officers' names and badge numbers because your injury lawyer may need to get in touch with them later.
Check for injuries
Even a minor accident can trigger serious injuries, so before leaving the scene, make sure you're not hurt. As with all first aid, it's best to evaluate the situation before taking any other action. Don't help other accident victims if it puts you at risk. If you're not hurt, check on the other parties involved in the accident for responsiveness. Talk to them and ask them how they feel. Try to talk to everyone calmly until the police and emergency service arrive.
If you're a motorcyclist and injured, then you shouldn't take your helmet off because you may put your life at risk if you sustained head injuries. The same principle applies to any other motorcyclist present. Remove the helmet only if they've stopped breathing and you need to perform CPR. When there are unconscious victims at the scene of the accident, check if their airway is clear.
Collect information
After you make sure everyone is safe and out of the road, ask the witnesses to offer their contact details because your injury lawyer needs to connect with them later. When you exchange information, get their complete name, address, phone number, insurance information, and license plate car numbers of the people involved in the accident. If you have your phone at hand, take a photo of the motorcycle and other vehicles involved in the accident and a close-up shot of their license plate numbers. If you don't have your phone around or were damaged in the accident, write down the vehicle make and models, license plate numbers, and a short description of the motorcycle and cars involved in the accident.
Keep the information in a safe place because when multiple parties are involved in an accident, it's easy to mix one individual's information with another.
Don't forget to contact your personal injury lawyer as soon as possible and inform them about the accident so they can provide you all the needed help.