Motorcycle Accident? Hire a Lawyer and Find Out What Steps to Follow
When a motorcycle accident happens, no matter who’s at fault, the motorcycle and its rider almost always suffer the greatest amount of damage. In the immediate aftermath, hiring a lawyer is the last thing on your mind, but in the hours and days that follow, it should be high on your list of priorities.
First Steps (Barring Serious Injury, Of Course)
Along with your license, insurance card, and list of medications and emergency contacts, keep a shortlist of what to do in the event of a motorcycle accident.
What to do after a motorcycle accident?
- Dial 911.
- Administer first aid or keep an injured person still and warm until first responders arrive.
- Barring serious injury, start gathering as much information as you can:
- Contact information for all involved, including witnesses.
- Insurance information of drivers.
- Make, model, and license plates of involved vehicles.
- Pictures and video of the scene from different points of view.
- Save time and prevent mistakes by using your phone’s camera and video features.
- Record witness accounts and your own side of the story while everything is fresh in your mind.
- Do not leave the scene unless you’re transported by EMTs.
Afterward, Watch Your Step
- In the days that follow an accident, the other party’s insurance company will probably contact you. Don’t talk to them — they specialize in asking questions in ways that will trip you up and make your insurance company liable.
- Hard as it may be to wait, don’t repair your bike right away. Wait for a professional assessment of the damage.
- Keep records of all your expenses related to the motorcycle accident, such as repair bills, medical visits and bills, costs to rent another vehicle, and costs associated with time off work.
As Soon As Possible, Consult an Attorney
Even if your bike was the only vehicle involved in the motorcycle accident, an attorney can figure out if there were extenuating circumstances beyond your control, such as incorrect or unclear signage, poorly maintained road surfaces, or malfunctioning traffic lights.
Pat Maloney: Accident & Injury Attorney understands a motorcyclist’s love of freedom, but after a motorcycle accident is no time to go it alone. Contact us today at (210) 226-8888!
Learn more about what an attorney experienced in handling cases involving motorcycles can do for you.
Pat Maloney, Jr. is a skilled San Antonio personal injury lawyer who has acted as lead counsel and co-counsel in many multi-million dollar verdicts throughout Texas. Pat Maloney represents people injured in car accidents, truck accidents, construction accidents and more. He is well known for his expertise in representing victims of serious personal injuries and has participated as a lecturer in the field of personal injury litigation. He has been named as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” Reference Book every year for the last five years.