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Riding a motorcycle is dangerous. As a seasoned rider, you probably hear this everyday. You have to contend with hostile drivers and drivers who just don’t look before they take action on the road. It’s no wonder that 15% of all traffic-related deaths are attributed to motorcycle accidents.
What happens after a motorcycle accident can often be just as crucial to the rest of your life as those few terrifying seconds during the accident. Our motorcycle accident lawyers have seen a lot of mistakes made after an accident. We don’t want to see you make the same mistakes. Read on to see what the most dangerous post-accident mistakes are and how you can avoid them.
- Admitting fault for the accident. When an accident is happening, it’s often impossible to tell how it started and who did what. While you may think you did something to cause the accident, the scene of the accident is not the place you want to admit fault. Not only might this not be the case, but you might also be limiting your rights to compensation later.
- Not calling the police. You might think you’re ok. Maybe you’ve only got a few scuffs on your bike. It doesn’t matter. The other party might also try to talk you into not calling. Don’t listen. If you are in a motorcycle accident – Call the Police. You need their report in order to help protect your rights moving forward.
- Under-estimating your injuries. When someone asks you how you’re doing, the most common go-to response is “I’m fine.” This could be the case even if a bone is protruding from your leg. Try to avoid telling people you’re ok. Seek medical help immediately, either from an emergency room physician or your family doctor.
- Failing to collect evidence. After an accident, it is critical to get evidence. Seek out witnesses, any pictures or video that was taken. If you’re able, take your own pictures. Take pictures of your injuries, your motorcycle, the other parties’ vehicle and the scene of the accident.
- Talking too much to insurance companies. Insurance companies exist for one reason only – their own profits. They are not interested in getting you the best, fastest settlement. They are interested in giving you the minimum amount of money they think they can get away with. So, they are skilled in asking questions in a way that makes you think they are on your side. Don’t be fooled. Talk to an attorney before you talk to an insurance company.
- Waiting too long to file a lawsuit. Another thing insurance companies are good at is delaying compensation until the statute of limitations has passed for you to file a lawsuit. Here, the adage is true – if you snooze, you lose.
- Filing a personal injury claim by yourself. You wouldn’t do dental work on yourself, would you? Having an experienced motorcycle attorney on your side can mean the difference between getting nothing for your injuries and having your injuries fairly compensated. Let us help.
Contact our team at Nagel Rice, LLP today for assistance with your motorcycle accident claim.