Four Things to Do After a Motorcycle Accident

A motorcycle accident can cause devastating injuries that could leave you disabled for the rest of your life. If your accident was caused by another driver’s negligence, you have the legal right to be fully and fairly compensated for all of the losses you suffer as a result of your injuries. Even fatal accidents may allow surviving family members to bring a wrongful death action against the negligent driver. It is important for victims to hire an experienced Riverside motorcycle accident attorney who knows how to handle personal injury and wrongful death cases properly. At Deldar Legal, we fight hard for accident victims. Our Riverside auto accident attorneys have many years of experience in working with motorcycle accident victims and their loved ones and know how to get insurance companies to payout.  Call (844) 335-3271 to schedule your free consultation.

Here are four important things to do after any motorcycle accident:

Get any necessary medical attention.

The most important thing to do immediately after a motorcycle accident is to be sure that you – and everyone else on the scene – gets any necessary medical attention. The emergency medical personnel who respond to the scene can help you determine whether you need to go to the emergency room. If there is any question, it is better to play it safe and see a doctor right away. It is not possible to know what is happening inside your body immediately after an accident, so it is important to have a trained medical provider check you for internal injuries.

If you choose not to go to the hospital immediately after the accident, it is still important to follow up with your primary care provider. Some injuries are latent. This means they do not show up right away. It could take a day or two for pain, swelling, and other symptoms to fully manifest themselves. It is also important to be sure that you are recovering from your injuries as expected, and that no further complications arise. Only a qualified medical professional can accurately give you a clean bill of health. Furthermore, the more evidence you have in the form of medical records, the better.

Consult with a motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible.

After you have addressed your immediate medical needs, it is vital to contact a motorcycle accident attorney as soon as you can. Your legal rights can be placed in jeopardy the second an accident occurs. Even statements you make at the scene of the accident can be used against you. As soon as the other driver’s insurance company is notified that you have counsel, they can no longer contact you about the accident. This will stop harassing phone calls and annoying paperwork, and will also prevent you from accidentally saying something that the insurance company can later use to reduce your settlement offer or deny your claim.

Watch what you say and do.

The insurance company will try to use anything they can against you – not just statements made at the scene. As social media use has exploded in recent years, this has become a favorite lurking ground of claims investigators. Investigators will look for posts, pictures dor statements that contradict what you have said about your injuries. Even something as innocent as a playground picture with your children could be used to deny or minimize your claim. The insurance company could argue that you couldn’t possibly be as hurt as you claim if you are able to play with your children at the park.

There are many examples of insurance investigators stalking their claimants’ social media accounts. Knox News reports on one woman whose homeowner’s insurance was canceled based upon claims she owned an “ineligible dog breed.” This fact was determined by a Facebook photo of her dog, which was not even the ineligible breed they claimed. Nationwide eventually rescinded her cancellation. The company lost her business anyway.

Insurance companies owe special fiduciary obligations to their policyholders, but this does not stop them from investigating their own clients. Imagine how much less restraint they show to third parties who are injured by their drivers. Investigations are not limited to social media. Sometimes, investigators will be sent to the claimant’s home or business to record their movements. This can be a dangerous situation for injury victims. You don’t know who will be lurking about your home and near your children.

Document all injuries and losses.

A negligent driver has a legal obligation to compensate you for all the losses you suffer as a result of your injuries. Some of these – like medical bills and property damage to your vehicle – are easy to document with receipts. Others – like and pain and suffering – are intangible, and more difficult to prove. This fact can have a serious impact on your legal right to compensation. Pain and suffering is often the largest component of any personal injury award.

In order to prove the value of your pain and suffering, it is helpful to have a record of the ways in which it has affected your life. One good way to do this is to keep a “pain journal.” Note both the level of your pain and the ways in which it has affected you. Document times when you could not sleep, attend work, children’s activities, sporting events, or other activities. Document times you could not complete your normal exercise routine or other daily activities. Keep track of all the time you spent traveling to and attending doctor’s appointments. These facts will help support your claim for pain and suffering. If your case goes to trial, they will allow your attorney to paint a vivid picture for the jury of how real your pain and suffering was.

Call Us Today to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Riverside

A motorcycle accident can be a life-altering event. It is important to protect your legal right to compensation at every stage of the claims process. Our experienced Riverside motorcycle accident lawyers at Deldar Legal are committed to helping injured victims protect their rights. We understand motorcycle accidents, and we know how to protect you from insurance company tactics. Call (844) 335-3271 or contact us online today.

Tagged with: auto accident, motorcycle accident

Posted in: Auto Accidents