You’ve Been in a Motorcycle Accident: Here’s What to do Next

Motorcycle riders need to know what to do after a motorcycle crash in Connecticut. An injured motorcyclist should seek immediate medical care and report all injuries. They should also avoid making statements to insurance adjusters that could affect their motorcycle accident claim. It's also advisable to seek the help of a motorcycle accident lawyer after a crash.

Your Guide on What to do After You've Been in a Motorcycle Accident

Here are seven steps to take after a motorcycle accident in Connecticut.

1. Check Yourself for Severe and Minor Injuries

It's normal for accident victims to get confused and remain in shock after an accident. Still, it's important to check for injuries after a crash. Check if you are bleeding or severely hurt. Can you walk? Do you feel any pain? Checking for injuries is an essential step since it gives you crucial information that you can report when making a 911 call.

2. Ensure Others Involved in the Accident Are Safe

Once you are done checking for injuries, make sure others involved in the crash are okay. If anyone is trapped or in danger, help them. For example, a passenger may be trapped in a burning vehicle and at risk of burn injuries. Helping them get out of their vehicle may be a matter of life and death. Helping them may also reduce the chances of injuries.

It's also advisable to move away from the crash location. Staying at the crash site is risky. Other motorists may lose control and collide with your motorcycle. During such times, having motorcycle safety gear like helmets and jackets can reduce the impact of the crash.

3. Contact Local Authorities and Request Emergency Vehicles

After a motorcycle accident in Connecticut, contact emergency services to report the accident and your injuries. Report your injuries to the police, paramedics who arrive at the accident scene, and doctors at the hospital emergency room. Law enforcement officers will prepare an accident report that can help with your motorcycle accident claim. This report may contain evidence that your lawyer could use to help you recover compensation for your crash.

4. Keep Track of All Medical Expenses, Hospital Records, and Damages

After a motorcycle accident, make sure you attend all medical appointments, whether it's physical therapy or routine follow-ups with your doctor for your traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury. Your wellbeing is important after a crash. Following your doctor's orders can help with the recovery process.

While seeking medical care, it's important to keep track of your expenses. Note down how much the drugs or surgery cost. Also note down any miscellaneous expenses associated with the accident, such as trips to the hospital or pharmacy and hospital discharge records. In a personal injury claim, the defendant's insurance coverage may pay for your past, present, and future medical bills.

5. Reach Out to Your Insurance Company, Regardless of Fault

Notifying your insurance company is critical after a motorcycle crash. Disregarding this step may affect your personal injury claim. Remember, insurance companies may have specific terms regarding how and when you should notify them. It's advisable to notify them as soon as possible.

Still, you should be wary about what you say to your insurance carrier. Do not make statements that may jeopardize your personal injury claim. A Connecticut motorcycle accident attorney may help you reach out to your insurance provider and file any paperwork related to the crash.

6. Order a Complete Police Report of Crash Scene

A police report can prove who was at fault during an accident. It may contain evidence your lawyer can use to build a strong motorcycle accident claim. A police report can document what happened during the crash and acts as an official record of the crash. It may include crash-related details like statements from those involved in the crash.

Insurance companies often give a lot of weight to what's in police reports. They will analyze such reports to determine if you deserve compensation for facial injuries or flesh wounds after a motorcycle accident.

Your motorcycle accident lawyer may use the police report generated by an investigating officer to build an airtight personal injury claim. To do this, you may have to order the report online or contact the traffic division that responded to the accident scene. If you don't know the identification number of the report, you can provide the date, time, and location of the motorcycle accident, along with your name, to help with locating the police report.

7. Consider Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit if Necessary

Even experienced riders can get involved in fatal crashes. If you are exposed to abdominal injury risk or lose a loved one after a motorcycle accident, you should consider filing a personal injury claim. Working with a reliable motorcycle accident lawyer near Connecticut can help you recover maximum compensation for your losses. 

An experienced lawyer can gather and analyze evidence related to your case including dashcam footage, eyewitness statements, medical records, employment records, and police reports. Analyzing such evidence can help prove who is liable for your motorcycle accident and injuries. 

Once liability is established, your lawyer will file a demand letter seeking compensation for your damages. An attorney may also file a personal injury claim if settlement talks with the insurance company don't work out.

Prepare Yourself for Legal Action After Your Motorcycle Crash

Head-on collisions are the most common type of motorcycle crash. For larger motorcycles, one may sustain catastrophic injuries, such as burn injuries, after colliding with other motor vehicles on Connecticut roads. During such times, you should consider enlisting the services of a reputable law firm to help with your motorcycle accident claim.

Our legal team at Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge will investigate your accident claim and help you recover maximum compensation. We will speak to medical experts and analyze your injury patterns to get a better understanding of your physical wellbeing. Our attorneys will also calculate your damages and file a personal injury claim as soon as possible.

Contact us today to find out if you have a valid motorcycle accident claim. Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge, P.C. helps injured motorcyclists in Connecticut get the justice they deserve. We are ready to discuss your legal options.

Get started now before it's too late. We are here to help.