The first person you should be in touch with after being involved in a motorcycle accident is undoubtedly medical personnel. Get medical help for your injuries before you decide to take any action.
If you had a passenger on your motorcycle, make sure he or she gets medical attention too. After all emergency injuries have been taken care of, contact your local police department and file a report about the motorcycle accident.
If your injuries are not serious, and if you are able to do so, get the contact information of all the witnesses at the scene of the accident, take down the:
Also, take down the insurance and contact information of the other motorist or motorcyclist involved in the accident. This lets you contact the other motorist’s insurance company if you’re filing a liability claim against it, and allows you to contact witnesses if you need statements later.
Also, get in touch with a lawyer. Contact a lawyer even if your injuries are not life-threatening. Even moderate injuries can have long-term consequences of which you may not immediately be aware. For instance, a neck injury may seem minor, or simply painful or annoying. However, it can result in long-term pain or restricted motion which is not only painful but can also prevent you from going about your daily activities or reduce your capacity to work.
A lawyer can advise you about your options for compensation for:
An insurance adjuster working for the insurance company of the other party involved in the motorcycle accident will probably be in contact with you. He or she will ask you for an interview shortly after the accident, but try to avoid one so shortly after the accident other than to give a brief statement about basic facts (e.g., who was involved, where it occurred, etc.).
Insurance adjusters are trained to manipulate your statements in order to make it seem like the accident was your fault. The main goal of the interview with the insurance adjuster is to get you to say something that could jeopardize your claim or downplay your injuries. This is done so that the insurance company can pay you the least amount that it can.
You may have to speak with the other motorist’s insurance adjuster if you decide to file a personal injury claim. In such cases, have a lawyer present or consult your attorney before the interview to protect your rights. If you were in a serious accident, do not give a detailed statement to the insurer without the counsel of a lawyer.
If you have suffered an injury in a motorcycle accident in Dallas, speak with attorney Julie Johnson. Call us at 214-290-8001 to set up a free consultation so you can discuss your options for compensation. You can also ask for a personal evaluation of your case by filling out our contact form.
