What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident
Having a vehicle accident is always stressful and scary, but it can be even more so if you have a motorcycle accident. This is because it’s often much easier to be injured in a motorcycle accident. You may be very shaken after being tossed off your motorcycle and you might find yourself suddenly needing to make decisions while you are in this state of mind. There are definitely certain things you want to do immediately after a motorcycle accident and in the days to come, and if you don’t keep your head about you, you may forget some of them.
The first thing to do, obviously, is to make certain that you are OK. Check yourself over cuts, bruises, and any odd pains. Pay close attention to any area where your clothing is torn. If you hurt when you move, try to get yourself off of the road and sit down until medical assistance arrives. If you have cuts or scrapes, do what you can to stop the bleeding, especially if it is very bad. If you aren’t able to move or are pinned underneath your motorcycle, call out for help and keep yelling until someone arrives.
Once you’ve made certain that you are OK, you should move to help any other drivers involved in the accident. If they are injured, however, you should not move them unless they are in immediate danger. Moving an injured person can make their injuries much worse, so wait for medical assistance. If anything is on fire, however, you may have to move them. Also, if you see someone bleeding profusely, you should attempt to stop the flow of blood if you can by applying pressure to the wound.
If you and the other drivers are able to make it to the side of the road, you may want to start exchanging insurance information. It might be difficult to tell who was at fault, or it may be very clear. Either way, you may want to spend this time going over the events in your mind as you remember them. It’s very important that you are able to report exactly what happened from your point of view to the police when they arrive. Don’t let others influence your version of events, and when giving your statement, try not to include things others said.
Now it’s time to deal with your motorcycle insurance company. You will need to make a claim in order to get your motorcycle repaired, and you may need to claim medical bills as well if you were hurt. Contact your insurance agent as soon as possible and give him or her all of the details. You will need to turn in a copy of the police report and any information regarding the insurance of the at-fault driver. If this was you, you will need to let your agent know so they can be prepared to receive claims from others. Your insurance will let you know where to take your motorcycle for repairs. Remember, however, that you will have to pay your deductible before you can get your motorcycle repaired.