Motorcycle accidents account for some of the worst traffic fatalities. Due to the reduced protection motorcycle riders have compared to car drivers, they usually end up with severe injuries from accidents. Furthermore, motorcycle accident cases are usually more challenging to resolve. Opposing parties often succeed in making motorcycle riders take the blame for the crash, even if this wasn’t the case. If you are a motorcycle rider yourself, you know how unfair this can be. Just because you prefer a riskier vehicle than the traditional car does not mean that you do not know how to adhere to the proper safety measures and protect yourself.
That said, it is your responsibility to do everything you can to guarantee fair compensation if/when you get into an accident. Below, you will find tips on how you can ensure that the scene of the accident is handled properly.
Take Pictures
Although after an accident your injuries might get in the way, you should immediately try to take as many pictures as you can. Timed photos will provide evidence of what has transpired should the other driver try to interfere with the scene to evade the blame. If your condition doesn’t allow it, ask an eyewitness to do it for you. Make sure they take close pictures of your injuries, your vehicle’s damages, as well as the other driver’s vehicle positioning. These pictures can be used as supporting evidence later on in the case if the other driver tries to challenge your claims.
Do Not Leave the Scene of the Accident
If you don’t need immediate medical care, it is recommended that you do not leave the accident scene. This will make it impossible for the other driver to use your disappearance to their benefit.
Contact Your Lawyer
After the accident, you might be feeling confused and not sure how you should handle the situation. Contact your lawyer immediately and follow their instructions as they will know how to ensure that the accident scene is not tampered with. Even if this were to happen, Nevada motorcycle accident lawyers at www.the702firm.com explain that a specialized lawyer can work with accident construction experts to verify how the accident happened. It should be comforting enough for you to know that even if you were compelled to leave the scene, your lawyer can still challenge the other driver’s false claim.
Call the Police
The sooner the police officers arrive, the more accurate their official report will be and it will include important information about the accident scene. Official police reports are an important source for building a strong case to get you the compensation you deserve. You should also remember to take the names of the investigating officers and ask for a copy of the police report to submit to your insurance company.
Inspect Surveillance Footage
Surveillance cameras, smartphone videos, and bike-cams can all be used as surveillance footage in vehicle accidents. Your lawyer has the right to request a court order to inspect any surveillance footage from locations surrounding the accident scene. This will provide even clearer evidence as to who was at fault during the accident. However, it can take some time before your lawyer can gain access to surveillance footage.
Find Witnesses
Having witnesses who can testify on your side is the best way to avoid getting into a their-word-against-your-word situation. Although police reports should include information from witnesses from the accident scene, your lawyer can help ensure that no one was omitted. In road accidents, eyewitnesses serve as a powerful evidential tool and can even alter the course of the case.
Act Fast
Whether you call the police or your attorney, you should act fast, especially if somebody is severely injured. Call attention to the accident to make sure that other drivers driving by don’t block the roads in front of the important individuals. Vehicle crashes can be quite traumatizing, however, if you can manage to get over the shock and start acting, you will be doing everyone a huge favor.
Getting into a motorcycle accident is stressful enough without having to worry about making sure that the accident scene is properly handled. However, in doing so, you have a chance to prove that you are not the one to blame and show that you deserve to be compensated. The most important thing is to follow your lawyer’s advice and not sign any documents unless they advise you to do so. And remember that anything and everything you do or say during the course of the case can be used against you and mess with your lawyer’s defense plan, so be mindful of your words and actions.