According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, nearly 5,000 motorcycle accidents occurred in 2018. Many of these accidents resulted in serious injury or death. If you ever find yourself involved in a motorcycle accident, the following are the steps you should take to ensure your health and legal rights are protected.
The First Thing You Should Do After A Motorcycle Accident Is Contact 911
If you have been injured, you should always contact 911 and law enforcement following a motorcycle accident. Always provide the police with honest answers, but refrain from accepting blame or guilt or apologizing. Stick only to the facts and answer the police’s questions with honesty and truthfulness.
It is the job and responsibility of the police officer to assign responsibility and determine fault regarding an accident. Additionally, you should always request information on how to obtain a copy of the police report after it is completed by law enforcement.
Obtain Medical Attention and Evaluation Immediately
In some cases, an ambulance will arrive when you contact the police. Make sure to take advantage of a full medical evaluation at the scene of the motorcycle accident, especially if you have serious trauma. If an ambulance does not arrive, make sure to go to the emergency room or a physician as soon as possible. In some cases, motorcycle accidents can result in:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Broken Or Fractured Bones
- Internal Organ Damage
- Nerve Damage
- Spinal Injuries
- Whiplash
Even seemingly minor injuries may actually be life-threatening. Some injuries (such as traumatic brain injuries) may take a few hours or days to reveal themselves fully, according to Mayo Clinic. If you feel any differences with respect to your health following your medical evaluation, you should return to seek additional medical attention. Always keep all of your diagnostic testing, medical bills, and medical information in one place that relates to your motorcycle accident.
Contact Your Insurance Company
You will need to contact your insurance company following your motorcycle accident. Be very careful when you speak with your insurance company, and never allow your phone conversation to ever be recorded. You should also consider hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer before reporting your accident to assist you with presenting important information.
Guard Your Medical Record
Additionally, never consent to an insurance company having full access to all of your medical records. A lawyer can help you understand what information is and is not legally accessible to your insurance company.
Consult With A Motorcycle Accident Attorney About All Offers.
After your motorcycle accident lawyer has filed a claim for you, fully consider offers, and ask your attorney for their evaluation of your case. In some cases, insurance companies will immediately offer settlement amounts hoping that desperate victims will take the money. You may not want to accept an insurance company’s first settlement offer
Fight for Your Rights During the Claims Process
Finally, in some instances, insurance companies will use stall tactics in an attempt to frustrate victims into accepting low settlement offers. You have the right to retain an attorney regarding settlement offers, or have an attorney enter into insurance company settlement negotiations on your behalf.
Take a Social Media Break
Never post anything related to your motorcycle accident on any social media platform. Insurance companies have teams of people looking throughout the internet to see whether or not anything a victim has posted can be used to advocate for offering a lower settlement.
If you claim that you are severely injured in a motorcycle accident, do not post pictures of your life on the internet. Photographs can be taken out of context and twisted to paint a different story.
Additionally, it is always best to remain completely silent regarding any personal injury case or claim you may have outstanding with an insurance company. Anything the insurance company or the opposing counsel discovers on social media may be used against you regarding your motorcycle accident claim or settlement.
Contact Our Motorcycle Accident Law Firm in Bronx, NY
You only have a limited amount of time under the Laws of New York to file a lawsuit regarding your motorcycle accident. One of the most important steps to take following a motorcycle accident is to contact a motorcycle accident attorney. If you suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident and you need legal assistance, contact the Bronx motorcycle accident lawyers at Oresky & Associates, PLLC at your nearest location to schedule a free consultation. We can:
- Pursue Money Damages For Past Pain And Suffering Caused By Injuries, Money Damages For Future Pain And Suffering Caused By Injuries
- Protect Your Legal Rights
- Negotiate With An Insurance Company On Your Behalf To Ensure That You Receive A Fair Settlement Offer Under The Law
- Advocate For You To Collect Lost Union Benefits As Well
We are proud to represent accident victims in the Greater New York, NY area. We have two convenient locations in New York:
Oresky & Associates, PLLC – Bronx Office
149 E 149th St
Bronx, NY 10451
(718) 993-9999
Oresky & Associates, PLLC – Queens Office
104-09 Roosevelt Ave
Queens, NY 11368
(347) 507-3884
