A motorcycle accident can lead to serious injuries and intense emotions. You may find yourself in an emotionally unstable state, either because of you or someone else. It is important to stay calm and take the correct action after the accident because your actions can have significant consequences when you end up filing your insurance claim or any other legal dispute. What you do immediately at the scene of the accident and even afterwards is key.

We will go over some guidelines on what to do after a motorcycle accident.

Check if the parts involved are ok

First, check yourself and others for injuries. If someone is injured, call 911 immediately. Calling for help will not hold you responsible in any way. If everyone is safe, turn off the engine and turn on the hazard lights.

Take photos

Getting photographs of the accident scene is important, but you need to make sure it is safe to do so. If you are not injured, you can use your phone or a camera and try to make sure you get images from different angles. You may also want to take pictures of the surrounding environment because it could help prove your case. You can also record a video of the aftermath of the motorcycle accident.

Call the police

After the motorcycle accident, call the police if:

• The other driver has fled the scene without providing any details.
• You think the other driver is drunk or has no insurance.
• If you suspect that the other driver intentionally caused the accident
• Someone is seriously injured

You can discuss the accident with the police officer assigned to investigate it. During this discussion, do not admit responsibility. The most important thing is that you do not make a statement until you contact your attorney. Then your lawyer will show you the steps to follow.

Obtain witness statements

Witness statements can help you prove your claim and paint a picture of the motorcycle accident. Be sure to get the contact details of a few people who witnessed the motorcycle accident before leaving the scene. If you can, write down eyewitness accounts of the accident detailing everything they observed.

You may also want to record the following information at the scene of the accident:

• Make, model and license plate of the motorcycle / car involved in the accident
• Time and date of the accident
• Driving conditions such as road quality, weather and lighting.
• Involved parties that were injured
• If you were the only person involved in the accident and you damaged private property, leave a note where the landlord can see it. You can find yourself in serious trouble if your license plate is caught on camera later.

Contact an attorney

You will need the help of an attorney, preferably one who specializes in motorcycle accident cases. Call an attorney if:

• You are wrongly accused of causing the accident.
• You have suffered injuries or associated costs due to the motorcycle accident.
• The insurance company has refused to compensate

Notify the insurance company

Contact your insurance company. They will ask for certain information including:

• Your policy number, motorcycle registration number
• The details of your motorcycle insurance and
• Details of the other drivers / cyclists involved where applicable

The above were helpful tips on what to do after a motorcycle accident. Drive safely!