There’s nothing like the feeling that comes from riding a motorcycle. The experience of riding along the open road is relaxing, enjoyable, and thrilling—but it can end abruptly when other drivers fail to share the road adequately with motorcycle riders. The lack of protection for motorcycle riders increases the risk of sustaining severe injuries after a motorcycle accident. Some common injuries after a motorcycle wreck include road rash, fractured and broken bones, and head injuries.
Though motorcycle riders have the same rights as other vehicles, drivers often fail to see them, crowd them off the road, or simply don’t yield the right of way. Whatever the reason, negligence of inattentive drivers can cause life-threatening injuries after a motorcycle accident. If you’re involved in a motorcycle accident, you can take several steps at the accident scene that may help prove negligence and strengthen your potential claim. It’s essential to learn what to do after a motorcycle accident for safety, accountability and to protect your interests.
Get To Safety
The first thing you should do is analyze your surroundings and current situation. You may be in harm’s way or badly injured. If possible, move yourself to safety, away from the roadway and out of traffic. If other people were also victims of the accident, help them get to safety as best you can.
Call 911
After you have gotten to safety and removed any protective gear, call 911 to report the accident. More than likely, first responders will be sent to the scene. Depending on the severity of the accident, paramedics and fire personnel may also arrive.
Do Not Remove Protective Gear
You may be in shock after an accident, and with adrenaline pumping, you might not feel pain or injuries immediately. Always keep that in mind and wait for paramedics before removing protective gear. When they arrive, remove your helmet and any other protective gear to avoid exacerbating injuries. Your neck and spine must stay protected in particular; motorcycle accidents can often result in significant neck and back injuries.
Seek Medical Attention
After an auto accident—especially as one as significant as a motorcycle accident—it’s vital to seek medical attention. You may have herniated discs, broken bones, or even more serious internal issues such as a concussion, organ damage, and internal bleeding, which may not be initially apparent. Here are a few examples of injuries after a motorcycle wreck that may result in delayed symptoms:
- Neck pain. Whiplash is a rapid movement of the neck in a back-and-forth motion. The symptoms include headache, neck stiffness, and pain with neck movement. In severe cases, you might develop blurry vision, ringing in the ears, and memory loss. Don’t dismiss neck pain as simple soreness. It could be a symptom of something more significant such as a herniated or slipped disc. You should always seek medical attention to receive an accurate diagnosis.
- Abdominal pain. Internal bleeding is severe and can last for hours, or even days, without direction. The symptoms may include large areas of deep purple bruising, swelling, dizziness, and fainting. Internal bleeding can induce life-threatening injuries. In this setting, seeking medical attention is vital for your health.
- Head Injuries. Head injuries such as concussions and hematomas can be considered life- threatening depending on severity. If you’ve suffered a head injury after a motorcycle accident, seek medical attention immediately.
Don’t Admit Fault
Some people may inherently offer an apology after an accident. However, an apology may lead others to believe that you are at fault. Law enforcement is tasked with finding who is at fault after an accident, so don’t say anything that will exacerbate the situation. Don’t admit fault. Instead, call a motorcycle accident lawyer who can advise you of your rights and protect your interests.
Collect Evidence
Advances in cell phone technology make it possible to collect vital evidence at the scene of the accident. If you can, use your phone to record video, pictures, and the witness’ contact information. Any evidence collected at the scene will be helpful for your motorcycle accident attorney. If you can’t collect evidence because of your condition, don’t worry—a qualified motorcycle lawyer like the ones at The Patel Firm PLLC will always have a team ready to be deployed to the accident scene to gather evidence for your matter.
Control Your Anger
It’s normal to experience a range of emotions after you’ve been involved in an accident. Many riders have a special connection with their motorcycles, and it’s natural to be angry. This can be exacerbated if you are hurt. After an accident, you may initially experience fear and anger stemming from the other driver’s blatant recklessness or the loss of your bike. The injuries suffered by you or your passenger will undoubtedly bring on a wash of emotions.
Resist confronting the other driver immediately following an incident, or witnesses may later claim you were the aggressor. Aggression could cause a physical altercation or provide the basis for false claims later. Losing your cool will only come back to haunt you later as you pursue your claim against the other party.
What If I Wake up in the Hospital?
You or a family member must be very cautious about what your health insurance will pay for and what it won’t. Whether the provider is out of network and whether the services are emergency services or not affect how they are classified. Getting in touch with a qualified professional immediately after a motorcycle accident—such as a motorcycle accident lawyer—can relieve some of these difficult decisions. A lawyer for motorcycle accidents can help you and your family determine the right way to pay for the medical bills incurred at the hospital and beyond.
Seek Legal Counsel
After any auto accident, especially one as significant as a motorcycle accident, it’s important to seek legal counsel from a dedicated motorcycle accident lawyer. We hope this guide on what to do after a motorcycle accident has informed you how to protect your rights after a motorcycle accident. The sooner you contact a Corpus Christi motorcycle accident lawyer, the quicker your interests will be represented, evidence will be secured, and you’ll be in the best position to get the medical treatment you need and the compensation you deserve.
Motorcycle accident lawyer Minesh J. Patel and his team at The Patel Law Firm PLLC commit every day of their practice to help Texas residents and visitors just like you recover from devastating injuries after auto accidents. We have the resources, experience, and reputation to fight for your rights vigorously. Let us help you obtain the compensation you deserve after a motorcycle crash disrupts your life. Call us today at (361) 400-2036 or contact us online for a free consultation.
