The freedom that comes with hitting the open road on your bike can be exhilarating, but motorcycle accidents are some of the deadliest accidents out there. Not only are you more difficult to see when you’re on your bike but you are also far more vulnerable to the risks of the road. While every motorcycle accident is specific to the circumstances involved, there are steps that everyone who has been injured by someone else’s negligence in a motorcycle accident should take, and one of the most important is consulting with an experienced Texas motorcycle accident attorney as soon after the accident as possible.
What’s in This Guide
- What to Do after a Motorcycle Accident: 10 Important Steps to Take
- The Statute of Limitations for Motorcycle Accident Cases in Texas
What to Do after a Motorcycle Accident: 10 Important Steps to Take
Another driver’s negligence has left you injured in a motorcycle accident, and while you may be at an utter loss regarding how best to proceed, there are 10 important steps you can take that will help protect both your health and your motorcycle accident claim.
One: Contact the Police and File a Police Report after a Motorcycle Accident
In the State of Texas, you are required to file a police report after a motorcycle accident (or any traffic accident) if either of the following apply:
- There was damaged involved
- Someone was either injured or killed
Because very few motorcycle accidents involve less than $1,000 in damage, they generally need to be reported, and the report itself can help bolster your motorcycle accident claim.
Two: Report All Your Injuries and Symptoms
One of the most important points to keep in mind regarding motorcycle accidents is that very serious injuries can be slow to present with telltale symptoms – thus allowing the injuries ample time to become even more serious and even more difficult to treat effectively. Reporting every injury and symptom you can identify to the attending medical professional is critical.
Three: Seek Medical Treatment
If the medics at the scene of the accident offer you medical assistance, it is important to accept it. Otherwise, you should seek the medical attention you need as soon after the motorcycle accident as it is possible for you to do so.
Four: Never Make a Statement to an Insurance Adjuster
Another driver has injured you in a motorcycle accident, and you’re going to be hearing from the insurance company as a result. The adjuster handling your case will ask for a statement about the accident from you, but you are much better off allowing your accomplished car accident attorney to do so on your behalf. The fact is that the insurance company covering your claim is driven by profits, and it is looking for a reason to settle your claim for less. Because Insurance adjusters are adept at culling claim-damaging statements from vulnerable motorcycle accident victims like you, you should make it your policy to skip making any statements.
Five: Never Sign Anything without Speaking to a Lawyer
If the insurance company makes you a settlement offer right off the bat, it may be tempting to accept it and move on with your life, but doing so is very unlikely to be in your best interest. Consulting with an experienced car accident lawyer before signing off on anything relating to your claim is always the best policy.
Six: File an Application for No-Fault Benefits
In the State of Texas, insurance companies are required to offer personal injury protection (PIP), and the only way to deny this coverage is by doing so in writing. This means that you may have no-fault coverage, which can help you pay for the early expenses you experience and can augment any amounts that exceed the at-fault motorist’s insurance caps.
Seven: Obtain a Copy of Your Police Report
The police report that the officer writes up at the scene of your motorcycle accident can go a long way toward bolstering your accident claim. If the police report does not reflect your version of events, however, it’s important to recognize that it isn’t the final say on the matter (the evidence in your case may tell a different story). Regardless, the police report will play a role in your claim, and it’s critical that you know what’s included in it from the outset.
Eight: Attend All Medical Appointments
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, attending all of your medical appointments and carefully following your doctor’s instructions and advice is important not only to your health but also to your motorcycle accident claim.
Nine: Keep Good Records after a Motorcycle Accident
Gathering and organizing all the relevant records in your motorcycle accident claim, including your medical records, medical bills, pay stubs, and a written account of your physical and emotional pain and suffering, can play a pivotal role in building your strongest claim.
Ten: Check Your Auto Insurance Policy
In Texas, your car insurance company is required to offer you personal injury protection (PIP), and this is coverage that protects you regardless of who is at fault. You may well have PIP coverage, which makes checking out your auto insurance policy an excellent idea. Your PIP policy may augment the coverage you receive from the at-fault party’s insurance provider.
The Statute of Limitations for Motorcycle Accident Cases in Texas
The statute of limitations for filing a motorcycle accident lawsuit against the negligent motorist who left you injured refers to the time limit established by law, and in Texas, it is two years from the date of the injury-causing accident. Although two years may sound like plenty of time to resolve the matter, motorcycle accident claims tend to be quite complicated, and because you are likely to be laid low by your injuries, the two-year statute of limitations can speed by. Discussing the matter with an experienced Texas motorcycle accident attorney sooner rather than later is always the best practice.
An Experienced Texas Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help
If someone else’s negligence leaves you injured in a motorcycle accident, the distinguished Texas motorcycle accident attorneys at The Patel Firm have the experience, legal insight, and drive that you are looking for. Bringing your strongest case is paramount, so please don’t wait to contact or call us at 361-400-2036 for more information today.
