May is Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month, and as warming weather becomes more inviting for motorcyclists and other outdoor enthusiasts, it is also a great time for a reminder from our motorcycle accident attorneys about what to do if you or a loved one is seriously injured in a motorcycle crash.
In 2019, 118 Missouri motorcyclists and 136 Illinois motorcyclists lost their lives in crashes. Thousands more were injured in motorcycle accidents. For these people and their families, lives have been forever changed. All-too-many times, these accidents occur because a distracted or reckless driver failed to notice a motorcycle.
Our St. Louis motorcycle accident law firm has been saddened to see that, even though overall motor vehicle accident statistics have gone down in recent years, serious injuries and deaths of motorcyclists are on the rise.
You are entitled to compensation in the tragic event that you are injured or if a loved one is killed in a motorcycle accident caused by another driver. By law, the other driver is required to carry insurance to not only cover the cost of your medical bills and physical damage, but to compensate for what could potentially be months or years of physical therapy, lost wages, and other less tangible expenses, yet insurance companies typically do all they can to close your case as quickly and as cheaply as they can. Our experienced motorcycle accident attorneys at OnderLaw can help you to collect all that is due.
What to Do if You Are in a Motorcycle Crash
If you have been in a motorcycle accident, you must act quickly in order to protect your rights. Follow these four rules of motorcycle accidents to ensure that you receive the compensation you need and deserve:
- Call 9-1-1. If you are physically able, call 9-1-1 to report the crash. It is critical that the police complete a report that documents the location, parties involved, and other details so that fault for the motorcycle accident can be established. Without a report, it will be very difficult to prove what happened in court or to the insurance company.
- Go to an Emergency Room, Urgent Care, or to your Doctor. When you are involved in a motorcycle accident, your body releases adrenaline, the “fight or flight” hormone, as part of a natural form of defense. In prehistoric times, this hormone would have enabled us to flee from an attacking predator or to find safety if we were injured. Though we do not need to run away after an accident, adrenaline can help us to function until we are safe. The problem is that it also keeps us from feeling pain or recognizing that we are injured.Many injuries that seem minor can become worse over the course of hours or days if they are not treated. Even if you think you are not badly injured, seeking emergency care ensures your injuries are treated and that your condition does not become worse. Also, medical records and bills are an important way to document both your injuries and your damages. Be sure to attend as many follow-up visits as your doctor deems necessary.
- Document Everything after a Motorcycle Accident. Medical records and the police report are not the only important documents you’ll want to save. Other evidence is also very important to establish a case and to get the compensation you deserve. Be sure to also gather the following:
- Photographs and videos of your injuries, damage to the vehicles involved, and the accident scene, including skid marks, stoplights, and any other potentially relevant information.
- Contact and insurance information for the other driver.
- Witness names and statements gathered at the scene.
- Information about weather, traffic, or anything else that can help establish fault.
Our experienced motorcycle accident attorneys at OnderLaw can help you determine what additional information you may need, and can assist with an investigation, if needed. If you are in a motorcycle crash and another driver is at fault, contact us immediately at 314-963-9000 from anywhere in the United States for a free, no-obligation consultation.
- Do Not Agree to Anything Until You Speak to an Attorney.Insurance companies are not on your side. Though representatives may sound caring and friendly over the phone, in reality, their job is to close your claim as quickly and as cheaply as they can. They count on the fact that you probably don’t know your rights or how much you are really entitled to in a motorcycle accident insurance claim. DO NOT verbally agree or sign anything from either your insurance company or the insurance company of the at-fault driver without talking to an experienced motorcycle accident attorney. Our attorneys can help you to get the maximum amount of compensation the law will allow.
Our attorneys have helped those injured in motorcycle accidents retrieve millions of dollars in damages. Don’t risk the potential of being stuck with future medical bills or other expenses after you or a loved one is injured or killed in a motorcycle accident. Whether you live in Missouri, Illinois, or anywhere else in the U.S., call the St. Louis motorcycle accident lawyers at OnderLaw.
