Being in any kind of accident is always something that you should try to avoid, but sometimes, despite your best intentions, accidents can still happen. This is perhaps even more true for motorcyclists, because no matter how carefully you drive, there is always the possibility that a car won’t see you.
While you hopefully won’t be getting into any motorcycle accidents any time soon, it’s still a good idea to know what your rights are after an accident, just in case.
You have the right to a lawyer
Very often, road accidents tend to end up in court, especially if someone was at fault and it wasn’t a freak accident. Of course, if someone is accusing you of causing the accident, you will need a good lawyer to help you get a solid defense.
But you may also be able to claim some sort of compensation if you were injured in an accident that was someone else’s fault. You will, once again, need a good lawyer to increase your chances of winning the case. Be sure to look at a motorcycle law firm that specializes in these types of cases.
You have the right to take photos of the accident scene
You will most likely need photos of the accident scene, whether for a police report, a medical report, or a court case. It is best that you take these photos yourself so that you can be sure that everything is properly documented.
Start by taking a general photo of the scene, and then close-ups of any damage to your motorcycle. You should also take photos of any injuries you have. Taking photos of a motorcycle accident is very similar to taking photos of a car accident, so you can follow these tips.
You have the right to call the police
Even if no one was injured in the accident, you should consider calling the police. Having an unbiased third party there can be helpful if the case ever does go to court and you and the other involved party remember things differently.
Unfortunately, it is often the case that motorcycles get stolen during the chaos of an accident, especially if you were unconscious for a while, in which case you will also need to get the police involved. Having a GPS for your motorcycle can be helpful in situations like these.
You have the right to ask for details
Of course, you have the right to ask for the details of the other party who is involved so that you can contact them for insurance claims and other logistics. However, that doesn’t mean they need to give it to you. If they refuse, try to get the police on the scene as soon as possible and also write down their license plate number.
You should also ask for the details of anyone who witnessed the accident. To learn more about what steps you should take after a car accident, click here. You can simply apply these same steps to a motorcycle accident.
