Motorcycle accidents can be fatal or cause catastrophic injuries to riders. Furthermore, all parties involved often have to pay a heavy price after a two-wheelers crash.
No matter how careful riders could be, an accident can happen at any time. Therefore, they should know what actions to take after these incidents.
How does someone respond to a motorcycle accident in NY? The steps victims should take are detailed below.
Get to a Safe Area and Seek Medical Attention
After a motorcycle accident, getting to a safer area on the road's side is essential to avoid being injured by other vehicles.
After that, affected individuals should seek medical attention. Even if they think they are uninjured or have minor injuries, going to a doctor or hospital right away is a crucial step following a motorcycle accident.
Some people go into a state of shock if they experience a vehicle crash, becoming numb to the discomfort they may be experiencing. Others may also suffer injuries that do not cause immediate symptoms, such as a concussion or whiplash.
In addition, medical reports are key when people want to reach fair agreements with insurers or plan to fight personal injury claims when cases escalate.
Call the Police and File a Report
New York traffic law states that those involved in motorcycle accidents must file a report with the police as soon as possible.
If the crash results in death, injury, or property damage, people have up to 10 days after the crash to file a report.
However, those who are incapacitated or injured and cannot complete this step themselves can ask a family member to call the police and report the incident.
This step is crucial because the police can help those affected to collect evidence for the case. In addition, it is particularly useful when the at-fault party denies responsibility for the accident.
Gather Evidence
After a motorcycle accident, affected parties must prove liability, especially if they hope to obtain compensation or file a lawsuit.
To prove liability, people need evidence. Therefore, the next step after an incident involving two-wheelers is to document the scene and collect information such as the drivers' phone numbers, license plates, vehicle identification numbers, and insurance information.
Additionally, victims may consider gathering the following types of evidence to support their cases:
Photographs of the accident site
Photographs of license plates
Photographs of both vehicles, focusing on the point of contact
Witness testimonies
Police and medical reports
Report the Accident to the Insurance Company
Even those who believe they caused the accident should report the motorcycle collision to their insurance companies.
This step is essential because many insurers reject claims and refuse to settle them if they are not reported within a specified period.
Therefore, before even taking legal action, the parties involved should file a report with their respective insurance companies.
Seek Legal Advice from an Experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Motorcycle accidents are often more complicated than car crashes and are rarely resolved by insurance adjusters.
In addition, most insurance companies do everything possible to limit the money people deserve after an accident that could have put their lives at risk and caused property loss.
However, a professional attorney can provide legal assistance to affected parties in reaching fair settlements, seeking compensation, or filing a claim.
With legal help from a motorcycle accident lawyer in Long Island, anyone injured or suffering significant losses in a two-wheeler crash is more likely to get a favorable outcome.
What Can Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Do for Victims?
Depending on the incident's severity, the aftermath can affect people's future and well-being. Fortunately, an experienced attorney can help victims fight for a fair compensation amount that covers damages from an injury.
The Law Office of Carl Maltese has a team of seasoned personal injury attorneys ready to help people! They build a strong case, fight for their legal rights, and recover money for medical treatment, lost wages, pain and suffering, injury to property, and more!
Our firm's motorcycle accident attorneys can also help those affected collect evidence, negotiate with insurers, and prove the at-fault party's liability as they recover from a potentially devastating experience.
Anyone involved in a motorcycle accident who needs legal advice can contact The Law Office of Carl Maltese and get a free consultation today!