Motorcyclists can suffer terrible injuries when they get into a collision with a car or SUV. What would otherwise be a fender bender between two cars can turn into a life-changing event for someone on a motorcycle. Broken bones, brain injuries, soft tissue and internal organ damage, and painful road rash can leave the rider recovering for months or years. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident you didn’t cause, whether it was a single-vehicle crash or one involving another driver, you may be eligible for a large settlement to cover your medical care and other damages.
One of the first steps to take after a motorcycle crash is to talk to an experienced Maine motorcycle accident attorney. An attorney can protect your legal rights and ensure that you’re treated fairly by the other party and their insurance company. In addition to speaking with an attorney, follow these tips after a crash:
Seek medical care after an accident
Motorcycle crashes can produce serious injuries. Even if you don’t “feel hurt” after a collision, it’s still advisable to go to urgent care or your own doctor. Several types of dangerous motorcycle accident injuries don’t present symptoms immediately, like internal organ damage, internal bleeding, and soft tissue damage. You may have head trauma, too, which can cause brain damage even if you were wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
Going to the doctor after a motorcycle accident isn’t just about giving yourself the best chance for recovery, although that’s important! Your post-accident medical records provide a critical piece of evidence in your personal injury claim. It’s important to document, through medical records, your injuries and symptoms. If you didn’t go to the hospital right after the crash, go as soon as you can, and be sure to tell the doctor that you were recently in a motorcycle accident. Describe in detail all of your injuries, no matter how small.
Compensation for damages in motorcycle accidents includes full reimbursement of your medical expenses, including physical and occupational therapy to help you regain your normal life.
Preserve as much evidence as possible
While you may not be in any condition to do so at the scene of the crash, there’s plenty you can do to ensure all available evidence is preserved. If you are able, take pictures of the crash scene showing the location of the vehicles after the crash and any traffic control devices in the area. As mentioned above, medical records become a critical piece of evidence to prove that the collision caused your injuries. A photo of your injuries or a video showing where you’re hurt (and how badly) can also help show a jury just how bad the crash was.
If possible, keep damaged items like a broken helmet or torn clothing. For things you need to repair, replace, or dispose of, like your motorcycle or a shattered phone, be sure to take clear, well-lit photos of the damage. The more you document, the stronger your claim will be.
Save your pay stubs if you miss work
Most motorcycle crash victims miss at least a few days of work to recover from injuries. Save any documentation of the time missed from work, even if you used your paid time off to cover the loss. You’re entitled to recover the full value of your unearned wages (including the sick or vacation time you used), but you have to be able to show how much time you lost and its value.
For most people, this comes in the form of paystubs and wage records. If you are self-employed, you might consider keeping a journal of missed time or work opportunities you had to give up as a result of your injuries. Whatever documents are available for your own occupation should be preserved to show what your claim for lost income amounts to.
Many motorcycle riders involved in a crash can’t return to the same job they had before the collision, and some are disabled to the point where they can no longer work at all. A traumatic brain injury, involuntary amputation, loss of vision or hearing, or another catastrophic injury could render you completely unable to work. Your damages include the loss of future earnings, including the loss of any employment benefits you would have earned.
Keep a post-accident journal
In addition to compensation for your medical bills, property damage and lost wages, you are also entitled to compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life. Logging your pain levels each day and noting which activities you couldn’t participate in, or now struggle to do, creates a contemporaneous record of what you are dealing with that can be referenced by you and your lawyer later in the case.
What to do after a motorcycle accident to protect your rights
Recovering from a motorcycle crash is never easy, but you don’t have to go through this process alone. Motorcycle lawyers deal with these cases every day and know exactly what steps to take to put you in the best position to receive fair compensation. The sooner you reach out to a lawyer, the better chance you have of receiving the damages you’re owed. At Shaheen & Gordon, we’re here to guide you every step of the way with compassion, experience, and dedication.
Have you been hurt in a motorcycle accident you didn’t cause? We can help. Call Shaheen & Gordon today at (800) 451-1002 to schedule a free consultation with experienced motorcycle accident lawyers.
