Suffering a serious injury in a motorcycle accident is bad enough. Having to deal with the bias against motorcycle riders – a bias that could impact your insurance claim – can add even more stress to an already-horrible situation. You did everything you were supposed to. You followed the rules of the road, and you operated your bike in the safest possible manner. But someone else’s negligence has caused you a great deal of pain and frustration.
Sand Law attorneys can help. We have helped a lot of riders obtain the compensation they deserved after they were injured in accidents that weren’t their fault. Our team is ready to work to do the same for you. Please get in touch with us as soon as you can to schedule a free consultation. You can give us a call at 651-291-7263, or you can contact us online.
Here are three vitally important things you should do if you’re involved in a motorcycle accident. These steps could very well make the difference between getting the money you have coming to you, and getting nothing at all.
1. Don’t Speak to the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Company
While there are several things you’ll need to keep in mind after being in a wreck, this will be especially important when it comes to your case.
There are many differences between motorcycle and car accident claims. One of the most glaring is the unfortunate fact that a lot of people have a built-in bias against riders. They’ve seen bikers portrayed on television and in the movies as a bunch of thrill-seeking reprobates who could not care less about the safety of others.
Insurance companies aren’t above using this bias against motorcyclists. They’re very aware of the fact that riders can sometimes even have a hard time finding legal representation, since far too many attorneys share that point of view. Insurers know that they can often get away with paying riders less than they deserve.
They will also use some tactics that are questionable, to say the least. Insurance adjusters are incredibly skilled professionals who have but one goal – to help their employer save as much money as possible. They’ll often try to contact bikers in an effort to get them to slip up and admit at least some degree of fault when an accident takes place.
Don’t fall into this trap. Your best course of action will be to refuse to speak with any insurance company representative unless your attorney is present. Better yet, simply refer all calls from an insurer to your legal representative. You’re already going through enough – the last thing you need is to have to deal with an adjuster’s harassment.
2. Record as Much Evidence as You Can Before Seeking Medical Treatment
The more evidence you can gather at the scene, the stronger your case will be. While motorcycle accidents are common, riders will often neglect to document the accident scene. In many instances, their cases will suffer as a result.
You’ll obviously never want to do anything to worsen any injury you may have suffered. Your health and safety, of course, must always be your top priorities. But if you can take pictures and videos, as well as contact any witnesses who saw what happened, that could be invaluable to your case.
Photos and videos will be incredibly important. If possible, try to take lots of each, and take them at different angles. This will help your attorney get the clearest picture of how the accident occurred. Pay special attention to details such as skid marks, damaged signposts or guardrails, and accident-related debris. If you can, take pictures of your injuries as well.
Witnesses will also play a key role in helping your case. You don’t necessarily need to interview them, but if you could at least get their names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses, that will help your attorney a great deal. They will then get in touch with those witnesses to get their statements.
3. Talk to a Motorcycle Accident Attorney About Your Options
Please contact an attorney who has experience representing riders as soon as you can. It could very well be the most important thing you do.
Your attorney will work to investigate the accident scene, using not only your photos and videos, but other tools as well. These include obtaining the police report, as well as obtaining footage from any nearby surveillance cameras. One or more of them might have captured the accident. This could provide you with powerful evidence that could help you obtain full and fair compensation.
An attorney may also uncover other parties, in addition to the negligent driver, that may have played a role in causing your accident. The driver’s car may have had some sort of manufacturing defect, or the road may have been negligently maintained. If other parties can be held liable for your injury, that could help increase whatever compensation you may receive.
If you’ve been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, you need to focus on your recovery. Let your attorney focus on your case. Your legal representative will shield you from the harassment of insurance company adjusters, and will work passionately in order to help achieve a positive outcome on your behalf.
Why You Should Choose Sand Law for Your Case
The attorneys with Sand Law have a deep understanding of the unique complexities of a motorcycle accident case. We know how to overcome the bias against riders, and we know how to uncover the evidence our clients need to have the strongest case possible.
Whether you were riding alone or with a passenger, or you were riding during a spring thunderstorm or on a clear fall day, Sand Law attorneys will get to the bottom of why your accident occurred. Our team will dig deep to show you weren’t to blame, and that you deserve every penny you’re demanding.
If you would like to schedule a free case review, please use our online contact form or call 651-291-7263.