C. Check For Injuries. You should not move an injured person unless there is eminent danger, particularly in a motorcycle accident where head injuries are more likely. If you are injured, do not move. If necessary, have someone call 911. If you are unable to call, ensure someone else makes the call to 911, as they will ensure the police and proper emergency personnel respond to the scene.
D. Warn. If possible, turning on hazard lights, raise the hood or trunk of the vehicle or set our flares to notify oncoming traffic to proceed with caution.
E. Exchange Information. If you are a witness, provide your name and phone number to the police. They will provide it to proper insurance companies. You may or may not provide information to the drivers in the accident. If you are in the accident, you and the other driver need to exchange names, addresses, phone numbers, drivers license numbers, license plate numbers, insurance carriers, policy numbers, and your insurance agent's name and telephone numbers.
F. Other Witness Information. Obtain identifying information from any witnesses to the accident, and ask them to provide the same information to the police.
G. Keep Track Of Your Helmet And Other Property. Do not let anyone discard or destroy your helmet or the motorcycle. It may become necessary to prove you were wearing a helmet, and it may provide other clues to the cause of the accident.
H. Take Notes. Write down as much as you remember about the accident-where and how it occurred, what the road and weather conditions were, the speed limits, if there was a stop sign or stop/caution light, what the lighting conditions were (time of day, were street lights on, etc.), and what the automobiles were doing when the accident happened. You may be required to share these notes with the other party if you enter into litigation.
I. Cooperate With Police. Stay at the accident scene until the police tell you that you can leave. Tell the police only the facts of what happened, and do not assume anything or read any information into the facts. Again, do not acknowledge any responsibility to anyone, including people that were riding with you, the other vehicle, witnesses or police. It is not always simple to determine the legal matter of responsibility or liability. Provide the police with information concerning any injuries and witnesses. The police officer that takes the report should provide you with a business card and the "incident number," so that you can obtain an accident report. If he or she doesn't offer it, ask for it.
J. Call Your Insurance Agent. It is important to notify your insurance agent right away, whether you are at fault or not. There is always a chance the other driver is uninsured or underinsured. Your insurance agent may ask you to provide the notes you have taken, information from the other driver, and police report information. Do not give recorded statements to any insurance company or meet with any insurance agents without consulting your personal injury lawyer first.
K. Photograph. Take pictures of the accident scene (even one or two days afterwards, preferably about the same time as the accident-if the accident was at night, also take pictures of the scene during the day). Also, take pictures of your injuries and the damages to your car.
L. Contact A Personal Injury Attorney. Before filling out any insurance documents, giving recorded statements to any insurance company, or meeting with any insurance company representative, call an experienced personal injury lawyer. Consultation with an experienced motorcycle attorney is extremely important before giving a statement to the other driver's insurance company. Do not sign any check or document from any insurance company without first consulting your personal injury attorney. NOTE: ALWAYS be honest with your insurance company. Not doing so may cause your policy to be invalidated.
M. Consult A Physician ASAP. It is possible that you may not know the full extent of your injuries at the time of the accident. Various injuries may not be evident until some time later, particularly in motorcycle accidents. If you do not see a doctor, it is possible to risk aggravating your injury by delaying your treatment. Even trifling soreness may be an indicator of a more significant injury. If there is any chance you may have been injured, it is safer to see a physician as soon as possible to rule out any unseen injuries.
Insurance companies have argued that individuals that fail to see a
physician right away have injuries that must have resulted from an
event or events that happened after the accident. The longer you
wait, the more difficult it is to connect unseen injuries to the
accident.
Things to look out for and to report are many. They include, but are not limited to things like dizziness, memory loss, confusion, disorientation, nausea, headaches, blood (in any natural bodily opening) or even ringing in your ears.
N. Review. Review the notes you have taken at the accident within a few days. Check to ensure that all important information is included.
O. Document. Document every item that has to do with the accident. This means recording or documenting every conversation, every phone call that you have with your personal injury attorney, your doctor AND any insurance company in relation to your accident including the date, time and name of the person or people that you spoke to as well as their job titles and their supervisor's names. Keep track of all medical bills and transportation costs, estimated future medical treatment, wages lost due to the accident, and wages that may be lost in the future due to the accident. Your personal injury lawyer will also review with you the effect the accident had on your life and your family. Your personal injury lawyer will also help you identify any other possible losses that may be associated to your accident.
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