Warm temperatures, blue skies, and open roads are the perfect conditions for riding your motorcycle. However, it’s important you know what steps you’ll need to take if you’re ever in an auto accident. Our motorcycle accident attorneys will fight aggressively for your rights to make sure you get the damages you need for medical bills, lost income, lost earning capacity, and emotional trauma.
You can count on our personal injury lawyers for legal advice. Continue reading to learn what you should do if you’re ever in a and how an attorney can help.
Check for Injuries
The most important thing after an auto accident is to check for injuries. If you’re able to walk after the accident, check on the welfare of others and call 911.
Depending on the extent of your injuries, you may not be able to complete the rest of the steps we outline in this blog post. Even if you feel okay after the accident, it’s important to go to the hospital regardless of your condition. For example, it’s not uncommon for people with head injuries to feel fine at first, only to need treatment later for traumatic brain injury.
Since motorcyclists aren’t required to wear helmets in Michigan (as long as you’re age 21 or older and have at least $20,000 in first-party medical benefits), your injuries could be quite severe.
Read more: Do I need to wear a motorcycle helmet? >>
If the other motorist was at fault for the accident, one of our motorcycle accident attorneys can help you get the compensation you need to pay medical bills and other injury-related expenses.
Move Your Motorcycle Off The Road
Move your motorcycle off the road as soon as possible. Even if you’re unable to take pictures of the scene, it’s more important to get out of the way of oncoming traffic. That way, you won’t be involved in a second auto accident.
Document, Document, Document
Once the scene is safe, take pictures with your cell phone or camera. We recommend you take pictures from a variety of angles so our attorneys will be able to examine the full extent of damage done to your motorcycle, other vehicles, and even the surrounding environment. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will be able to use these photos to prove your case to the insurance company or in court.
Gather Information
Even if no one was seriously injured, you’ll still need to file a report with your local police department. Once the police officer arrives at the scene, they will document important details regarding your case. The police report of the auto accident often becomes one of the most important pieces of evidence if you need to claim personal injury or file a claim with your insurance company.
While at the scene of the accident, collect information for:
- Witnesses (names, phone numbers, and email addresses)
- Drivers (names, phone numbers, addresses, and email addresses)
- Involved vehicles (license plate numbers, VINs, and makes and models)
- Insurance company name and contact information for involved vehicles
- Name and badge number of the police officer on scene
- Police report number
Call Your Insurance Agent
While you’ll have to call your insurance agent after a , keep in mind that they may not be looking out for your best interests. Sometimes, insurance companies want to get away with paying little to no compensation for your claim. Fortunately, our motorcycle accident lawyers will fight aggressively for your rights.
Hire an Auto Accident Attorney
If the accident was caused by the other motorist, one of our motorcycle accident lawyers will make sure that the responsible parties are held accountable. We are also able to help you if the insurance company doesn’t want to give you the compensation you deserve for your claim.
If someone has a vehicle with four or more wheels, Michigan law requires them to have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage with their auto insurance. No matter who is at fault, these drivers are able to receive compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other economic damages up to the limits of their policy.
Since PIP coverage is not available to motorcyclists, your best option may be to sue the insurance company of the at-fault driver. Even if you have PIP coverage for another vehicle, this won’t protect you in the event of a motorcycle accident. That’s why it’s important to hire a motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible to help with your claim.
Request a Consultation With Us
Our motorcycle accident attorneys in Grand Rapids, MI are ready to help you receive the compensation you deserve. To request a consultation, call Beurkens Law at (616) 459-5344.
