Riding a motorcycle can be a thrilling experience, but it’s also a much more dangerous one compared to driving a car; the lack of structural protection combined with reduced visibility, exposure to the elements, and the reduced stability that comes from only having two wheels make motorcycle accidents a much more likely occurrence.
With that being said if you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, steps to take to ensure your safety and legal rights may be a complete mystery to you. Thankfully, the Arizona motorcycle accident lawyers of Geber Injury Law are here to offer some guidance on what you should do.
5 Steps to Take After a Motorcycle Accident in Arizona
The moments right after a crash are crucial, so here are five steps as to what to do after a motorcycle accident in Arizona:
1. Get to Safety and Call Emergency Services
Before you can even think of doing anything else, you must ensure that you and anyone else around you are safe. That means removing yourself from the road if you can and helping others do so if they’ve been injured. Leave your bike and other gear where it is, though, as you don’t want to remove any evidence from the scene.
The adrenaline pumping through you after the accident could be masking injuries, so you must resist the urge to take off your gear, especially your helmet, so you don’t make any abrupt head movements that could affect your skull, neck, or spine.
Additionally, you have to call emergency services as soon as possible; if you can’t do it yourself, ask someone else to do so. Remember that during emergency situations, many people freeze, so you may need to reach out to bystanders and repeat your request a few times.
When emergency personnel arrive, get them to assess you, even if you feel fine., as they have the training to recognize injuries that may not be visibly noticeable. Not only will that ensure that they are taken care of, but it can also provide you with evidence when filing a personal injury claim.
2. Report the Accident
Under Arizona law, any car or motorcycle accident in the state that results in injuries, death, or property damage that adds up to (or exceeds) $2,000 must be reported to the police; failing to do so can end with you being charged for leaving the scene of the accident.
Even if you’re not sure whether anyone was injured or if any property damage amounted to $2,000, the best thing you can do is report the accident; otherwise, you won’t have the chance to file a personal injury claim, and you may end up with out-of-pocket expenses you could have avoided.
As such, when the police get to the scene, give a clear version of what happened to the best of your recollection. You’ll also want to report the accident to your insurance company. Most insurers require you to file a claim within a certain period, so it’s best to start the process as soon as possible.
3. Gather Evidence and Information
Another of the most important steps to take following a motorcycle accident is to gather as much evidence as you can. If you’re able, take pictures of the vehicles involved, your injuries, and even any skid marks that you see. If road conditions are a problem that may have contributed to the crash, try to document those as well.
It can also prove helpful to record your in-the-moment thoughts, either by writing them down or recording a voice message or video, as doing so can assist in proving fault and filing a claim.
Witness statements are one last thing you’ll want to focus on. If people are still around, ask for their information and statements right then and there, as they can also be useful when filing a claim.
4. Don’t Admit Fault
As you gather the other driver’s information and speak with the police, do not admit to fault. The same applies when you speak with your insurer.
It’s common for people to admit to having some fault in the accident without intending to, but doing so can make it much harder to get fair compensation for any damages you may have suffered.
Arizona is an at-fault state that follows a comparative negligence rule, which means that even if you were partly at fault, you could still receive some compensation. Still, you don’t want to limit your chances by tripping on your words while speaking to the wrong person.
5. Call to a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
The process of filing a personal injury claim after a motorcycle accident is complex, and it requires a level of experience that you likely won’t be able to provide on your own, but that’s where a motorcycle accident lawyer can help.
First and foremost, it’s important to understand that insurers are not on your side. They want to pay you as little as possible, so they’ll use various tactics to get you to accept low-ball offers, possibly even threatening not to pay at all.
A lawyer will be able to negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf, but if you choose to go without one, you may not fully comprehend your rights or be able to negotiate with insurance companies.
If insurers fail to reach a satisfactory settlement, your lawyer can then take your case to trial. Many times, just the threat of going to court can be enough to push a settlement through and get you fair compensation.
Beyond insurance troubles, some cases may simply be more complicated than others, especially when there are many parties involved and it’s not clear who’s at fault. In those instances, turning to a lawyer is essential, as they will gather the necessary evidence and reach out to expert witnesses to prove who caused the accident.
Lawyers can also advise you about the kind of damages you can claim. If you suffered injuries, you may be entitled not just to compensation for medical bills but to lost wages and even pain and suffering damages as well.
Gerber Injury Law: Experienced Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident in Arizona, contact Gerber Injury Law. With more than 25 years of combined experience helping clients with even the most complex cases, our team is trusted and ready to fight for your rights, and since opening our doors in Arizona in 2001, we have managed to obtain over $55 million in personal injury claim compensation.
When you turn to us, you’re turning to a team that treats each of its clients like family. We offer guidance through every step of the process, keeping you in the loop as the case progresses. We also work on a contingency fee basis, which means we won’t get paid if you don’t; we firmly believe that being unable to afford a lawyer shouldn’t prevent you from getting the justice you deserve.
If you’ve suffered property damage, injuries, and pain and suffering because of someone’s negligence on the road, you have the right to seek compensation, so contact Gerber Injury Law today to schedule a free consultation.
