A road accident is a highly traumatic and devastating event, especially for motorcyclists. Unfortunately, not all motorcyclists wear safety gear such as helmets to keep them safe on the road, making them more susceptible to death or severe injuries. Statistics reveal that the death rate among motorcyclists has risen by 11% since 2019. Motorcycle crashes account for 14% of all the accidents that happen on the road. If you are involved in a motorcycle accident, you should file a claim and try to maximise compensation to cover damages. Here are a couple of tips that can boost your motorcycle accident claim.
Avoid repairing your bike
Before riding your bike make sure you have bike insurance you can rely on. Your motorcycle is the biggest piece of evidence after an accident. Naturally, the first thing you would like to do would be to repair your bike and get back on the road. However, your attorney would advise you against fixing your bike until the case is over. Experts will analyze your bike to determine the severity of the accident. You could also use your bike as a bargaining chip to get more compensation from the other driver’s insurance company. After the case is over and you have the green light from your attorney, you can then proceed to fix your motorcycle and carry on with your activities.
Call the police
A common mistake motorcyclists make after being involved in an accident would be to avoid calling the police. Even though you are in a hurry or think the accident was too minor, it would still be a great idea to let the police know what happened. Once law enforcement arrives at the accident scene, they will prepare an official police statement and take the necessary steps to document the accident. Ensure you give them your side of the story and avoid leaving out important details. If you are badly injured and unable to wait for the police at the accident scene, they could come to you in the hospital to record your official statement.
Take lots of photos
Another excellent tip to boost your motorcycle accident claim would be to capture numerous photos of the accident scene. Ensure you capture your damaged bike, the debris on the road, the street name, any bodily injuries, and your torn clothes. If your phone has limited space or your hands are still shaky from the traumatic ordeal, you could ask a witness to help you. It would help to get the individual’s contact information before they leave since they are now a witness.
Speak to your lawyer
A motorcycle accident case is complicated, and you may come across legal terms you are unfamiliar with. It would be wise to seek a motorcycle accident attorney to provide guidance and let you know the possible outcomes of your case. Your attorney should also fight for your rights and ensure you get adequate compensation.
Seek medical attention
When you are involved in a traumatic and potentially dangerous ordeal, your body enters a fight or flight mode. The adrenaline coursing through your veins could prevent you from noticing you got injured. You could start feeling pain days or weeks after the accident. However, the insurance adjuster could argue that your injuries are unrelated to the accident. Therefore, it would be best to seek medical attention, even though you feel fine.
Don’t post on social media
Anything you say can be used against you in court. Your posts on social media platforms could also hurt your case and prevent you from getting the compensation you deserve. If you claim to be badly hurt, but your Facebook page portrays you lounging on the beach, the insurance adjuster could argue that you are not as injured as you claim to be. Therefore, it would be wise to avoid disclosing details about your case online, badmouthing the driver in your social media posts, or posting anything that could hurt your case.
Follow the doctor’s instructions
Once you have received your test results, your doctor will give you instructions that will help you recover faster. Failure to adhere to these instructions could delay the healing process and weaken your accident claim. For instance, if your doctor tells you to avoid heavy lifting and you do it anyway, the insurance adjuster might argue your injuries are not too severe. It is also important to keep your medical records intact.
Final remarks
Motorcyclists usually feel disadvantaged since they are treated harshly, and their cases are more complex than those involving pedestrians. Hopefully, this article has provided helpful tips to strengthen your accident claim and allow you to receive adequate compensation. Speak to a reputable motorcycle accident to help protect your rights and maximize your compensation.