After a bike crash, your first concerns are your health and recovery. However, certain timely steps can significantly impact your potential claim. This guide outlines recommendations to document critical details, obtain evidence while it’s fresh, and protect your rights.
The Buffalo motorcycle accident lawyer of Richmond Vona understand the aftermath of traumatic events can stir myriad questions. Our role is to ensure your rights and compensation are protected according to the law.
While no amount of financial compensation can undo suffering, following the guidelines here can help ease practical burdens and improve your outcome down the line.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident
If you’re in a crash, here are the steps you can take:
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Seek Urgent Medical Care
Your health and long-term well-being must come before all other concerns. It is critical to get examined promptly by medical professionals to thoroughly diagnose all injuries, determine necessary treatment protocols, and begin the recovery process.
Document Injuries
Request comprehensive medical records that precisely detail each observed physical injury, such as wounds, bruises, fractures, joint or muscle strains, and other effects visible both internally and externally. Consider having photos taken of all noted injuries for further evidence later.
Follow Treatment Guidance
Completing all recommended rehabilitation, therapy, follow-up visits, and prescribed medical care as directed by doctors will construct an extensive record of damages sustained for utilization in future settlement negotiations.
Gather Key Documentation
Taking the time now to collect all pertinent documentation surrounding the accident will build an exceptionally strong basis for your claim. It’s always best to pursue every available piece of evidence while it is fresh.
If you are physically able to do so following your accident, try to gather as much information at the scene as possible.
Insurance Details
Be certain to write down essential particulars like the other driver’s full name, current contact information, and auto policy number if provided at the scene. Do not hesitate to follow up if any portion proves missing.
Eyewitness Accounts
Reach out to any onlookers nearby to acquire their versions of precisely what was observed or heard before, during, and after the incident occurred. Seeing as accidents often involve nuanced dynamics, extra witness perspectives can offer context that can help solidify your claim.
Police Report
Be proactive – get a complete copy of the accident report filed on-site while recollections are clearest and most accurate. Your attorneys will need to thoroughly examine this vital record in its entirety for insightful details.
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I Was Not Able to Gather Evidence at the Accident Scene. How Can a Lawyer Help?
Here are some things a lawyer can do to help gather evidence if you were unconscious after a motorcycle accident:
Your motorcycle accident lawyer can:
- Secure the police report. Contact the police and request a copy of the accident report. This will provide important details about how the crash occurred.
- Secure medical documentation. We can gather medical records from the emergency response and hospital documenting the nature and severity of your injuries.
- Investigate the crash scene. If you contact a lawyer quickly, we can dispatch our investigation team. Photos of skid marks, damage to vehicles, road conditions, etc., can be used to determine liability.
- Reconstruct the accident. Arrange for accident reconstruction experts if needed. A specialist may be able to analyze evidence and provide an independent view of how the crash happened.
- Preserve evidence. We can preserve the damaged motorcycle as evidence until it can be thoroughly examined. An expert can often glean insights from damage patterns. We also work to preserve all the evidence we can to ensure admissibility in court.
- Secure video footage that caught the accident. Nearby businesses or traffic cameras may have relevant recordings.
Your personal injury lawyer has the knowledge and resources to coordinate gathering all available documentation and evidence to build the strongest possible case on your behalf while the incident is still fresh.
Our investigation in the days following a motorcycle accident helps ensure all viable information is obtained to solidify liability and the full extent of your claim.
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Seek Legal Representation
Retaining experienced legal counsel right away can be beneficial to properly handle all that needs to be addressed following a serious accident. Building the strongest personal injury claim demands knowledgeable guidance at every step of the process.
Consider the Statute of Limitations
Be cognizant of the state’s strict time frame limitation for pursuing injury claims in court. An attorney can advise the specific deadline applicable in your situation and ensure claims are filed prior to expiring. In most cases, the New York statute of limitations places a three-year deadline for filing.
Liability Questions
A skilled personal injury attorney can skillfully assess fault for the accident by thoroughly examining all available documentation and evidence from the incident while recollections are most clear and complete.
Navigating Insurance Companies
Insurance adjusters are responsible for minimizing payouts from claims. They may try tactics like lowball offers, blaming the victim, or denying the severity of your injuries to reduce compensation. An experienced personal injury lawyer understands these strategies and can help counter them.
With a lawyer on your side, insurance adjusters will be less likely to manipulate the situation to the claimant’s disadvantage. Attorneys are well-versed in evaluating medical records, estimating future costs, and presenting cases to obtain full and fair value for injuries.
Having legal representation levels the playing field in negotiations. The lawyer ensures all expenses, lost wages, long-term effects, and pain/suffering are appropriately considered to maximize settlement value. If reasonable offers are refused, we are prepared to litigate and allow a jury to determine fair amounts if needed.
Contact an Experienced Motorcycle Attorney for a Free Case Evaluation Today
Following the recommended steps and contacting an attorney after a motorcycle accident can significantly improve the outcome of your personal injury claim.
The experienced lawyers at Richmond Vona will aggressively fight insurance companies to ensure you receive maximum financial compensation for your injuries and recovery.
Contact us today for a free evaluation – our top priority is obtaining the justice you deserve so you can focus on healing.
Call or text (716) 300-5885 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form