Common Mistakes to Avoid After a Motorcycle Accident

It is a difficult fact to admit, but often no matter how skilled or careful a motorcycle rider may be, accidents and crashes can still happen. Whether it is the cause of poor road conditions, inattentive drivers or a myriad of other factors, the prevalence of motorcycle accidents is an unfortunate reality to face. Even more difficult is experiencing one for yourself.

If you’re involved in a motorcycle accident, you will no doubt be left feeling shocked, confused or scared. As a result, it can often be difficult to keep a clear head and act in the best possible manner following such a traumatic event. However, it is essential to remember to avoid a few common mistakes that many motorcycle riders might make immediately following an accident.

As important as it is to contact the authorities and take down contact information from other drivers, it is equally important that you avoid the following mistakes that might hurt your ability to properly recover from your accident. Should you be involved in a motorcycle accident, we advise that you DO NOT:

• Leave the scene. It is important to stay on the scene to gather evidence and speak with a police officer. Leaving the scene after an accident is incriminating behavior and may imply that you caused the crash.
   
• Admit fault at the scene. While your instinct may be to apologize to anyone else involved, never admit fault to the other drivers, to the police or to anyone else. Remain calm and objective, giving only relevant information.
   
• Talk to anyone who’s not a police officer. Resist the urge to discuss the event with other witnesses to the scene. Even in speaking with a police officer, you can avoid giving a statement if you’d rather do so with an attorney present.
   
• Leave the scene without taking pictures and taking notes. You should always keep a camera or camera phone on your person or your bike in order to take pictures of yourself and your bike immediately following an accident.
   
• Skip the hospital. Even if you feel uninjured, certain injuries such as whiplash or a brain injury may manifest over time. It is vital to your case to have a record of any injuries, even if they seem minor to you.
   
• Admit fault to your insurance company. Follow the same rules in speaking with your insurance company, as when speaking to the police officer. Do not admit guilt, and do not say anything that could be construed as responsibility on your part. Give your insurance company representative all of the necessary information and contact your attorney for more information.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you may be helping to strengthen your personal injury case and improve your chances of getting fair compensation for your injuries. If you or a loved one ever happen to be involved in a motorcycle accident, we encourage you to reach out to the skilled attorneys at Hupy and Abraham to begin building your case. Our attorneys have the necessary experience and abilities to get you the best possible outcome in your case. Our offices can be reached at 800-800-5678 or via online chat at hupy.com.

For more news and articles relevant to motorcycle enthusiasts, check out the Current News for Riders page on hupy.com.