Motorcycle accidents happen to be among the worst accidents out there that can completely shatter your life, both emotionally and financially. You probably don’t know where to start or what steps to take in such a case, and you are confused about how to get on the right track. But don’t worry, as this article will show you what you need to do if you need to file a motorcycle accident claim and how to get the most compensation for all the losses you have suffered.
Find a good lawyer
It is necessary for people who are often on the road to have a lawyer to help them protect their legal rights. Their assistance can also be priceless when filing a claim, so look for a reputable and skilled expert to help you handle this situation. According to an Alpharetta Motorcycle Accident Lawyer, legal representatives will examine your case and look over all relevant paperwork, such as police reports, medical records, and other evidence. They will also negotiate with insurance companies and other parties to make sure you get the deserved amount of compensation that will cover all of your losses. Finally, if you get in touch with them, you can be peaceful and concentrate on your recovery, as they will work on your case diligently to help everything resolve in the best possible way.
Ensure safety
The first thing that you will need to do when you are in an accident is to make sure that you and all the people around you are safe. There are many cars on the road, and you do not want someone to kill you or someone else to risk their life. Make sure that you make it known to other people that an accident has occurred and that they need either to go around it or wait for the police to come. The car or other vehicle that was involved with you in the accident, you should make sure that they are alright, and that they do not need immediate care. Even if you feel annoyed that something like this has happened, you still need to put lives first, no matter if someone has harmed you or not.
Call 911
After you have made sure that everyone is safe, you should immediately call the emergency services. If someone is severely injured, you should first tell them that, and then you can tell them what has happened. They will quickly arrive at the scene and there they will see what has happened. Both the police and the emergency service will have their own reports of what has happened, which will become the cornerstone of your claim once everything settles. If there is a need to detain someone, they will do it on the spot. In some jurisdictions, you must call the police no matter how severe the accident is, but you should do it even if it is not mandatory because it is much easier to deal with everything later on.
When the responding officers arrive at the scene, give them as many facts as you can remember. Also, ensure you get a copy of the police report, as this is a strong piece of evidence that will help you build a solid case for your claim. It will contain all relevant information, like the date, time, and location of the accident, as well as any statements from witnesses and other involved parties.
Document as much as you can
When you have ensured that the authorities will come, it would be great if you documented as much of the scene yourself so that it is easier to build a case if it ever comes in front of a judge. You should just take out your phone and start taking pictures of everything that you think may be useful. Sometimes the police do not adequately document the scene, and that is when your pictures will be very useful. If you are not able to do that, then you should ask someone around you to do that for you if they can. This evidence that you make can be pivotal so why not do it?
Do not admit fault
If you accept fault, you can severely damage your ability to get the deserved compensation or even file a claim. Insurance companies and courts will use this admission against you, so you should not let them have this opportunity to blame everything on you. Some of them will even try to trick you into saying anything that can be perceived as your fault, so you should never deal with them, especially insurance companies, without the presence of your lawyer. Let the experts, like investigators, medical experts, and legal representatives, do their job and establish liability in these cases, and don’t let your emotions make you feel as if you are the only one to blame.
File a claim
Once you have collected all the paperwork and consulted with your attorney, you should finally file your claim and hope for the best solution. You must give the specifics of the accident, like the time, place, and how it happened, and you should also include relevant documents to back up your claim, like copies of medical records, police reports, and repair estimates.
Dealing with the pressure
It is necessary to say that during all this time you will feel a lot of stress and pressure and that is normal because you do not know what to expect. You should spend as much time as possible with your close family so that you can distract your mind from these events. If you have trauma from the experience you had, it would be very useful for you to go to a therapist. He or she will be able to lead you in the right direction toward clarity of mind.
Filing a motorcycle accident is not an easy task, but with the right knowledge, preparation, and carefulness, you can achieve the best results. Remember that you need to focus on your emotional and physical well-being and let professionals like lawyers deal with more complicated matters in your case.