Motorcycles come with a lot of perks, but safety isn’t one of them. They’re hard to control, and riders don’t get the protection that enclosed vehicles offer.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 5,000 motorcyclists died in accidents in 2018. Experts estimate that riders are 27 times more likely to get in an accident than car drivers.
If you’re involved in a motorcycle accident, you need to take a series of steps immediately afterward. To help you know what to do, we’ve put together this guide.
Read on to learn about what you should do following a motorcycle crash.
Stay Calm
Like car crashes, motorcycle accidents are sudden, intense, and terrifying. Because of that, your emotions will be high immediately after. You’ll have time to process them later—at the moment, stay calm.
If you’re scared or shaken, take a few deep breaths to calm down. You need to have a clear head to power through the other things you need to do (more on those down below).
If the accident involved another driver, do your best to avoid starting a confrontation with them. You don’t want to cause the situation to deteriorate, and accusing them of being irresponsible or negligent is a good way to do that.
Check for Injuries
Take a moment to inspect yourself for injuries. Wearing a helmet should protect your head, but feel around (gently) for broken bones or other problems.
If you don’t have any serious injuries, take a moment to check on others at the scene. Check whether they’re responsive, and if they are, assure them that help is on the way. Speak to them with a calm and reassuring voice to help them relax.
In situations where others are non-responsive, call 911 immediately. In the meantime, check their airways and pulse. If necessary, you can try to administer CPR.
Don’t Leave the Scene
In minor accidents where everyone is fine, it’s tempting to be on your way and leave the scene. It might not be what you want to do, but make a point to stay put.
Regardless of how minor a situation may seem, the law may view you leaving as a criminal offense. Even if you, the other drivers, and the motorcycles or vehicles involved are fine, call 911. The scene may be a hazard for other drivers.
If someone else leaves the scene, make sure to relay that to authorities. All parties involved in the scene need to be there until help arrives.
Try to Make the Scene Safe for Others
Some of the deadliest accidents are those that other drivers compound by crashing into. After you and everyone is else is fine, make sure to take action to prevent that from happening.
Switch off your engine and turn on your hazards to help people identify the scene of the crash from a distance. You want to make it as visible as possible.
If you can stand and walk without a problem, you can even try to flag down other drivers before they get too close. Stand a little bit ahead of the accident to warn them.
Take Notes About the Accident
If you plan on filing an insurance claim, every little detail helps. Your mind will be racing after a motorcycle crash, so to help yourself out, take down notes about what happened.
Describe in detail the events that led up to the crash, as well as details about the scene of the accident. You can use the notes app on your phone to do this, and you can even take a few pictures to supplement the information you’re writing down.
In most cases, it’s best to report your accident to insurance companies as soon as possible. Don’t delay, as waiting even a day or two can affect how much money you end up getting.
Look for Witnesses
One thing that can help you out later on is to get firsthand testimonies from people who saw the accident happen. Make a point to look for witnesses in addition to taking notes.
Witnesses can help lend credibility to the events that happen. You can use them to help support claims you make to both insurance companies and the police.
If there aren’t any witnesses at the scene, check out at nearby businesses or even parking lots. There’s a good chance that a security camera might’ve captured the entire incident.
Work With a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer if Necessary
If you sustained injuries, no matter how mild they may seem, make a point to work with a motorcycle accident lawyer. You also need to do the same if your bike got damaged in any capacity.
The right lawyer can help you get compensation to cover any sort of bills that you have to pay as a result of your accident.
To help you learn more about how a lawyer can help you, visit this resource on personal injury claims from a motorcycle accident.
Make Your Safety and Wellbeing a Priority After a Motorcycle Accident
A motorcycle accident can be one of the scariest and most intense moments of your life. If you’re involved in one, make sure you know what steps to take afterward.
Use this guide as a resource to help you better understand what to do after a motorcycle crash. Remember to make sure that you and the people around you are safe.
Do you now have a better idea of what to do after a motorbike accident? If so, make sure to check out the rest of our site for more great content.
