You should start working to protect your interests immediately after you get hurt in a motorcycle crash caused by someone else. Gathering evidence and pursuing action against the negligent driver begins at the accident scene. By completing these steps, you can protect your rights and improve your chance of recovering adequate compensation.
Report the Accident
Virginia law requires anyone involved in a collision that causes someone’s injury or death to stop at the scene and provide local law enforcement or the state police and others involved in the crash with information, such as:
- Name
- Address
- Vehicle registration number
- Driver’s license number
You should wait for law enforcement to arrive and investigate. They can write a police report to document their observations and opinions about what happened and who is at fault.
Gather Evidence at the Scene
You can collect valuable evidence at the accident scene to support your claim, such as:
- Photos of the scene, including damage to the vehicles involved
- Debris from the collision
- Pictures of your visible injuries
- Notes regarding the weather and road conditions, crash location, and other helpful details
However, motorcyclists often sustain debilitating injuries in accidents. If you’re severely injured, in too much pain, or it isn’t safe to walk around, stay where you are and wait for help to arrive to avoid risking additional injuries.
Obtain Witness Information
Drivers, pedestrians, and other bystanders might have seen the crash occur. You can ask them what they saw to help determine what caused the crash and whether their version of events aligns with yours.
Get their names and phone numbers to contact them later if necessary. They can provide a statement to the insurance carrier or testify on your behalf at trial.
Get Treatment
Go to the hospital when you leave the crash scene. You should wait for an ambulance to transport you if your injury is severe. Inform the emergency room physician of what happened, your symptoms, and other essential details. They can evaluate your condition and determine a treatment plan.
You must follow the doctor’s recommendations. Attend all of your appointments to manage your symptoms and try to recover. You should treat your injury regularly until your medical providers release you from their care. Deviating from the treatment plan, stopping too soon, or skipping appointments won’t help you. It’ll prevent you from healing and can negatively affect your case.
Maintain Documentation
You should hold onto your records related to the accident and your injury. Medical evidence can prove the type and extent of your injury. Keep a copy of every physician note, rehab report, prescription, and hospital record. You should also maintain billing statements showing the costs incurred during treatment.
Hire a Lawyer
Promptly hiring a lawyer is one of the most important things you can do after a motorcycle crash. Although you can pursue action against the at-fault driver yourself, having an experienced lawyer representing you can improve the likelihood of a positive outcome.
Your lawyer can thoroughly investigate the collision to establish liability and build a case against the negligent motorist. They have the resources to gather the available evidence to show someone else should be financially responsible for your injury.
Injured in a Motorcycle Accident? Contact Us Today
With over 45 years of experience representing injured clients, Davies, Barrell, Will, Lewellyn & Edwards, PLC can fight for you. We will work hard to help you recover from this devastating experience and try to reach a favorable result in your case.
If you sustained injuries in a motorcycle accident in Culpeper due to someone else’s negligence, call us at (540) 825-6000 for a free consultation to get started.