Motorcycle crashes can be scary, intense, and traumatizing. After your accident, you may be unable to think clearly and determine the best next steps. You may simply be trying to make it through each day as you recover from your injuries and emotional trauma.
However, following the right steps after a motorcycle accident can improve your outcomes. Read on to learn what to do if you are in a motorcycle accident in Montana.
Step 1: Seek Medical Attention
Your first step following a motorcycle accident should be to seek medical attention. When you ride a motorcycle, you have very little external protection against injuries. As a result, even minor accidents often result in injuries.
Even if you do not think anything is wrong after your accident, you should still receive an exam from a medical professional. An exam can ensure that you do not overlook any serious medical problems in the chaos after your accident.
Additionally, a medical exam can give you written documentation of your motorcycle accident injury and medical bills that you can submit in an insurance claim.
Step 2: Move to a Safe Location
If your injuries do not require immediate medical attention, you can take a few measures at the accident scene to improve your case.
You should try to move to a safe location after the accident to avoid further injuries. If your bike is still operable, move it to the side of the road or into a nearby parking lot. If not, you can at least stand on the side of the road to avoid traffic.
Step 3: Call the Police
You should call the police immediately following the accident. The police can help block off the accident scene from traffic, ensuring that no one else becomes involved in the crash. They can also create a police report and help determine who was at fault for the accident.
If the police determine you were at fault, you’ll need to contact your own insurance company to receive compensation. However, if another driver was at fault, you can file a claim through their company, as we’ll discuss below.
Step 4: Take Photos and Gather Evidence
If you can, we highly recommend taking photos of the accident scene. These images can become essential evidence to support your insurance claim.
Additionally, if any witnesses saw the accident, you can try to obtain their contact information.
Step 5: File an Insurance Claim
Within a few days of your accident, the at-fault driver’s insurance company should reach out to you to file your claim. You can also contact the insurance adjuster directly if they do not contact you first.
The insurance adjuster will ask you about the accident’s details, injuries or damages you incurred, and estimates of your expenses. In addition, they may need you to send photos of the accident and take your motorcycle to a mechanic for a repair estimate.
Step 6: Contact Law Tigers
The insurance company may not offer you a sufficient payout after your accident. You’ll probably need to negotiate with the insurer to increase your compensation. You may also need to sue that at-fault driver to secure enough funds to cover your injuries and damages.
With these steps in mind, hiring a motorcycle accident attorney could be highly beneficial. A motorcycle accident lawyer like Law Tigers can guide you through what to do if you are in a Montana motorcycle accident. They can help you negotiate with the insurer, provide legal advice and guidance, represent you in court, and assist you in numerous other ways.
As one of the country’s most well-known motorcycle accident law firms, Law Tigers has what it takes to represent you well. Contact our team at Law Tigers today at 1-888-863-7216 to schedule your free case evaluation.
