The most important safety tips are to drive safe, wear protective gear and stay alert at all times. But, if you are involved in a motorcycle accident, follow these steps:
- Check whether the other party or parties involved in the motorcycle crash are all okay.
- Check yourself for any injuries you might have sustained.
- If anyone needs medical attention, call 911 immediately.
- Move to safety away from the roadway and alert other road users of the accident by using warning triangles, flares or hazard lights.
- Get information like names, phone numbers, addresses, car registration numbers and insurance details from party or parties involved in the motorcycle accident.
- Call the police to report the accident, property damage caused by the accident and injuries sustained from the accident. The police report is vital in speeding up the claim process.
- If you are not seriously injured take note of the accident scene and try to remember as much details as possible of the motorcycle crash. Take pictures and videos of the motorcycle crash.
- Get contact details from the witnesses at the scene of the motorcycle crash.
- Try writing down any witness accounts of the motorcycle wreck.
- Contact a Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorney.
- Inform your insurance provider of the incident as soon as possible.
Most Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
These are the most common scenarios of motorcycle accidents:
- Blind spot accidents
- Rear end accidents
- Sharing lanes
- Intersection accidents
- Failure to yield accidents
- Lane splitting accidents
- Taking on curves too fast
What’s My Claim Worth?
In the event of a motorcycle accident, the rider or the passenger are tasked with the question of the value of their claim, which is when it’s advisable to speak with knowledgeable motorcycle wreck attorneys. To figure out the worth of your claim you need to look at how your insurance provider value claims after a motorcycle accident.
The insurance company usually takes into account damages and liability. Damages include injuries and losses suffered as a result of the accident. Liability establishes who was at fault for the motorcycle accident. The police report can also play a large role in determining fault and should be shared with the motorcycle accident attorney you choose to work with on your case.
Things to Include in Your Claim
Some of the things to include in your claim are:
Medical Bills
Medical bills and expenses include services and products purchased in order to treat injuries sustained after a motorcycle crash, which the insurance company is required to pay for or reimburse. The total amount of your medical bills and expenses as also used to determine the extent of damages caused by the accident. Future medical costs that might be incurred should be included as part of the settlement.
Pain, Suffering and Emotional Distress
Pain, suffering and emotional distress caused by a motorcycle crash shouldn’t be taken lightly. A motorcycle rider might experience Post Traumatic Disorder (PTSD) or anxiety especially if the injuries sustained from the crash were serious. A motorcycle accident victim is likely to suffer mental anguish and emotional distress like humiliation and embarrassment especially if the injuries are serious enough to cause paralysis or disfigurement.
Companionship Abandonment
Loss of a partner such as a spouse is known as loss of consortium which covers the loss of partnership, companionship, aid, affection, comfort and sexual relations. All factors considered, a jury determines the extent of loss from the benefit of marriage as a result of the accident.
Loss of Income
All income lost because of an injury or injuries suffered during the motorcycle crash should be part of the claim. You may have either lost time from employment or you may never be able to return to your previous work as a result of the injuries. You are entitled to the wages lost during the time taken off to recuperate and lost earning capacity if the injuries sustained are likely to largely limit your wages or earnings.
How Long Should You Wait to See a Doctor
Health always comes first. If possible, you should get medical help as quickly as possible. There are some instances you may think that you are not injured but you have internal injuries. This is why it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible.
Common Injuries After a Motorcycle Accident
The following are the five most common injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash:
Head Injury
A head injury is the most common injury sustained from a motorcycle crash. Head injuries range from a mild concussions to brain damage. Brain injuries may be fatal if not treated immediately. Sustaining neck injuries is as common as head injuries during a motorcycle crash.
Neck injuries are also fatal as they can paralyze and possibly lead to death. Protecting your head and neck while on a motorcycle is of importance. Protect yourself by having a helmet on whenever you are riding your motorcycle even for short distances.
Road Rash
Road rash is explained as injuries on a rider sustained as a result of sliding across a rough road surface or pavement after a motorcycle crash. The impact of a motorcycle crash can throw off a rider and as the body skids across the concrete it rubs on exposed skin.
If a rider’s gear isn’t protective enough, the concrete on the pavement can easily scrape away through clothing until it exposes the skin. Road rash injuries are not mere bruises, cuts or scrape, but they inflict more permanent damage like infections, skin irritation and surface nerve damage.
In the event road rush becomes a prevalent injury, it’s important to seek medical assistance to get the injuries professionally cleaned. To avoid infections you need to use antibiotics. Invest in a pair of motorcycle jeans, motorcycle jacket, kneepads and gloves since they offer protection against serious injuries and even death. Leather is one of the best materials to offer any rider protection against road rush.
Muscle Damage
A motorcycle doesn’t offer any protection against the environment of a noisy, busy street. Muscle damage caused by a motor crash may become permanent leading to paralysis which will limit mobility and performance of any normal daily routine.
Protect yourself by exercising caution by driving safely and practicing defensive driving. Ensure you use protective gear while riding on the motorcycle. Eardrums are one of the muscles that are likely to suffer muscle damage. Helmets offer protection to the head, but increase the rider’s amount of sound exposure. It’s important to use earplugs to prevent bursting your eardrums which would permanently damage your hearing ability.
Leg Injury
Leg injuries also include injuries sustained on your knees and feet. Leg injuries include fractured and shattered bones and, or knees. Leg and feet injury also include large cuts, heavy bruising and scrapes. These injuries could cause permanent damage and disability. Take precautions by riding safely, wearing protective leather gear and kneepads.
Biker’s Arm
A motorcycle doesn’t have an outer covering shielding the rider from the environment and a rider risks getting thrown off a motorcycle. In the event of any crash its human instinct to draw one arm in front or around oneself to protect and lessen the impact of the crash. Biker’s arm can be explained as the condition occurring after the initial impact of the aftermath of a motorcycle crash.
The more the impact on the arm the more the damage is caused to the nerves of the injured arm. The arm the biker lands on during an accident could suffer permanent nerve damage as well as on the upper body. Use elbow pads and sturdy jackets to offer protection against injuries and severe damage
Treatment for Injuries After a Motorcycle Accident
Treatment for injuries includes going to the hospital. In many cases, if the injuries are serious, one is admitted under the casualty and accident section. If the injuries are minor, one can go to an outpatient center. A rider can also be rushed to a private hospital and get medical help from there.
Remember, motorcycles can be very dangerous and each injury has its own special treatment.
What to Do as a Passenger in a Motorcycle Accident?
- Ensure you get medical checkup.
- File a police report, which can help with insurance claims.
- Contact an attorney before talking to an insurance provider.
What Happens to Your Insurance After a Motorcycle Accident?
Depending on the insurance arrangement, if a rider is found liable for causing the accident, the insurance provider will pay for the medical bills of the afflicted party. If the rider has comprehensive coverage, the insurance can replace the motorcycle. And, if injuries were sustained in the accident, the insurance can cover medical bills.
What Not to Do After a Motorcycle Accident?
- Don’t panic; you may harm yourself more.
- Don’t miss getting a medical checkup.
- Don’t forget to file a police report.
- Don’t talk to an insurance provider unless you have talked to one of the motorcycle accident law firms in Los Angeles.
- Finally, don’t fail to contact an attorney.
Hire the Best Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorney
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle crash and need to know what to do after a motorcycle accident in Los Angeles or the surrounding areas, it’s time to contact the best attorney to handle your case. With more than 50 years combined experience, Avrek Law’s personal injury lawyers are the experts when it comes to ensuring you get the justice you deserve. The consultation is free and you’ll get advice from a law firm with more than $1 billion recovered in more than 45,000 cases. View one of our locations or contact us for a free consultation.
