After your motorcycle has been rear-ended by a car, it is easy to get distraught and act irrationally. However, the steps you take right after a motorcycle rear-end accident affects not only your health and safety but also your ability to recover compensation.
If your motorcycle was rear-ended by a car in Mississippi, you should contact a Mississippi motorcycle accident lawyer after taking the following steps.
Ensure Your Immediate Safety
The first thing you should do after a rear-ended motorcycle accident is to make sure that you and any passengers are safe. Examine yourself and passengers for injuries, and call 911 for immediate medical help if you or others have suffered severe injuries.
You should also move your motorcycle out of the roadway because leaving it in the flow of traffic could cause another accident.
Contact the Police
After ensuring your immediate safety and the safety of others, call the police. A police officer will come to the scene and construct a police report documenting the accident. The police report can be important in proving that you were not at fault if fault becomes an issue in your case.
However, you should be careful not to make any statements regarding fault to the police officer, any other parties, or witnesses. The defendant can use statements regarding fault against you during a personal injury case.
Gather Evidence
Next, you should gather the following information:
- The name and contact information of the other driver, any passengers, and any witnesses;
- The other driver’s insurance information;
- The license plate number and vehicle identification number (VIN) of the other driver’s car;
- The make and model of the other driver’s car;
- The police officer’s name and badge number; and
- The police report number.
You should also take photos of the accident scene, including the damages to your motorcycle and any other vehicles involved.
Get Medical Help
If you have not done so already, you should go to the hospital to get professional medical treatment. A doctor should treat you even if you don’t have severe physical injuries. Some injuries, such as a concussion or whiplash, may not be immediately noticeable after your motorcycle rear-end accident.
It is also important to get proper documentation for your injuries by obtaining your medical records. Medical records are another key piece of evidence in personal injury cases.
Contact Your Insurance Company
After receiving medical attention, contact your insurance company. You should give them all of the information you’ve obtained regarding your rear-ended motorcycle accident.
It is important to contact your insurance company even if you weren’t at fault. Explaining your account of what happened when your motorcycle was rear-ended can help you avoid blame.
Have a Mississippi Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Evaluate Your Case
If your motorcycle was rear-ended by a car in Mississippi, you should have a Mississippi motorcycle accident lawyer evaluate your case.
Our motorcycle accident lawyers at Harris Law Firm will investigate your claim, speak with witnesses, gather and organize documents, hire experts, and negotiate with insurance adjusters. Whether your case settles or goes to trial, we will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
Contact us today to schedule your free case review.
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