The short answer is: Yes. Motorcycle accidents, more than any other vehicular accidents, often result in very serious or fatal injuries. Our Framingham motor vehicle attorneys have seen a full spectrum of motorcycle injuries over our decades of practice. Of course, the medical needs of the injured take priority over everything else but there are some actions that should be taken as soon as practical after an accident.
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Massachusetts and have questions, or need further information, feel free to contact our Framingham accident lawyers at Mahaney & Pappas, LLP. You can call our office at (508) 879-3500 or contact us here to schedule your free case review and evaluation.
An Experienced Massachusetts Motorcycle Accident Attorney Will Help
It’s extremely important to contact a motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible after a crash to get proper advice, guidance, and legal representation to protect your rights. The insurance company will undoubtedly act fast to a serious accident to try to protect their interests and insured. They will quickly try to find reasons to blame you for the accident. For the same reason, you need to act fast as well. That’s where an experienced injury attorney comes in.
Critical information that will help your case is gleaned right after the accident. An experienced motorcycle accident attorney will ensure that a thorough investigation is conducted to make sure fault for the accident is placed with the party that collided with the motorcycle rider. Additionally, a lawyer will take prompt and necessary actions to protect your rights and make sure you are compensated for your injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Follow These Important Tips After a Motorcycle Crash
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, make sure you follow some important steps to protect yourself and put yourself in the best possible position to get the compensation you deserve. Here are some vital tips:
Call the Police or 911
If possible, call the police or, if you can’t, have someone else call. You should stay at the scene of the accident until the police arrive and give a thorough explanation of how the accident happened. The responding police officer will record and document crucial information that will be necessary in your case such as, the identity of the parties involved, auto insurance information, witnesses’ names, and statements from any parties or witnesses. In many cases, the officer will also form an opinion in the Motor Vehicle Crash Police Report about whose fault the crash was and if the other driver was issued a citation.
Get Emergency Medical Services Involved
When 911 or the police are called after a motorcycle accident, an ambulance usually arrives with the police. If you were hurt, you should be evaluated by the paramedics and agree to transportation to a local emergency department for further evaluation. Make sure you provide the details of your injuries to EMS or the paramedics. Your statements to them will be recorded in the ambulance company’s medical reports. These statements will be used and relied upon later in your personal injury case by lawyers and the insurance company.
Take Photos of the Accident Scene and Your Injuries
In accident cases, photographs of the accident scene are useful and compelling evidence. If possible, take photos of the vehicles as they were positioned after the accident. You should also take photos of skid marks and/or any road debris. Try to incorporate into your photos any fixed objects such as road signs, traffic signals and/or landmarks. These photos may come in handy in the event the insurance company tries to deny liability and your personal injury claim.
Also, don’t forget to take pictures of your injuries. We always recommend taking pictures of your injuries soon after a crash and in the days or weeks following the accident. These photos will be very helpful later in your case to show the extent and seriousness of your injuries.
Don’t Talk to the Insurance Companies
Insurance companies and/or their investigators act fast after a serious accident. One tactic insurance companies and their adjusters use to try to get information that helps their interests is to get statements from the parties involved. They will no doubt try to call you after a motorcycle crash to get a statement. You should avoid giving a statement to anyone after the accident without consulting with an experienced attorney. The insurance company’s job is to place blame anywhere but with their insured. Once you hire an experienced Massachusetts accident lawyer, the insurance company cannot contact or speak with you.
Avoid Posting Anything on Social Media
From our experience with accident cases, almost every insurance company investigator and/or adjuster is searching social media for any statements or photos you post of the accident. Avoid the temptation to post anything on social media. The insurance company and their adjusters will try to use your social media posts against you to either deny your claim or minimize the amount of compensation they may have to pay you.
While these are some important tips to follow soon after a motorcycle accident, there are many other actions you should take to protect your rights. Our Framingham accident attorneys are here to help you if you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident. By getting us involved right away, you can have peace of mind that we’ll navigate you through the complex legal and insurance issues involved and pursue the maximum compensation you deserve.
