Riding a motorcycle in New York especially during rush hours can be dangerous. According to the data published by the Department of Health, on average 166 people die each year due to motorcycle crashes throughout New York City. Furthermore, motorcyclists between the age group of 20-24 years are prone to face injuries and have the highest death rates.
The stats mentioned above indicates how dangerous it is to ride motorcycles on the streets of New York City. Apart from this, there are several causes of motorcycle accidents. It includes unsafe lane changes and lane splitting, speeding, dangerous road conditions, inexperienced drivers, motorcycle defects, and left-turn accidents. In most cases, the motorcyclist suffers a lifetime injury or eventually dies. Thus, it is crucial to act immediately after you encounter such a situation.
Here’s what you can do to save yourself from the possible accident on the road:
- Use safety goggles and other eye protection to avoid serious injuries around the eyes.
- Wear leather or ballistic nylon clothes to save yourself from scratches and injuries on the skin.
- Save your hands from being scrapped, getting cuts or bruises by wearing gloves.
- Wear durable footwear to protect your feet from abrasion.
- The most crucial thing to consider is to always wear a helmet as everyone is required to wear it. The helmet you are wearing should have a thick inner lining along with a sturdy chin strap and solid rivets.
Following the above safety tips, you can be careful. However, regardless of what you follow, how careful you are, or how much protective clothing you are wearing motorcycle accidents still happen. You can control the internal factors, but external factors are not in your control. Thus, there’s no guarantee even though you are careful, still, there’s a chance you can meet an accident.
Here’s what you can do After a Motorcycle Accident
1. Seek Medical Attention
Right after you have met with an accident, you should immediately seek medical attention even if you have encountered minor injuries. Some injuries may not show the symptoms immediately but can impact you later. Moreover, your medical evaluation acts as proof when you are to claim for insurance settlement later on. So, always ensure that you get the medical evaluation done; otherwise, you may face challenges to get the personal injury claim.
We would also recommend you to follow the doctor’s advice diligently. It will help you recover fast and easily.
2. Call the Police
If the crash has resulted in injury, loss of life, and property totaling more than $1,000 must be reported within 10 days of the accident. On the other hand, if the other party claims that you were at fault, in that case, the police can verify and help you by assessing the injury and loss done.
3. Document the Entire Scene
After you have informed the police about the motorcycle accident, document the entire scene. Keep a journal of what had happened at the time of the accident because that will help the police to get into the exact details. Note crucial details such as driver’s name, address, contact number, vehicle identification number, license plate, model of the vehicle, and year of purchase.
Apart from this, take photographs of the scene when the accident happened. The photos must highlight crucial information like the condition of both the vehicles from every angle after the accident, traffic signals, signs, and weather conditions as they may affect the accident.
Another critical thing that you must include is the testimony of the eyewitnesses and the model of the location where the accident happened.
4. Call the Insurance Company
Inform your insurance company about the accident even if you are at fault. It is a crucial step because then only you would be eligible to file a claim. In case you are not planning to file an insurance claim, still you should inform your insurance company.
When you file an insurance claim, keep everything ready from your medical report to the documentation and photographs. However, make sure that the insurance company doesn’t take your vehicle away for inspection. Get an inspection done on your own first; otherwise, chances are you may happen to lose some crucial evidence.
Apart from this, provide as much detail as possible. It will make your case stronger. Try not to give any recorded statement to the other party’s insurance company and avoid discussing it with others.
5. Take Legal Support
Accidents are traumatic that may leave you in a state of shock. Generally, the victims are not in a good state of mind in serious accidents to fight for their rights. Also, both the parties involved in the accident may have their own bias. Taking legal support helps in this regard and the lawyer will ensure that you get justice. Whether you were driving a motorcycle or car, a lawyer will help you recover damages and ensure that you get what you deserve.
If you have suffered a motorcycle accident and you are looking for an experienced motorcycle attorney, consider checking New York Injury News for New York City Injury Lawyer . They are renowned attorneys that can help you in case of personal injuries. The team takes its own course to evaluate the extent of damages by analyzing every aspect.
