After a motorcycle accident, you should focus on your safety first. Get medical care, report the crash, and save as much evidence as possible. You should also avoid making statements that could affect your insurance claim for damages.
Our Boston motorcycle accident lawyer will explain your options, review the crash, and protect your claim and your rights. We will also work to recover full damages while you recover in the hospital or at home.
Steps to Take in the Hours and Days After the Crash
The time after a motorcycle accident often feels rushed. Healthcare providers, police officers, insurance adjusters, and repair shops may all become part of the process within a short period.
Focusing on a few practical steps can help protect your health and any claim you decide to pursue. Consider doing the following after a motorcycle accident:
Check Yourself for Injuries and Call 911
Move out of traffic if you can do so safely. Call 911 and request both police and emergency medical assistance. Motorcycle crashes can cause injuries that are not obvious right away.
Shock and adrenaline can mask pain, and some injuries, including concussions, internal injuries, and certain fractures, may not become fully apparent until hours later. Getting medical care creates a record of your injuries and connects them to the accident.
After your examination, follow your doctor‘s treatment plan and attend follow-up appointments. Medical records often become key evidence during an injury claim.
Report the Motorcycle Accident
Massachusetts law requires certain crashes to be reported. Police who respond to the scene will prepare a report in many cases. If an officer does not respond, you may still have reporting requirements depending on the circumstances of the accident.
The accident report may include:
- Driver information
- Insurance details
- Witness names
- Road conditions
- Officer observations
- Drawings of the collision
An attorney handling your claim may later use this report as part of the investigation.
Gather Evidence if You Can Do So Safely
Evidence at the crash scene can change quickly once vehicles are moved and traffic resumes. If you can do so safely, take a picture of the motorcycle, the other vehicle, the surrounding roadway, and anything else you believe contributed to the collision. This can include road hazards and traffic signs.
Keep track of the other driver’s information and the contact details for anyone who witnessed the crash. Those pieces of information can become part of the insurance claim or legal investigation.
Avoid Discussing Fault at the Scene
Emotions can run high after a crash, but you still must be careful of what you say. Keep your conversations short and stick to the basic facts about what happened when speaking with the police or other drivers.
Do not apologize or guess about what caused the collision. Even casual comments may be taken out of context during an insurance claim.
Notify the Insurer
Your insurer will likely need to know that the accident happened. When you report the crash, stick to the facts and avoid guessing about injuries or fault before the investigation is complete.
The adjusters may ask for a recorded statement or request broad access to your medical records. Before agreeing to either request, it may help to understand how that information could be used during the claim.
Keep Track of Your Expenses and Recovery
The effects of a motorcycle accident often continue long after the damaged bike has been removed from the road. As you recover, save medical bills, pharmacy receipts, repair estimates, pay records showing missed work, and any letters or emails you receive from the insurance companies.
Photographs taken during your recovery can also help document how your injuries changed over time. Having everything in one place can make it easier to show the full impact of the accident if questions arise later.
What Damages May Be Part of a Motorcycle Claim?
Depending on what happened, damages may include medical expenses, future care, lost income, reduced earning ability, property damage, pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent disability, and scarring or disfigurement.
If a motorcycle accident results in a fatal injury, certain family members may also have the right to pursue damages through a wrongful death claim under state law. Our Boston wrongful death lawyer guides families in these cases.
The amount available for damages depends on the injuries, the evidence, and the facts of the case. We work to account for the financial costs of the accident and how the injuries continue to affect everyday life.
What if the Insurance Company Offers a Quick Settlement?
You may receive an early offer from the insurer to settle your claim. But that offer may come before you know the full extent of your injuries or losses.
Motorcycle accident injuries sometimes require surgery, rehabilitation, or months away from work. Once a settlement is accepted, additional compensation may no longer be available for those same losses. A lawyer from our team will review any offer before you decide whether to accept it.
How Long Do You Have to Sue for Damages in Massachusetts?
The state generally gives injured people three years from the date of the accident to file most personal injury lawsuits under Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 260, § 2A. If the crash led to a fatality, a different deadline may apply, making it a good idea to learn which deadline applies as soon as possible.
It helps to start early on a case. Waiting can make it more challenging to find and preserve evidence and find people who saw the crash.
Talk With Our Firm About What to Do After a Motorcycle Crash
Questions about what to do after a motorcycle accident often come at a stressful time. Having legal guidance early can help protect important evidence and keep the insurance process moving in the right direction.
For more than 20 years, Earley Law Group has helped injured people across Massachusetts. Our firm has recovered millions for clients with decades of combined experience. Our clients receive white-glove service when they come to us, and we help connect them to medical resources if they need help with care.
The firm works on a contingency fee basis, so there are no attorney’s fees unless money is recovered for you. Our Boston personal injury lawyer is ready to discuss your legal options after a crash.
You can reach our team 24/7 for a free consultation. Call Earley Before It’s Too Late!™
