When it comes to mistakes being made on the motorcycle, it’s probably fair to say there are no “small” mistakes. Sure, you might have left your radio on too loud when you parked it and had to turn it down again when you start it –but that’s not the kind of mistake we’re talking about here. Instead, we’re talking about the crucial mistakes that you make when a motorcycle accident has taken place and you’re not sure what steps to take next. Those are the kinds of mistakes that can cost a lot of money – and be harmful as well.We all know that motorcycles are generally more dangerous than automobiles because there’s less of a barrier between a driver and the road – and no way to really keep the driver secured as there is in an automobile.
But what about mistakes that you make after an accident takes place? Are you losing thousands of dollars simply because you don’t know how to react to an accident? Are you unable to pay your bills because of the way you reacted to the accident, even if you didn’t initially have the liability for the accident that took place?
At the very least it’s important to understand which motorcycle accident mistakes not to make in order to avoid being negligent and being liable for damages should an accident occur. So let’s learn about these mistakes in order to avoid them in the future. Here they are, in no particular order:
Mistake #1: Failing to report the accident to the police. Failing to report an accident to the police makes you look highly suspicious, especially when you consider that it is essentially standard procedure when it comes to accidents on the road. If your motorcycle accident case ever comes to court, the fact that you didn’t report the accident to the police can definitely be used against you and could ultimately result in you appearing more liable than you might have been.
Let’s put it this way: even if you weren’t responsible for the accident, failing to report said accident certainly makes you look more responsible. After all, why wouldn’t you report something of this magnitude if you didn’t have something to hide? Even if you don’t have something to hide, that question is going to be on peoples’ minds as they ponder your case, and that’s never a good thing. So make sure the police know about your accident.
Mistake #2: Admitting fault. When you get in an accident you might be tempted to rectify the situation by apologizing profusely and admitting fault when there is no fault on your end. This can be devastating to your case, especially when you consider that you might never had fault according to the law in the first place! The bottom line is, you don’t really know the fault until you speak with a lawyer, so don’t take “credit” for an accident before you understand what’s really going on.
In many cases speaking to the other person’s insurance company can mean facing someone who is trained to get you to admit fault. This kind of issue can be used against you later in the case, so you’ll want to be on your toes. Instead of worrying about whose fault the accident was, focus instead on the details. Trade insurance information, report the accident to the police, seek proper medical treatment for your injuries, and document the damage. It’s important that you say little, as people untrained in the law can say things to hurt their own case – while still not even being true!
Mistake #3: Avoiding medical treatment. We know that medical bills can be a major blow to your finances, but you’d be surprised at how the other party’s insurance company can turn the fact that you haven’t sought enough medical treatment around on you. After all, why should they have to pay for your injuries that only got worse because you didn’t seek proper medical treatment? There’s a point there. So do the right thing and seek the right medical treatment and simply do what your doctors say, just as you would in any other case.
Because insurance companies can make your odd medical treatment behavior seem suspicious, it’s best to be as honorable and forthright as you can. Your lawyer will be able to help you if it’s clear that you need medical bills paid for and that each medical bill was for proper, adequate and timely treatment.
Mistake #4: Failing to document information. Log everything about your accident. Keep it on a file on a flash drive that’s secure. Record conversations with your insurance company, the other party’s insurance company, everything. Even if you simply record the time, date, and gist of a conversation, you’ll probably be doing a heck of a lot more for your case than the average person who’s been involved in a motorcycle accident.
You’d be surprised at what people don’t know simply because they can’t remember it. This doesn’t make them stupid or bad people – they just simply didn’t do the work that you’ll do should the situation arise. Don’t fail to document important information about your case because you never know what you’re missing otherwise. You want to be able to help your lawyer defend you by arming them with information – and the more information you have, the better you can do that. Sure, sometimes you’ll record information that’s not necessary but you know the rule: better safe than sorry.
There are other mistakes to avoid in motorcycle accident cases so we advise you to continue researching this issue in order to understand what to do should the situation ever arise. Remember: after you’re in a motorcycle accident, you can’t change the past. But you can do the best to support your finances, receive the right treatment and generally avoid a financial meltdown. You’ll be surprised at how far this information can take you.