What To Do After an Ohio Motorcycle Accident
Your response right after an accident is critical to preserving the evidence essential to any potential claim.
Obviously, if you or other accident victims need emergency medical assistance, ask someone to call an ambulance.
If you can, while you are still at the accident scene, collect the following information:
- Get the name, address, and telephone number of the other driver(s).
- Get the drivers license number(s) of the other driver(s).
- Get the insurance information of the other driver(s).
- Get the make, model and year of the other vehicles(s) and check the vehicle registration.
- Take down the vehicle owner's name and address, if the driver does not own that vehicle.
- If it is a business vehicle, write down the name, address, and telephone number of that business.
- If it is leased or rented, write down the name, address, and telephone number of the rental company.
- Give the other driver(s) your name, address, driver's license number and insurance information.
- Look around the accident scene to locate all possible witnesses to the accident. Ask for their names, addresses, and telephone numbers (home, cell, and work). If the witnesses do not want to get involved, write down their automobile license plate numbers and the states where the license plates were issued.
- Listen carefully to comments that the other driver(s) make about events leading up to the accident, such as "I didn't see you," and write down their comments.
Call the police, or have someone else call them immediately. Generally, the police officer will interview all the drivers and any witnesses at the accident scene.
The police may also collect vital physical evidence and record the location of skid marks, highway signs and markings, and debris from the accident. All this information is critical to "reconstruction" of the accident, to determine the speed of each vehicle, the point of impact, and the person responsible for the accident.
Ask the police officer to find out where the other driver was going. If the driver was traveling on a work assignment, you may have legal claims against both the careless driver and his or her employer.
If you did not go to the emergency room right after the accident, see a doctor as soon as possible. It is very important to get a check-up, because you may not be able to tell how badly you are hurt right after an accident. Be sure to follow all the doctor’s instructions about further medical care, tests, treatment, or restrictions on your activity.
If you or a loved one was seriously injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, talk with an Ohio motorcycle accident lawyer. Please submit a simple, free and confidential legal consultation form now.
After a serious accident, the at-fault driver or his or her insurance company may try to minimize the value of your claim. To avoid this, follow these guidelines:
- Do NOT get into an argument with the other driver(s) about what happened.
- Do NOT sign any statements or documents about the facts of the accident.
- Do NOT have your bike repaired. Wait until you have an attorney who will get your bike photographed and inspected, notify the other driver’s insurance company, and show it the damage to your motorcycle.
- Do NOT answer questions from an insurance company or from an attorney representing the other driver.
- If your own insurance policy requires you to report your accident within a certain time, get an attorney to help you with this as well.
If you or a loved one was seriously injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, talk with a dedicated Ohio motorcycle accident lawyer. Please submit a simple, free and confidential legal consultation form now.
Take advantage of the Bernstein Approach today. Protect your legal rights.
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