Step-by-Step Guide: What To Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Arizona
The most important thing to do after a motorcycle accident is to get yourself to safety and seek medical care. What you do after a motorcycle accident in Arizona can make a difference in the outcome of your claim, and your main concern should be to stay safe and prioritize your health. The following tips can help you take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your rights.
Step 1: Move to Safety and Check for Injuries
If you’re able to move, get to safety by moving to the shoulder or side of the road, since motorcycle accidents can leave you fully exposed to traffic if you’re knocked off your bike. Move your bike, too, if possible, and check yourself for injuries. If your injuries are serious, don’t move unless instructed by paramedics.
Step 2: Call 911 and Report the Accident
Call 911 and report the crash. It is usually a good idea to have law enforcement document the scene, especially if anyone is hurt or there is significant property damage. If an officer responds, they may prepare a crash report with details like diagrams, driver and witness information, and statements about what happened, which your attorney can later use when evaluating fault.
Step 3: Get Medical Attention Immediately
Even if your injuries are minor or you’re not in pain after the accident, get medical attention as soon as possible. Adrenaline can mask pain after an accident and hide injuries, so it’s important to see a doctor who can evaluate you and determine the extent of your injuries, including any that may not be immediately obvious, like concussions.
Receiving medical care also creates a record of your injuries, which can be useful later for supporting your claims.
Step 4: Document the Scene and Preserve Evidence
If you are able to remain at the scene, take plenty of photos and videos of your motorcycle, the other vehicle, the roadway, and the surrounding area. Photograph your injuries as well, and keep any clothing and protective gear you were wearing. If you have to leave because you need medical care, ask a friend or family member to take photos for you if possible.
If there were witnesses, get their names and contact information. Witness information may also be included in the police report if officers speak with them.
Step 5: Notify Your Insurance Company
Contact your insurance company and file a report for your accident as soon as possible. Do not admit any fault when speaking to the insurance company, but provide the details about the accident they need, like the date, time, location it occurred, and the other drivers involved. Your insurance will start an investigation into your claim.
Step 6: Understand Arizona’s Fault and Filing Rules
In Arizona, the person who caused the crash can be responsible for paying for the losses they caused. Compensation can include medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other related harms. Arizona also follows a comparative fault system, which means you may still recover compensation even if you were partly to blame, but any award is reduced by your share of fault.
In most cases, under Arizona’s statute of limitations, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit for your injuries. Claims involving government vehicles or public entities have shorter and stricter deadlines, including a notice of claim that generally must be filed within 180 days.
Step 7: Consult an Arizona Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Contact a motorcycle accident lawyer after your crash. An experienced attorney like those at Runion Personal Injury Lawyers will offer legal guidance for your next steps and protect you from insurance companies and their unfair settlements. With a lawyer on your side, you’ll have someone fighting for you, and most firms offer free consultations, so you can get your case reviewed without cost.
Contact Runion Arizona Motorcycle Accident lawyers for a free case review.
Quick Action Matters After a Motorcycle Accident
Acting quickly after a motorcycle accident can help establish a clear record of what happened through police and medical reports and allow you to gather and preserve evidence. Waiting to get medical attention may lead to further health complications and could prevent insurance companies from disputing your claim. Waiting too long to seek medical care might result in your injuries and the accident not being linked, making your claims more vulnerable to dispute.
Contacting an attorney soon after an accident also allows your attorney to start collecting evidence as soon as possible, such as surveillance footage from nearby businesses that might still be available. The longer you wait, the less time your attorney has to build your case before the filing deadline, and documenting evidence becomes more difficult over time. Witness memories may fade, and physical evidence can disappear. An attorney can collect this evidence while it’s still available and thoroughly investigate the accident to prove fault.
Runion Personal Injury Lawyers will always protect your best interests. Insurance companies aim to minimize payouts, and your attorney can keep you from accepting a settlement that is too low and won’t cover all of your costs and injuries.
Contact Runion Arizona Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today
Dealing with the injuries and bills after a motorcycle accident can be overwhelming, and you don’t need to face this time alone. Runion Personal Injury Lawyers will stand up for you, just as we have for hundreds of clients before.
Our attorneys have a 99 percent success rate, recovering over $50 million for injury victims in Arizona. Our team will take over all aspects of your case, allowing you to focus on recovery. Runion Personal Injury Lawyers will fight so you can recover the compensation you need and deserve after a motorcycle accident.
Call (602) 600-9000 or contact our Arizona motorcycle accident lawyers today for a free consultation.
