Motorcycles aren’t like cars. They’re smaller, lighter, and way less protected. According to the NHTSA, motorcyclists are only about 3% of registered vehicles, but fatal motorcycle crashes happen 28 times more often than car accidents. That’s honestly wild.
Motorcycle accidents can happen in a blink. 52% of most crashes happen within five miles of home, and 69% within ten miles. So yeah, even if you ride the same street every day, you’re not immune.
Knowing what to do right after an accident can save your health, protect your money, and make sure everything is documented properly. And if you’re thinking about getting help, you might want to search for “best motorcycle accident lawyer near me.”
1. Get to Safety
The first thing you do? Look around. Are you in danger of being hit again? Is traffic coming? Can you move without hurting yourself more?
If you can, get out of the road. Move to a safe spot. If you’re too hurt, don’t try to do too much. Wait for help. Look around for others who might be hurt, too. You can help them if you can, but your first priority is yourself.
2. Keep Your Gear On
Helmets can be itchy and heavy. But after a crash, your body might be messed up in ways you don’t feel yet. Internal injuries and neck problems might not show pain right away.
Leave your helmet, jacket, gloves, and boots on until paramedics get there. It protects you.
3. Call 911
If you can move your hands, pick up your phone and dial 911. Tell them what happened, where you are, how many people are hurt, and any obvious injuries.
Even if the crash feels small, call. Police and paramedics are trained to see things you can’t. They also create reports, which are super important later if you’re making a claim.
4. Gather Information
Make sure you write down everyone’s names, phone numbers, and insurance info. Also, get the details about the vehicle(s) involved, like the make, model, and the license plate numbers. If the police show up, grab the officers’ names and badge numbers. Seriously, you’ll thank yourself later.
Talk to witnesses too. Ask them what they saw and jot it down. Even short notes help.
And take photos. Lots of them. The crash scene, your bike, the other cars, and any injuries. Snap from different angles if you can. In court, all of these will serve as proof that can make everything easier when talking to insurance or legal help.
5. Seek Medical Attention
Even if you feel fine. Seriously. Sometimes injuries don’t hurt at first. Concussions, internal bleeding, and broken bones don’t always show right away.
Go to a doctor. Get a full checkup. Keep a copy of everything they do, every test, every prescription. This is proof of your injuries if you ever need to claim compensation.
6. Notify Your Insurance Company
Call your insurance company as soon as you can. Tell them what happened, but don’t admit fault. Just explain the accident honestly, with facts.
Don’t give recorded statements until you’ve talked to an attorney. They can guide you so nothing gets twisted.
Summary
- Get to safety and help others if you can.
- Keep your protective gear on until paramedics arrive.
- Call 911 and report the accident if you can move.
- Gather information. Take down details of all the people, vehicles, witnesses, and police.
- Seek full medical attention as soon as you can.
- Notify your insurance company as soon as possible.