Being in a motorcycle wreck always creates chaos and trauma, even if you manage to avoid a serious injury. Under less fortunate circumstances, staying calm and acting proactively to protect your future best interests in the minutes, hours, and days after a crash becomes even harder, especially without help from an attorney experienced in situations like this.
If you have questions about what to do after a motorcycle accident in Philadelphia, an attorney from our team can answer them during a private initial consultation. In the meantime, here is a basic overview of what you should focus on immediately after a wreck and what steps you can take to strengthen a possible future claim.
What Should You Prioritize Immediately After a Motorcycle Accident?
If you suffer a serious injury in a motorcycle accident that requires immediate medical attention, focus only on getting to a hospital for the care you need. However, if you do not need emergency care, your first priority should be moving yourself and your motorcycle out of the flow of traffic to reduce the risk of a secondary collision.
Get Contact and Insurance Information
If you can safely remain at the scene of a motorcycle crash, make exchanging contact and insurance information with every other person directly involved in the crash one of your top priorities. Also, collect contact details from eyewitnesses and from anyone who owns a dashboard or surveillance camera that recorded the accident.
Contact the Police and Wait for Them To Arrive
Even if you believe you did not suffer any serious injuries, call 911 and wait for the police to arrive. This is a crucial step to take after a motorcycle crash in Philadelphia. Doing this ensures the creation of a court-admissible accident report. Police presence may also lead to the at-fault driver receiving a citation for a traffic violation, which can prove vital in holding them civilly liable for damages later.
Seek Professional Medical Care as Soon as Possible
Finally, visit your primary care physician or an urgent care clinic as soon as possible after any motorcycle accident, even if you leave the scene under your own power and without obvious harm. Many injuries from wrecks take hours or even days to produce obvious symptoms, and by that point, it may be too late to prevent long-term harm.
Contact a Philadelphia-Based Attorney Who Can Answer Your Questions About What To Do After a Motorcycle Accident
This overview does not cover every step in the civil recovery process after a motorcycle crash. However, it gives you a basic idea of what to do after a motorcycle accident in Philadelphia so you can protect your health and enforce your rights.
Guidance from a knowledgeable motorcycle accident lawyer can help you navigate the aftermath of a wreck and pursue damages proactively. Call us today to learn how we can assist you.