If you love to ride motorcycles, one thing that you might try to avoid thinking about is getting into an accident. However, motorcycle accidents happen every day, and 92,000 people were injured in motorcycle accidents in the United States in 2014 alone. This means that you should always be prepared for the potential of an accident occurring, no matter how careful you might be to try to prevent one from happening. If you do get into an accident, make sure that you do these three things immediately.
1. Get Yourself Out of Harm's Way
The very first thing that you should do after a motorcycle accident is to make sure that you get yourself out of harm's way. Your motorcycle might be your pride and joy, and it might be your first instinct to try to check and see if it was badly damaged in the accident. However, motorcycle riders and their bikes aren't as easily visible as cars, particularly if you or your bike are on the ground, so you could be at risk of getting hit. Get out of the road and call for help first; then, only after you are sure that it is safe, you can check on your motorcycle.
2. Seek Medical Attention
It's not uncommon to have "road rash" or other visible injuries after a motorcycle crash, but there may be other injuries that you can't see, too. For example, since you typically aren't as well-protected in a motorcycle accident as you might be in a car accident, you have to worry about serious back injuries and other injuries. No matter how you might feel or how much you might not want to make a big deal out of things, it is imperative to seek medical attention after a motorcycle accident. Then, you can be checked out for injuries that you might not be able to see but that might be serious, such as back damage or internal bleeding.
3. Hire a Motorcycle Accident Attorney
If you were struck by a motor vehicle driver, it is important to hire a motorcycle accident attorney. You want to make sure that your medical expenses and other necessary care are covered, and you may also want to ensure that the responsible party is held responsible for the crash. A motorcycle accident attorney or law firm like Scherline And Associates can talk to you about your options and can help you with each step of the way.
