The aftermath of a motorcycle accident can be chaotic and confusing for everyone involved, so it is crucial to know what steps you need to take to ensure that your rights are upheld, especially if you are injured.
Learn exactly what to do after a motorcycle accident in Houston to protect yourself and your legal rights.
1. Seek Out Medical Care
First and foremost, seek out medical care after your motorcycle accident. It is never a good idea to delay medical treatment after any kind of accident. This includes getting checked out by the paramedics who arrive at the scene of the collision, going to the hospital for more in-depth care, and following up with the doctors’ orders for any necessary ongoing treatment.
Delaying medical treatment could be life-threatening if you are experiencing serious injuries. It is important to remember that you might not initially realize how hurt you really are as a result of adrenaline and other life-saving chemicals that are flowing through your body after the crash.
Additionally, delaying medical care could also put any potential future compensation at risk because the other party may argue that your injuries are only worse because of the delayed treatment. Do not give the other party any leverage against you. Seek out medical care as soon as possible after your motorcycle accident.
2. File a Police Report
After a typical motorcycle accident, the police are called out to the accident scene. There are cases, however, when the accident goes unreported. If you were involved in a motorcycle crash in Houston and were rushed to the hospital or otherwise never called the police, then you can still file a police report about the accident after the fact.
Whether the police showed up at the scene of the motorcycling accident before you left or you report the accident at a later time, you can obtain a copy of the accident report from the Texas Department of Transportation.
3. Assess Your Losses
Once you have received a medical diagnosis and you have filed an official police report, it is time to start assessing your damages. The most obvious loss you will face is the immediate costs of your medical care. On average, medical treatment after a motorcycle accident costs around $4,569. This figure does not necessarily include the long-term costs of ongoing medical care that you may need after a catastrophic motorcycle accident in the Houston area.
For instance, if you suffer an injury that will require multiple doctor’s visits and rehabilitative care, you will not know the full extent of your medical costs upfront. Instead, you will need to estimate how much those losses will cost you over time.
Depending on the circumstances of the accident, you might also suffer significant property damage. Your bike may even be completely totaled if you were the one riding the motorcycle, otherwise, your car may have sustained substantial damage from the impact.
On top of that, you will also want to consider how much you are losing in missed wages from any time you have to take off of work due to your injuries. Lost wages could be an immediate short-term loss, or they could be an ongoing issue if you face a loss of earning capacity due to any debilitating injuries.
4. Start Gathering Evidence
Once you have assessed your damages, it is time to start gathering your evidence. You will want to start documenting your losses and building up your motorcycle accident case by obtaining:
- The accident police report
- Medical bills
- Vehicle repair bills
- Evidence of missed wages
- Pay stubs proving your average wages
5. Talk to a Lawyer About Your Legal Options After a Motorcycle Accident in Houston
It is a good idea to talk to a lawyer about your claim, not only for assistance with gathering evidence to support your case but also to provide guidance and representation along the way. By analyzing the facts of your case, an attorney should be able to tell you whether you have the basis to seek out a motorcycle accident claim against a negligent motorist. Let our firm help you with the steps you should take after a motorcycle accident in Houston.
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