No reasonable person expects you to react “perfectly” after a crash. However, there are three mistakes you should avoid after a motorcycle accident so you do not run into problems with your claim or lawsuit. These mistakes are settling too quickly, not getting the professional assistance you need, and saying too much about your case.
A Long Island motorcycle accident lawyer will educate you about your rights and options so you do not make avoidable mistakes.
In This Article
Reading time: 5 minutes
- Mistake #1: Settling Your Motorcycle Claim Too Quickly
- Mistake #2: Talking Too Much About the Motorcycle Accident
- Mistake #3: Not Getting Professional Assistance
- I’ve Avoided Making Mistakes After a Motorcycle Accident. Now What?
- Let Our Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Manage Your Case
Mistake #1: Settling Your Motorcycle Claim Too Quickly
Insurance companies often try to push accident victims to settle quickly. The problem with settling quickly is that you have not had time to figure out your case’s true worth—a fact the insurer is likely counting on. If you settle before your losses have been professionally reviewed, you risk accepting far less money than you need to start rebuilding. The consequences of this could be devastating:- You could run out of money while you still have accident-related bills to pay.
- You would not be able to file another claim or lawsuit for more money.
- You would have to find other ways to pay for what you need, which could put your health at risk (if you go back to work too soon) or put your family in debt.
For a free legal consultation, call (516) 932-0400
Mistake #2: Talking Too Much About the Motorcycle Accident
One of the best ways to protect your rights after a motorcycle accident is to say as little about the event as possible to anyone who is not your lawyer. Do not:- Apologize to the other driver
- Comment on how you are feeling or injuries you’ve suffered, beyond direct answers to emergency medical treatment providers
- Offer more information than the responding police officer asks for
- Speculate about the cause of the crash
- Post about the crash on social media
- Talk to the insurance adjusters alone
Mistake #3: Not Getting Professional Assistance
After a collision, you should get support from:- The police
- A doctor
- A lawyer
Calling 911 After a Motorcycle Crash
Dialing 911 is the best way to ensure that everyone stays safe after an injury crash. The local police will send an officer to render assistance, collect information, and file a report based on their observations. This report is often a crucial piece of evidence in motorcycle accident cases.Seeing a Doctor for Your Motorcycle Injuries
Medical care is an essential step after a motor vehicle accident:- It enables you to get a prompt diagnosis and start treatment immediately, protecting your health and preventing unnecessary pain.
- It creates a medical record that we will use to prove your injuries are a direct result of the crash.
- It establishes a connection between the accident and your injuries: any gap between the crash and your first doctor’s appointment might look suspicious to the insurance company and, if a case goes to trial, the insurance company’s lawyer will do their best to put that same suspicion in the jurors' hearts and minds.
Getting Advice From a Personal Injury Lawyer
Some accident victims assume that they have to call a lawyer immediately—even before they leave the accident scene—in order to protect their rights. This is not true. In fact, you should prioritize calling 911 and getting medical care before you think about contacting a law firm. That said, getting prompt legal advice is still extremely important. The sooner you contact our legal team, the sooner we will start preserving evidence and looking for ways to recover the financial compensation you need. You should hire a motorcycle injury law firm as soon as possible after an accident, once you have received any emergency medical attention that is called for. You have a limited time to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit, so do not delay hiring a lawyer any longer than it takes for you to get treatment. (It is important to note that other, shorter deadlines may apply to your case. We strongly suggest you contact us for a free case review as soon as possible so you know the time limits you are facing and what your options for legal action are.)Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
I’ve Avoided Making Mistakes After a Motorcycle Accident. Now What?
Once you hire our personal injury attorneys, you should focus on following your doctor’s orders and figuring out how you will move forward from this accident. Our legal team will handle all legal tasks associated with your case, including but not limited to:- Keeping you informed about what is happening and what we are doing for you
- Identifying who was at fault (this might be more than one party)
- Communicating with all other parties on your behalf
- Collecting evidence to support your case
- Determining how much compensation you are eligible for
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Let Our Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Manage Your Case
Friedman & Simon, L.L.P., has been representing accident victims on Long Island and throughout the New York metropolitan area since 1991. In that time, we have seen the mistakes clients often make and how they affect their claims. Call now and let our legal team guide you away from the three mistakes to avoid after a motorcycle accident. We charge no upfront attorneys’ fees.Call or text (516) 932-0400 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form