If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in Bakersfield, what you do next could impact your life for years to come. If you do what is necessary to protect your rights, you could put yourself on the path to recovering just compensation, and you could secure your financial future while ensuring that you have access to the medical treatment you need. On the other hand, mistakes can jeopardize your recovery, and you could even lose your ability to recover fair compensation entirely.
Following a serious motorcycle accident, there are both steps you need to take and mistakes you need to avoid. Here are some critical “do’s” and “don’ts.”
If you need immediate assistance in or around Bakersfield, don’t hesitate to contact The Law Offices of Mickey Fine at (661) 333-3333 today for a free consultation.
DO: Hire an Attorney to Investigate
After a serious motorcycle accident, collecting evidence of liability is key to proving your claim for compensation. There are several steps involved in investigating a motorcycle accident claim, and you will need to hire an experienced attorney to conduct an investigation on your behalf.
DON’T: Try to Investigate on Your Own
Before you leave the scene of a motorcycle accident, it is important to try to take photos, exchange information with the driver, and collect witnesses’ contact information if you are able to do so. However, beyond this, you should not try to investigate the accident on your own. Leave this to the professionals, and focus your efforts on your physical and emotional recovery.
DO: See a Doctor Right Away
In order to ensure that you are able to recover as fully and quickly as possible, you should see a doctor right away. If you did not go to the hospital directly from the scene of the accident, you should go to the emergency room or see your primary care physician if you can get an appointment immediately.
DON’T: Ignore Your Doctor’s Treatment and Recovery Recommendations
Once you receive a diagnosis, you need to follow your doctor’s treatment and recovery recommendations. Not only will this help ensure that you are able to heal, but it will also help ensure that the insurance companies cannot accuse you of exacerbating your accident-related injuries by not following medical advice.
DO: File an Insurance Claim
You should contact your motorcycle insurance company and report the accident as soon as possible. If you have the other driver’s insurance information (including his or her insurance policy number), you should provide this information to your insurance company as well.
DON’T: Try to Negotiate With the Adjuster
Beyond reporting the accident to your insurance company, you should not share any additional information and you should not attempt to negotiate with the adjuster on your own. Volunteering information or trying to negotiate a settlement without legal counsel can seriously endanger your claim.
Instead, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. Your lawyer will know how to communicate with the insurance company while protecting your interests.
DO: Take Care of Your Medical Needs
As you begin to move on from your motorcycle accident, it is extremely important that you continue to take care of your medical needs. Rest, recover, go to your appointments, and do whatever else your doctor recommends.
DON’T: Return to Work or Leisure Activities Too Soon
While it is tempting to try to get back to work or the hobbies you love as soon as possible, doing this can exacerbate your injuries – and undercut your claim for compensation. Your doctor and other healthcare providers will monitor your progress and advise you when you can resume parts of your normal routine. If you have difficulty or feel pain returning to certain tasks, it is important not to push yourself and risk aggravating your injuries.
DO: Learn More about Your Case
When you have a motorcycle accident claim, it is a good idea to learn as much about your claim as you can. Our motorcycle accident FAQs are a good place to start, and we encourage you to read our summary of California’s motorcycle laws as well.
DON’T: Make Assumptions about the Outcome of Your Case
Finally, regardless of the circumstances involved, you should not make assumptions about the outcome of your case. Instead, talk to an attorney, get the advice you need, and make informed decisions about protecting your legal rights.
Injured in a Motorcycle Accident in Bakersfield? Schedule a Free Consultation Today
Motorcycle accidents are generally the fault of the driver of the passenger vehicle, rather than the rider. Unfortunately, the motorcyclist tends to be the one who suffers serious injury. And, furthermore, injured motorcyclists often face an uphill battle getting the compensation they deserve.
The Law Offices of Mickey Fine can help if you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in Bakersfield, or a nearby area of California. Please call (661) 333-3333 today for a free consultation.