What to Do After a Hit-and-Run Motorcycle Accident
Being involved in any type of motorcycle crash can be devastating. It can be even more disconcerting when the other driver fails to remain at the scene and flees. However, there are certain things you can do following a hit-and-run motorcycle accident to protect your rights.
Call 911.
The first thing you should do after a hit-and-run motorcycle accident is to call 911. Even if you think that you aren’t injured and the damage to your bike appears minimal, you should still call the police and report what happened. The responding officers will investigate the scene and write a report. You also might have injuries that have delayed symptoms. Reporting what happened and getting a police report is a good way to document that your accident occurred.
Don’t chase the hit-and-run driver.
You might feel angry when the other driver tries to flee. However, you should avoid trying to stop or apprehend the driver. Police officers have several techniques they can use to identify fleeing drivers. You don’t want to chase a hit-and-run driver because that could increase your risk of being involved in a second accident, and the other motorist might be armed, intoxicated, or dangerous. If you can, take a photo of the other vehicle’s license plate number as it leaves the scene.
Document what you recall.
Immediately write down as many details as you can about the other motorist, the make, model, and color of the vehicle, and the license plate. Write down any physical characteristics you noticed about the driver, including his or her gender, hair color, clothing, and approximate age. You should also write down details about what happened in the moments before, during, and after your wreck, and get the names and contact information of any witnesses who saw what happened. Ask the witnesses to wait and speak to the police so that they can tell the officers what they saw.
Take photographs.
In addition to trying to photograph the fleeing driver’s license plate number, you should also take pictures of the accident scene, the damage to your bike, tire skid marks, the road and weather conditions, and other relevant details. Accident scene photos can provide important evidence for your motorcycle accident claim.
Look for nearby businesses with surveillance cameras.
Look around the scene to see if any nearby businesses have surveillance cameras. If some of them do, ask the manager if he or she can preserve the video from the time of your accident. Some businesses record over surveillance video fairly quickly, so identifying and getting this footage quickly is important. If your motorcycle collision happened in a residential area, look for homes with surveillance cameras.
Call your insurance company.
Notify your insurance company as soon as possible after your motorcycle accident. If the hit-and-run driver is not caught, you can still file a claim under your uninsured motorist coverage. This type of coverage is required under Massachusetts law and will cover your costs up to its policy limits. Most insurance policies include strict time limits for notifying the company about claims, so make sure you call and report your accident immediately.
Seek medical attention.
You should always see a doctor for a medical evaluation after a motorcycle accident. Getting a prompt diagnosis can help you recover from your injuries faster and can also help you show that your injuries were caused by your motorcycle accident.
Call Ellis & Associates.
Make sure to call an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible after you are injured in a hit-and-run accident. The attorneys at Ellis & Associates have years of experience fighting for the rights of negligence victims and will work hard to recover the compensation you deserve. Call us for a free consultation at 800-MR-ELLIS or contact us online.