You enjoy the freedom and flexibility that come with riding a motorcycle. You are aware of the risks of riding, and you take measures to protect yourself. The same cannot be said of all motor vehicle drivers you may encounter. If you are hit and injured by a reckless or negligent driver, then you can claim compensation from them. It is not always easy to get such money. In some instances, you will need to do a battle with the other driver's insurance company or their team of lawyers. That is why your first step after an accident should be to hire your own motorcycle injury lawyer.

Winning Your Case Starts at the Scene of the Accident

If you were in a collision with a motor vehicle, you are unlikely to walk away from it unscathed. But not every motorcycle accident ends with severe injuries. You may be alert and conscious enough to act on your own behalf, and you should do so. Here are some of the steps you should take after a motorcycle accident if you sustained only minor injuries:

1. Get clear of the crash

As long as you remain on the road, you are in danger. If you can move, you should take yourself to the safety of a highway shoulder or roadside curb. You may need the help of bystanders to do this. You should then make sure that someone calls 911.

2. Use your phone, not your memory

You will be shaken after the accident so you should not try to rely on your memory. You should instead use your phone to get information from the other driver. You should get all their contact details as well as their license plate and insurance numbers and store them on your phone.

3. Capture the scene on camera

You should also use your phone to take photos of the damage done to your bike and the general carnage of the scene. You can live record the aftermath of the accident, which can make for more compelling evidence if your case ever goes to trial.

4. Record witness statements

You can also get people who witnessed the accident on tape. All you need do is ask them what they saw. A straightforward telling of this is on video can help reinforce your version of events.

5. Speak to police, but do not admit fault

When the police arrive, they will ask you questions about the accident. You should be honest with them. Do not lie, as this is against the law. However, you need not say anything that puts you at fault for the accident. If you do not like where the line of questioning is going, you can tell the officer that you prefer to speak to your motorcycle injury lawyer before proceeding, and they must respect that.

6. Have yourself take to the hospital

An ambulance will arrive on scene. You should allow the paramedics to check you out, and you should take the ambulance to the hospital. Do not worry about being charged for the ambulance ride. This is one more bill that the other driver will have to compensate you for.

Once at the hospital, you should receive a thorough examination by the physician. This is the only way to ensure that you have not sustained any internal injuries. You should also get a copy of the medical examination.

7. Lawyer up

Do not take it for granted that you can easily win the case because of your injuries. You must still prove that the other driver caused the accident and is liable for your injuries and the damage done to your bike. To do so, you must hire a motorcycle accident attorney.

The Aftermath of a Catastrophic Motorcycle Accident

If you are seriously injured in a catastrophic motorcycle accident, you will not be able to take any of the steps described above. You will likely be knocked unconscious or be in a mental fog until you are evacuated to a hospital. The medical team may need to take extraordinary measures to save your life. You may need to undergo a range of invasive and complex surgeries to set you back on the road to health.

It can take a while to recover from injuries sustained in a catastrophic motorcycle accident. You may need to spend weeks or months in the hospital. You will then need to enter a rehabilitation program before you are fully healed. Even when you are released from the hospital, it can be some time before you can get back to work.

Things will be even worse if you are permanently disabled because of the crash. Your disability can make it impossible for you to work again. You may also need to hire an in-home career to help you get through day-to-day tasks.

This kind of accident can turn your life upside down. You will be faced with enormous medical bills and you will probably lose your primary source of income. You should not be allowed to deal with such problems on your own. Hiring a motorcycle accident attorney will help you get the money you deserve.

Take the Offensive Straightaway

Although you will need time to rest and recuperate, you should speak to a Los Angeles motorcycle lawyer as soon as you can. Don't put it off. The insurance company of the other driver will not wait long before they make their approach.

Insurance companies are not in business to help people; they are driven solely by profit, and they will do all that they can to reduce the amount of money they must pay out to accident victims. The insurance company is likely to offer you a low-dollar settlement. Their hope is that you will take the money, pay your mounting medical bills, and not pursue any further claims against them. Do not accept any initial settlement offered to you. You should instead refer them to your lawyer. Once you have hired a motorcycle accident attorney, you should leave all communication and negotiation in their hands.

If you have suffered terribly because of the accident, your Los Angeles motorcycle lawyer will build up a case against the insurance company so that you get the money that is commensurate with all that you have been forced to endure. You can check out for information at, https://westcoasttriallawyers.com/

The first thing your lawyer will do is collect all the evidence related to the accident. They will engage the services of a private investigator who will return to the scene of the crash and collect all the video footage of it. The investigator will also track down all the witnesses to the collision. One of them probably captured the accident on their smartphone video camera. This can be useful in the strengthening of your case against the other driver.

Your lawyer will discern the value of your personal injury case by speaking to your doctor about the nature and extent of your injuries. They will also bring in an independent medical expert to offer an additional evaluation. Your lawyer will speak to your family about the impact that the accident has had on their lives. All this can be submitted as evidence of what you have suffered since the accident.

The case need not go to trial. If your attorney has gathered enough evidence against the respondent, they may choose to offer you a decent settlement.