What to do if you were hurt in a Maryland motorcycle accident

While a minor car accident may cause damage to a vehicle and little else, nearly all motorcycle crashes result in serious injury. In fact, motorcyclists are three times more likely to be hurt in a Maryland motor vehicle accident than someone in a car.

So what should you do if you have been injured?

Call the police

This should be your first step in any serious accident. Filing a police report brings an impartial third party to help record what happened, which can protect you if there are conflicting versions of the accident in the future.

A police report provides an official record of what happened, which the insurance companies will use when determining the cause of the accident and any compensation for those injured.

In an accident involving serious injury, police and other emergency workers will often arrive at the scene thanks to a call from a witness. If you were transported to a hospital immediately following a Maryland motorcycle crash, you can still assume that the police were on the scene talking to those involved even if you were unable to call the police yourself.

Get the other driver's insurance information.

While you probably know this is necessary, it's not always easy to do. For example, a motorcyclist who is seriously hurt may be unable to talk to the other driver and get the necessary information.

If this is the case, call the police department that responded to the accident. They will have contact information for the other parties involved in the accident, which will allow you to get the insurance information you need.

See a doctor.

Some injuries, such as hairline fractures or head trauma, may not be immediately evident. It is important that you see a doctor right away no matter how well you feel. A skilled doctor will be able to recognize the signs of more serious injuries that you may dismiss as aches and pains.

Similarly, if you notice new pains in the days following the accident, see a doctor. It is very normal for a person injured in a crash to feel OK at the scene of the accident but later on discover an ongoing pain that seems to be associated with the crash.

Talk to a lawyer.

Because motorcycle accidents often involve serious injury, you may want to talk to an experienced Maryland motorcycle accident lawyer to see if they can help you get a better settlement.

Hiring a lawyer may be a good choice if:

• You have serious injury that requires long-term care.
• You received any permanent damage from your injuries.
• You were not wearing a helmet.
• The other driver is trying to blame you for the crash.

If you don't know whether or not you want to hire a lawyer, call our offices at 1-800-875-9700 for a free consultation.