Accidents do happen when you travel the road. Avoiding them altogether is near to impossible. But yes, one can significantly minimize the chances and the resulting losses by being vigilant and responsive. First and foremost, one should have the required level of skills to drive on the road. Such as if you are going to bike, you need to have an appropriate license. After obtaining the correct license, you should reference a motorcycle safety inspection checklist to be sure your bike is ready for the road. Once on the road, you should showcase absolute attentiveness since if you are careless, you not only risk your life, you risk the lives of many others on the road.
Moreover, you should have adequate awareness regarding how to respond if you, unfortunately, have an accident. There are several factors to look after when you encounter a mishap. And you need to perform all of these steps super quickly. Accidents leave victims dumbfounded. Even if you are not severely injured, the unexpectedness of the situation may leave you petrified. That is why it is essential to have a plan beforehand, so you know what to do when you are in the position.
Here we have built a bike crash checklist. It incorporates all the steps you need to follow whenever you experience a bike road accident.
- Move Away From The Road:
It is needless to say that the crash will most probably happen on the road, in between traffic. The first thing you need to do is move away from the road. If the road is busy and the traffic is coming through, you risk yourself with other crashes. Some drivers may not realize there has been an accident and delay stopping their vehicle. It may turn worse, which is why you should instantly move away from the road or ask for assistance to drive you to the roadside.
- Follow The State Specific Laws And Hire A Lawyer:
It will help if you abide by the city’s specific laws or state you reside in lately. These laws are generally issued by the authorities there. For example, if you live in Colorado, you need to abide by such a rule, not walking away from the crash site. You are supposed to stay put until the authorities arrive since it is considered illegal. One other notable point highlighted by Colorado authorities is to never sign any document until and unless you get legal advice. That means you may need a lawyer after a motorcycle accident in Colorado to advise you on the situation’s legalities.
- Evaluate Your Injuries:
If you are not on the road, you must stay on the ground and not rush into getting up. If your injuries are severe, you may risk aggravating them if you try and stand up abruptly and without caution. You should initially assess all your damages. For example, if you have specific head injuries, or whether you feel you have fractured or broken a bone. You should also check if you are bleeding profusely or not since if you are, that means it is an emergency that requires immediate medical care.
- Call 9-1-1 Or Any Designated Emergency Number:
Calling the authorities or the police is the right way to handle a road accident or mishap. The law is well-versed in dealing with such situations and can charge the party responsible for it with penalties. The statement issued by the police will also prove helpful when you forward your claim to your insurance company. In case you are the one responsible for the crash, you won’t get befitting for an insurance claim.
- Narrate Your Side Of The Story:
Even if the police have arrived and judged the situation on their own, you should still explain your side of the story. It would be best to tell the police what happened and how you ended up in a crash. You should explain any details that you feel the police officers should know, which are not accessible from the crash site. Examples could include if the other driver violated a traffic law or was showing negligent behavior while driving.
- Gather All On-Site Information:
Witnesses are a crucial part of a police report. They attest to the details of the crash, and their statements are considered essential. If any witness approached you with their view, you should ask them for their name and contact information if they leave the site before the police arrive. This way, their statements may not make the police report. There are also other reasons why witnesses get left out from the police report, but if you have the needed contact information, you can reach out to them and ask them to give their statements.
Furthermore, if you are in the condition, you should capture photographs of the crash site. Again, the police might do it too, but the more information you gather, you can cross-check it against what the police report mentions. You can pinpoint if there is any missing information. Take pictures of the crash site from afar and up-close photos of the vehicles’ damage.
- Get The Other Driver’s Details:
You may need to interact with the other driver to ask for their details, such as their name, license plate number, or insurance details. However, one thing you need to have an awareness of is the fact that you should keep these discussions to the bare minimum. Often people are angry or upset after an accident. Getting too much involved with the other driver may end up in an argument. The last thing you want is to end up in a fight after an accident. It will do no good, therefore, be polite and ask only for the required details.
You should also know that anything you say or do may get used against you later if the other party sues you. So stick to the basics and do not interact a lot with anyone.
- Enquire For A Copy Of The Police Report:
The police report is the main authoritative document that verifies all the details of the crash. Nobody will take your word for it. If you need to make a claim or make sure the other driver suffers charges, a police report is necessary. But how will you assure yourself that a police report is issued or whether the details are correct or not? You ask for a copy. The police authorities cannot say no, and most probably, they will issue you a copy of the report.
Conclusion:
Bike accidents can sometimes prove fatal. It is why you need to show the utmost attention and vigilance while being on the road. It would help if you also had a detailed understanding of the steps you need to take if you suffer from a bike crash. Slight negligence can prove severely damaging, which is why the bike, as mentioned earlier, the crash checklist will prove immensely helpful for anyone who owns a bike!
