Motorcycles offer great gas mileage and an unequaled sense of freedom compared to other vehicles on the road. However, they are also the most vulnerable vehicles on the road. They don’t provide the same protection as a car, SUV, or truck does for their drivers or passengers. When someone causes an accident that involves a motorcycle, it can be devastating—even if there isn’t any direct contact. This kind of accident is called a no-contact accident. For example, if you swerved out of the way of a merging truck that didn’t notice you and caused you to crash off the road, that would be a no-contact accident. Here are some tips on holding a driver liable when they cause your motorcycle accident.
Obtain Vehicle Information
An unfortunate fact is that many drivers don’t pay as close attention to motorcyclists as they should. In some cases, a vehicle may cause motorcyclists to crash and just continue driving. If you have time, try to take a picture of the vehicle or write down vehicle information like the license plate number and vehicle description as soon as possible. Without this information, you and the police are going to have a hard time tracking down the culprit.
If the driver who caused the accident does pull over to help, get their personal and insurance information as you would for any other auto accident.
Find a Witness
Even if you have the vehicle information of the person who caused the accident, you still need to prove that they were at fault either because they committed a traffic violation, were driving distracted, or made some other infraction. One way to get proof is to find a witness who saw what happened and can corroborate your story. An alternative way is to look for traffic or store security cameras nearby that might have caught the incident on film.
Take Pictures of Damage
Insurance companies can learn a lot from a simple picture. After your accident, immediately take a picture of the damage to you and your bike. If the other person stopped, be sure to take a picture of their vehicle as well (whether there is damage or not). The sooner you take the pictures after the accident, the more applicable they will be to your case. Try to add a timestamp to the pictures as well, if possible.
Contact an Attorney
Motorcycle accidents can be difficult, especially if there was no direct contact. Call a motorcycle lawyer and explain all of the details of the incident. The lawyer will be able to determine if you have a strong case. If you do have a strong case, they may take it on. Throughout the process, they will be able to guide you in the right way to speak and act to get the best results.
If you’ve been in an accident, call your local accident lawyer. There are likely lawyers in your area who specialize in motorcycle accidents. If you act quickly and take the right steps, you can get the compensation you deserve for damage to your bike, medical expenses, pain, and missed wages.
Author information: Anita is a freelance writer from Denver, CO. She studied at Colorado State University and now writes articles about health, business, family, and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family whenever she isn’t writing. You can follow her on Twitter @anitaginsburg.
