After a Motorbike Accident

Being involved in an accident is one of the worst experiences you will have to deal with as a motorcyclist. If it's a serious accident you will likely be unseated and hurt but even the smallest knock, fall or bang can shake you up and damage your confidence. Hopefully this guide will help prepare you to deal with the situation in a more decisive and confident way.

At The Scene Of The Accident

The first thing you will need to remember is to stay calm and keep your cool. Although, in a motorbike vs. car collision, the car driver is more than likely to be at fault, it's certainly not the right time to be arguing over who is to blame!

If the other driver is angry and screaming in your face just remember to keep calm. The driver's aggression is most likely caused by shock. Your best response is to maintain a calm tone of voice and not argue who is to blame.

As long as no one is acting crazy and no one was hurt you don't have to call the police. The matter can be safely dealt with at the side of the road

Exchange your name, address and insurance details with the other driver. Not everyone carries their insurance details with them so don’t worry if the other person can't remember. Ask them to write down their name and address and then make a note of their vehicle details including registration number and make.

If there are any witnesses to the accident ask them to write down their name and address and also what they saw.

If you've got a camera with you, if possible, take a few pictures of the vehicles and their position before they are moved. Photograph any skid marks, obstacles, road signs and if there is something significant that may have contributed to the accident point it out to the other driver.

If your accident was in the outside lane of a busy motorway your priority should be to get yourself to a safe position and not to leave the vehicles unmoved until the police arrive.

Your Health Is What's Important

Even if the incident has not necessitated an ambulance you should still be wary of an injuries you may have sustained. If you are feeling any pain or discomfort you will need to go to hospital to get yourself checked out. Road rash grazes need to be treated properly; bumps or bruises may need further inspection. If in doubt, always visit the hospital.

Even if you are feeling fine, if you have hurt your neck or head in the crash then you must seek medical treatment. A motorcycle helmet may prevent you smashing your skull, however force of impact may cause other damage that cannot be seen. When it comes to spinal or brain injuries you can never be too careful.

It's also worth noting that if you want to make any future claims it is worth being checked out by a medical professional as soon as you can so that an early medical opinion is recorded.

After The Dust Has Settled

Once you have exchanged details with the other rider/driver you still have plenty to do.

If your bike is still working then you can ride home. Don't ride at high speed or on any major roads. You may still be suffering from shock or your bike may be damaged! If you have any doubts about yourself or your bike then contact your breakdown service that will be able to help you get home.

When you do get home you will need to contact your insurance company to report the incident. If it was a fairly significant accident involving property damage or physical injury then you should also contact the police to let them know. This always looks good should your case go to court.

Before you make these 2 important calls we highly recommend you first prepare a full written statement of your version of the accident. Your memory of the event will still be clear in your mind so any important points must be written down in full. Remember to include as much as possible. This will help you to understand your accident more and will lead to one precise version that you can refer to in your upcoming phone calls and later conversation and documents.

In Conclusion

A bike accident can be scary and confusing. Follow these simple rules and you will have played everything to the letter of the law. This will give you peace of mind following the event. That's worth its weight in gold.

 

 

 

Other accessories for safe biking include Motorcycle Intercoms, which allow you to communicate bike to bike, so you can warn bikers in your group of obsitcles, accidents and poor car drivers. We also recommend Motorcycle GPS units. It's always useful to know exactly where you are going!