As a road user it’s important to know what do in the event of a collision or accident. Hopefully neither will happen to you, but as bikers the odds aren’t stacked in our favour.
If you’re involved in accident on the road you must stop and give your details (name and address, name and address of bike’s owner, the bike’s registration number) to anyone who has good reason for needing them. You must also contact a motorcycle accident attorney immediately.
Insurers will tell you never to admit liability, or use phrases like “I didn’t see you,” when at the scene. Liability for the incident will be determined later and you’ll have the option to own up if you’re responsible.
All road traffic accidents (RTAs) be reported to the police within 24 hours (immediately in Northern Ireland). It’s best to do this straightaway though. The police will not attend unless someone has been injured and/or there is a danger or blockage in the road. It’s worth remembering that as in some situations you want the police to be at scene taking statements and details from witnesses. This stops people changing their story later. If the police don’t attend, make sure you take down the details of any other vehicles involved including the following:
- Driver’s name and address
- Owners name and address if different
- The vehicle registration number
- Telephone number and email address (helps to speed things up)
Note down the make and model of the vehicle and a description of the driver/rider. If there were witnesses to the incident be sure to get their full details too, you may come rely on these for your claim or your defence.
Don’t rush into making a decision on injuries at the scene. It’s not uncommon for people to feel fine after an accident, only to discover pain, discomfort and injury once the adrenaline as worn off.
If you have a camera with you, take photos of any damage to both vehicles, road conditions and signs, and of the general area. These will help with your insurance claim. As soon as you can, write down or record everything that happened and everything you can remember about accident while it’s fresh in your mind. It’s surprising how little details can be forgotten about later.
