It is against the law to flee the scene of an accident in Texas without stopping. Unfortunately, this is what many drivers do when they are too afraid to face the consequences of their actions. A hit-and-run motorcycle accident can be especially damaging, as a vulnerable motorcyclist may not receive the immediate medical attention that he or she needs. If you get involved in a hit-and-run motorcycle crash in Texas, take the following steps to protect your safety, well-being, and legal rights.
Assess Your Injuries
Try to remain calm and check yourself for injuries. Keep in mind that your adrenaline from the wreck may work as temporary pain relief; you might not notice the pain of injuries right away. Look for bruising, swelling or bleeding, as well. If you can, move your disabled motorcycle to a safe place, out of the way of traffic. If you believe that you may have a spinal cord injury, however, restrict how much you move until paramedics arrive. Shifting your back the wrong way could exacerbate an injury.
Call for Help
Use your cell phone, if you can, to call 911 and report the hit-and-run accident immediately. You should report a hit-and-run motorcycle accident to the police regardless of its severity. The police can file a report and investigate the crime in an attempt to identify and locate the perpetrator. Request an ambulance, as well, if you’ve been injured.
When the police arrive, tell them everything that you remember about the crash. This may include the color, model, or make of the vehicle that struck you, partial license plate numbers, or details about the driver. The police can search for evidence to try to identify the hit-and-run driver, such as pieces of the driver’s vehicle left behind or surveillance footage from the surrounding area. Ask for your police report number before you leave the scene.
Take Photos
Do your best to document the hit-and-run motorcycle accident on your own, as well. You can do this by writing down a description of the events while they are still fresh in your mind, as well as taking photographs and shooting videos while you are at the scene. Capture images of anything that might be relevant to an investigation, such as tire marks on the road, broken glass, or streaks of the other vehicle’s paint on your motorcycle.
Speak to Eyewitnesses
Eyewitness accounts can be essential during a hit-and-run motorcycle accident investigation. Someone at the scene may have caught what the other driver’s vehicle looked like, where it came from, where it fled after the crash, its license plate numbers, and other details. Witness statements can help the police identify the at-fault driver, as well as strengthen your auto insurance claim.
Go to a Hospital
Always obtain immediate medical care after any type of motorcycle accident. Delaying your visit to a hospital in San Antonio could hurt your ability to recover financial compensation, as well as make it harder to heal from your injuries. Keep copies of all medical bills and records.
Call Your Auto Insurance Carrier
Contact your own auto insurance company to report the crash. You can file a first-party claim if you have uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance, medical payment, comprehensive coverage, or collision insurance. You may also be able to file a claim with someone else’s insurer, such as if the other driver is located or a third party contributed to the crash. For example, you could bring a claim against the government if an issue with the road contributed to the wreck.
Contact a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Your goals after a hit-and-run motorcycle accident should be to protect your health, establish liability and provide evidence of fault. A motorcycle accident attorney in San Antonio can help you accomplish them. Your attorney can provide a thorough investigation of the accident and search for evidence against the driver who fled. Then, your attorney can help you demand maximum financial compensation from one or more parties for the full extent of your losses. Contact an attorney soon as possible after a hit-and-run motorcycle accident to discuss your legal options.