Expert Tips for Texas Riders
You got hit.
The bike is down. Traffic is moving. Your heart is pounding.
And somebody is already saying, “I didn’t see him.”
Motorcycle Man Warning
What you do after a motorcycle accident can matter. It can matter for your health. It can matter for your case. And it can matter when the Insurance Defense Industry starts trying to make the wreck your fault.
Get Out of Danger If You Can
A motorcycle crash scene can become a second crash scene fast.
If you can safely move out of traffic, do it. If you cannot move, stay still and wait for help. Do not let pride make a bad injury worse.
If another rider is down, do not move them unless there is immediate danger from fire, traffic, or another life-threatening hazard.
Call 911
Call 911 after a motorcycle accident.
Not later. Not after the other driver says, “Let’s just handle this ourselves.”
You want police. You want EMS. You want the crash documented before vehicles move, witnesses disappear, and stories start changing.
Get Medical Attention
Motorcycle riders get hit differently than people inside cars.
You may feel “okay” because adrenaline is running the show. That does not mean you are okay.
- Head injuries
- Brain injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Fractures
- Internal injuries
- Road rash
Take Photos and Video
If you are physically able, document the scene.
- The motorcycle
- The other vehicle
- License plates
- The roadway
- Skid marks and debris
- Your helmet, gear, and injuries
Do not just take one picture and call it good. Get the whole story.
Get Witness Information
Witnesses matter.
Get names, phone numbers, and emails from anyone who saw the crash. Ask if they have dashcam video. Ask if they are willing to talk later.
Do not assume the police will find every witness. Do not assume the insurance company is hunting for the truth.
Do Not Admit Fault
Be polite. Be honest. But do not guess.
After a crash, you may not know exactly what happened. You may not know what witnesses saw. You may not know what video exists.
Say what you know. Do not help the insurance company build a defense against you.
Do Not Give a Recorded Statement Too Fast
The insurance adjuster may sound friendly.
That does not mean they are on your side.
A recorded statement can be used against you, especially when you are hurt, tired, medicated, confused, or still trying to understand what happened.
Save the Motorcycle, Helmet, and Gear
Do not rush to repair the bike.
Do not throw away your helmet, jacket, gloves, boots, jeans, vest, glasses, or damaged gear.
That evidence tells a story. The Insurance Defense Industry would love for that story to disappear.
Do Not Say These Things at the Scene
You may be shaken up. You may be trying to be polite. But careless words can become insurance company ammunition.
Motorcycle Man Crash File Checklist
Keep everything. You do not have to make it fancy. You just have to keep it organized.
Start a Crash File
Months later, when the insurance company is pretending your injuries are no big deal, you want receipts.
Literal receipts.
Keep the records, bills, photos, repair estimates, claim information, and missed work documentation.
Call a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Early
Motorcycle wrecks are different.
- The injuries are different.
- The bias is different.
- The insurance tactics are different.
- The evidence disappears fast.
A motorcycle accident lawyer can help protect the evidence, deal with insurance companies, investigate fault, and stop the defense from turning the rider into the villain.
The Final Word
After a motorcycle accident, protect your body first.
Then protect the evidence.
Then protect your claim.
Call 911. Get medical care. Document the scene. Get witness information. Do not admit fault. Do not give recorded statements too fast.
Save the bike. Save the helmet. Save the gear.
And do not let the Insurance Defense Industry turn your motorcycle crash into a discount claim because you were on two wheels instead of four.
You had a right to be on the road. You had a right to be seen. You had a right to be safe.
And if somebody violated that right?
