Being involved in any type of motorcycle accident can be a scary experience. These collisions can result in serious physical injuries, thousands of dollars in treatment and repair expenses, and weeks of lost wages. These damages can be difficult to recover from. Under Georgia’s insurance laws, you could file a claim against the driver responsible for the collision to recover compensation for these losses.
However, not all drivers remain at the scene of the collision—leaving victims without any information to file their claims. If you are involved in a hit and run motorcycle accident, there are steps you can take to protect yourself, identify the driver, and secure the compensation you deserve.
Record Key Details and Call 911
If you are involved in a hit and run accident, do not attempt to chase after the fleeing driver. This can be very dangerous and put your safety at risk. Instead, pull over in a safe location as soon as possible and record as many details about the driver as you can remember. Any of the following pieces of information could be valuable in identifying the at-fault party.
A full or partial license plate
The vehicle’s make, model, color, or year
The driver’s physical characteristics
The time, date, and location of the accident
The direction that the driver came from before the collision
The direction that the driver was traveling after the collision
Call 911 and Report the Accident to Law Enforcement
Once you record this information, call 911 to bring law enforcement and emergency medical services to the scene. If you are in immediate danger or are suffering from personal injuries, however, your first step should be to call 911 and seek medical attention as soon as possible.
If you are able, speak to the responding officer and tell him or her everything you can remember about the driver and the collision. The officer will create a police report that will contain key information about the accident, which you can use to prove your future case. Collect the officer’s name and badge number to find your report at a later time.
Seek Emergency Medical Attention
Next, seek medical treatment for your injuries as soon as possible after the accident. You can be transported to the hospital when emergency medical services visits the scene of the collision, or you can take yourself to a hospital after the accident. Save all documents that you receive pertaining to your treatment and injuries.
You should always seek medical attention after an accident, regardless of whether you feel injured—you may have internal or underlying injuries, and your medical records will also serve as important pieces of evidence in your future case.
Document Evidence at the Scene
If you are able to move around the accident scene without further danger or injury, document as much evidence as possible. Take photographs of the accident scene, your motorcycle damage, any visible injuries, and the traffic signs and signals in the area. If any witnesses saw the accident, ask for their contact information—these witnesses could testify in your claim and help identify the at-fault driver.
Contact an Augusta Motorcycle Accident Attorney
After seeking medical attention for your accident, speak to an Augusta motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible. Your lawyer can help you identify your options for compensation after a hit and run, and can help conduct an investigation into your collision. Speak to a lawyer as soon as possible to identify your optimal path to maximum recovery.
