Mar 10 2023 |
What To Do After A Motorcycle Accident In Toronto
A motorcycle accident can change your life in the blink of an eye. If you get into a motorcycle accident in Toronto, it is important to stay calm and know the next steps to take to improve your odds of being compensated for damages or injuries.
If you are reading this before getting into a motorcycle accident, it is essential to make sure you have a motorcycle insurance policy that will cover damages to your motorcycle, liability, and medical care if you get injured. Check your insurance policy, so you know exactly what is covered.
It is also a good idea to have the contact information saved for a motorcycle accident lawyer in Toronto. Make sure they have experience handling claims related to motorcycle accidents and are licensed to service your area.
Hopefully, with the right precautions, you can prevent an accident altogether. If you do get into a motorcycle accident in Toronto, here are the steps you should take immediately after.
Call 911
It’s important to call 911 right away after a motorcycle accident to get emergency services to the scene as soon as possible if anyone is injured and to get a police officer on the scene.
If there has been more than $500 of property damage or if anyone has been injured, make sure you file a police report.
Having an officer on the scene can also be useful down the road. The police officer will create a police report and file a record of the incident. This record can be used later if you have to take matters to court.
Make sure to get the officers’ names and badge numbers to help your attorney if they need to follow up and collect their records.
Obtain the Other Driver’s Information
Once everyone is safely out of traffic, you’ll want to make sure you exchange contact and insurance information. You will call your insurer to start the claim, but the damages are paid out by the at-fault driver’s insurer.
Be thorough and make sure you record all of the following for everyone else involved in the accident:
- Name, address, and phone number
- Driver’s license number
- Insurance information
- License plate number
- Make, model, year, and colour of the vehicles (take photos)
- Name and contact information of passengers
Don’t Apologize or Admit Fault
This can be difficult after an accident with adrenaline rushing. Plus, its Canadian nature to apologize in these situations. But if you’ve just been a victim of a motorcycle accident, you’ll want to keep any discussion of the accident to a minimum and never admit fault.
These details and apologies can hurt your chances during your insurer’s fault determination, meaning you might not get compensated for the cost of repairing your motorcycle or medical expenses.
Take Photos of the Scene
A picture is worth a thousand words. Take photos or videos of everything that might be relevant later on. Take photos of the damage to your motorcycle and the other vehicle(s), as well as the surroundings at the scene of the accident.
Document Details of the Event
In addition to photo evidence, you will want to write down details of the accident as soon as possible. Take note of where and when the accident happened and any relevant details of the road conditions, weather, lighting, speed limits, etc.
Also, write down a detailed report of how the accident happened in as much detail as possible.
Look for Witnesses
Witnesses are valuable in any legal matter. Try to talk to anyone at the scene who witnessed the accident and try to get an audio recording of their report of the accident. Collect as much information from them as you can while the events are fresh in their memory.
Get their contact information so your lawyer can reach out later if needed for further questioning.
Seek Medical Attention
Sometimes, injuries after an accident have an insidious onset, so you might not appreciate how bad it is until days or weeks after. Don’t wait to talk to a doctor about any injuries you notice, no matter how severe.
Of course, if you have a serious injury, you should go to a hospital or see a doctor as soon as possible. Seek treatment as needed, and keep records and receipts for any treatments or medications that you pay for, as these will need to be submitted to your insurer.
Seeking medical attention will also help your claim that you were actually injured in the accident. If you neglect to see a healthcare provider, the other driver might try to claim that you were not actually injured.
Call your Insurance Provider
You’ll want to notify your insurer about the accident as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours. Give them all of the information that you recorded at the scene, but remember never to admit fault.
Your insurer may conduct an investigation into the accident to determine fault. They might also give specific instructions for where and how to fix your motorcycle.
If you want help filing your insurance claim, don’t hesitate to book a consultation with a lawyer to discuss your options and for help compiling all of the documentation.
Contact a Toronto Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
A personal injury lawyer experienced in motorcycle accident claims can help you get the compensation you are entitled to after an accident. There are several reasons why you might want to contact a lawyer, such as:
- For help filing your initial insurance claim
- For help challenging a denied insurance claim
- To file a tort claim against the other driver or other third party involved in the accident
It is important to look for a lawyer that is licensed and experienced in motorcycle accidents in Toronto.
Zayouna Law Firm: Toronto’s #1 Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Zayouna Law Firm is a motorcycle accident lawyer in Toronto, dedicated to working with our clients to help them get the best results possible following an accident. Our lawyers have decades of experience helping drivers in the Toronto area, educating them on their rights and options following an accident, and creating a personalized plan for proceeding with their insurance claim or legal action.
Contact Zayouna Law today to book a free consultation.
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