What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Louisiana?

No one expects to be in a motorcycle collision, but it’s important to know the steps to take if you are involved in one. These accidents can lead to serious injuries, particularly to motorcyclists. The trauma and uncertainty of an accident can be overwhelming, and knowing what to do can help you protect your health and your financial interests. What to do after a motorcycle accident in Louisiana? The steps you should take include:

1. Protect Your Health and Safety

Motorcycle crashes disproportionately result in injury compared to other vehicle collisions. There were 1,493 motorcycle crashes in Louisiana in 2024, and many of those crashes resulted in minor or serious suspected injuries. Seventy of them were fatal. After an accident, your priority is to ensure your safety and the safety of others in the crash. This includes:

• Moving yourself and others to a safe location away from traffic, but not moving anyone who cannot move themselves unless they are in immediate danger
• Get vehicles out of traffic if they can be moved
• Turn on vehicle hazard lights
• Determine if you have injuries and others in the accident
• Call 911 and report the crash and the injuries of anyone involved

When you are a motorcyclist, you are much more vulnerable to injuries in a collision. Because of this, you may not be physically able to take all the steps listed. Instead, you should focus on your own well-being. Getting immediate medical care should be your priority. You can work with an attorney at a later date to gather important evidence to support your claim. This often makes motorcycle accident cases more complicated, but a baton rouge motorcycle accident attorney helps you secure compensation.

2. Get Emergency Medical Care

Always get emergency medical attention after a motorcycle accident. Even if you think your injuries are minor or that you weren’t hurt, get examined by a professional. Documentation of even minor injuries is crucial for a claim. Additionally, some injuries do not show symptoms for hours or longer, particularly traumatic brain injuries. A medical professional may be able to diagnose and treat the issue.

3. Provide a Police Report

Any accident with an injury, death, or a sufficient amount of property damage must legally be reported. It is better to be safe and report an accident, which also helps you by providing a police accident report of the incident. When the officer asks you questions, respond honestly, but don’t give any speculative answers. A police report is crucial foundational documentation of your accident.

4. Gather Evidence and Information

You and the other driver or drivers on the scene should exchange contact, vehicle, and insurance information. This includes their insurance agency and company, their license plate and driver’s license number, and other crucial information. You should also get contact information from any passengers in the accident, including their names and numbers.

Document the scene of the accident, including the vehicles, your injuries, the weather conditions, the road conditions, and other crucial details. If there were any witnesses to the accident, obtain their contact information.

5. Get Additional Medical Treatment

When you are able to leave the scene of the accident, get additional treatment from a hospital and your medical provider. Some injuries require additional review that emergency providers cannot give.

6. Report the Accident to Your Insurer

Many insurance companies have mandatory reporting requirements as soon as possible after an accident. Report the accident, but do not discuss the situation with your insurer without an attorney. You should also not engage with the insurance company of the other driver or drivers until you have the support of an attorney.

Insurance companies will work to minimize the amount they have to pay you by trying to offer you a low-ball settlement or induce you to make statements that can be used against you. An attorney can protect your rights.

7. Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

When you work with a skilled Louisiana motorcycle accident attorney, you are more likely to recover the maximum compensation available to you. An attorney understands how you can recover financial compensation and how motorcycle accident laws affect your unique circumstances. They can negotiate for a fair claim on your behalf or represent you in a trial.

FAQs

How Much Are Most Motorcycle Accident Settlements?

The value of most motorcycle accident settlements depends on many factors, including the severity of the injuries.

The Centers for Disease Control reported 207,612 emergency department visits for motorcyclists in 2023, which cost on average $79,728 per person, including medical, quality of life, and work loss costs. There were also 102,971 motorcyclists who were hospitalized, costing on average $288,048 per person. As injury severity increases, so does the value of a fair settlement.

What Should You Not Do After a Motorcycle Accident?

After a motorcycle accident, you should never admit fault for the crash. Without an investigation, no one can say for sure what caused the accident. Many factors may have contributed. However, stating that you were at fault will be used against you by the insurance companies involved in the crash. Instead, offer aid, get medical care, and give the facts of the accident when asked by the onsite officer. Then, work with an attorney to begin an investigation.

How Long Do You Have to File a Claim After a Motorcycle Accident in Louisiana?

There is a set period of time to file a civil claim after a motorcycle accident in Louisiana, and typically an even shorter window to file an insurance claim with the at-fault party. An insurance claim timeline varies based on insurance company policies, but it must likely be filed as soon as you are able to. If negotiations cannot come to a fair settlement, then it is important to file a civil case before the civil statute of limitations.

How Much Money Can I Get from a Motorcycle Accident?

The amount of money you can get from a motorcycle accident depends on many factors. You are more likely to recover more compensation if you hire a motorcycle accident lawyer, but there are other factors that may limit or increase the damages you can claim. If you were partially at fault for the accident, your final settlement could be limited. If the court determines the at-fault party should be held liable for exemplary damages, this can significantly increase your payout.

Experienced Legal Support at Day Law Group

If you have been in a motorcycle accident, the skilled team at Day Law Group can help you. Contact our firm today.