After a motorcycle accident at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention. Once you are getting the medical treatment you need, the next step is to reach out to an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer to protect your legal rights.
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is one of the largest motorcycle rallies in the country. Every year, around half a million bikers gather for a variety of activities and events that celebrate the riding community. Unfortunately, with so many motorcycles in one place, accidents are common at the event. Schedule a free consultation with a Sioux Falls motorcycle accident lawyer today.
At the Scene of the Accident
Before you leave the scene of the accident to seek medical attention at a hospital, medical clinic, or doctor’s office, there are steps you need to take at the scene of your Sturgis Motorcycle Rally accident if you are able.
Immediately after your crash, you should call 911 and check to see if anyone else involved in the collision needs medical attention. The next thing to do is exchange contact and insurance information with any other parties involved in the accident. However, you should not engage further with anyone else involved at the scene, as any interaction can hurt your case.
If able, you should also collect contact information for any potential eyewitnesses and photograph the scene. Take pictures of any details you think may be relevant to your case. Also, take note of any other factors you think may have played a role in your crash.
For a free legal consultation, call 605-334-8900
Seek Medical Attention Immediately
The number one priority after suffering injuries in a motorcycle accident is your health. Even if you don’t believe you were seriously injured, it is critical that you seek medical attention as soon as possible. Not all injuries are immediately evident, and delays in seeking treatment can cause the damages to worsen and, in extreme cases, turn a treatable injury into a deadly one.
It is always best to proceed with caution. Seek medical attention from paramedics at the accident scene, then get a more thorough examination at an emergency room, urgent care, or doctor’s office. Not only can failing to get the medical treatment you need result in more severe injuries, but it can also impair your ability to recover compensatory damages for your losses.
Delays in seeking medical care will help the other party cast doubt about the cause of your injuries. They may be able to convince the court that your damages resulted from another event. Even if you can prove that your injuries were caused by the accident, the party responsible for your crash will not be liable for any further damages caused by failing to get medical treatment.
After Seeking Medical Attention, Protecting Your Finances Is Your Next Priority
Following an accident at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, your expenses can add up quickly. Between medical bills and other expenses, like repair costs, you can quickly find yourself in a perilous financial situation. Securing the services of an experienced attorney is the best way to protect yourself and ensure you recover the money you need and deserve.
Hiring a lawyer as soon after your accident as possible is critical for a variety of reasons. The earlier your attorney can get started on your case, the easier it will be for them to collect evidence that supports your claim before it can become lost or corrupted. Furthermore, they will be able to locate and record testimony from witnesses while the memories are still fresh.
Another critical reason to get started on your case early is that you will have a limited amount of time to file your lawsuit. In South Dakota, the personal injury statute of limitations is three years. If you fail to file within this timeframe, you will likely be out of options for securing a favorable case result.
Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
Decline to Speak With Insurance Representatives
After an accident, it is common for the insurer of the liable party to reach out with a settlement offer. They will pretend they are doing so to get you the money you need for your injuries quickly. However, the reality is that any offer they extend will be for a fraction of the true value of your claim, and if you accept, you will be out of options for pursuing more money down the line.
Unfortunately, you will be at a disadvantage in any interaction with insurance adjusters after a crash as they are going to have far more experience in these types of situations than you. Because of this, the best thing you can do is decline to speak with any insurance representatives until you hire a lawyer.
When you have a Sioux Falls personal injury lawyer, the insurer will have to go through them for all communications. Preventing insurance adjusters from contacting you directly will help ensure you are in the best possible position to recover the money you need after an accident at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
There Are Many Actions to Take After an Accident at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
Protecting yourself after an accident at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally will require you to take a variety of actions. Attempting to handle everything on your own is going to prove challenging, and the best thing you can do is hire an experienced lawyer to help.
Schedule a free case evaluation with Hoy Law and check out our client testimonials to learn more about the services our legal team can provide.
Call or text 605-334-8900 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
