Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/811773
You have just been in a motorcycle accident. The first thing you need to do, if you can, is to make sure that you, any passengers on your motorcycle, and any other people in other vehicles or motorcycles are safe. The next thing you need to do is call 911 and request that the police come to the scene of your accident and make a report. You are likely to speak with a 911 operator that will ask you if anyone is injured and whether you need an ambulance. If you tell the 911 operator that you are not injured, the operator will not request that the police come to the scene of your accident. Not every injury produces symptoms immediately. It is very possible that you may believe that you have not sustained any injuries in your accident, only to begin experiencing pain, weakness, altered sensa on, headaches and/or other abnormali es later on, a er you have le the scene of the accident. If you file a police report, and document even a minor injury, this will establish a record that the accident likely caused an injury. Subsequent medical treatment you may obtain will then relate back to your accident more easily. Any unknown injuries that become apparent at a later me will be easier to relate back to your accident as well. If you decide to file a personal injury claim as a result of the injuries you sustained in your accident, having a police report documen ng the fact that you were injured will be invaluable. If you've been involved in a serious motorcycle accident, and your adrenalin is flowing, and you're in shock, but WHY Police Reports Matter WHY Police Reports Matter By Susan Handel, Esq. you don't feel pain, I suggest the following: Call the 911 operator and tell them you need the police to come to the scene of the accident immediately. When the operator asks you whether you have been injured and need an ambulance, tell him or her that you are in "shock", and that you need to be checked out but you will seek your own medical care. This way you stand a good chance of having the police come to the accident scene to make a report without tying up an ambulance that might be needed elsewhere. The same holds true for your motorcycle. Your motorcycle may appear rela vely undamaged at the scene of the accident. Filing a police report and documen ng the fact that your motorcycle was involved in an accident establishes that record. If you learn later that more damage was done to your motorcycle than was apparent at the scene of the collision, it will be easier to relate that damage back to your accident. WHAT DOES THE POLICE REPORT CONTAIN • loca on, date and me of accident • weather condi ons • other condi ons that may have contributed to cause of accident • par es involved in accident • descrip on of injuries to all par es • witness statements • who is at fault for the accident • how the accident was caused • photographs of accident scene • insurance informa on of all par es • descrip on of damage to motorcycles and vehicles • diagrams of accident scene • descrip on of point of impact and point of rest • whether any vehicle code sec ons were violated, and if so, which sec on • whether any cita ons were issued WHY Police Reports Matter By Susan Handel, Esq.,