It’s not in your best interest to leave the scene of a motorcycle accident, even if neither you nor the liable party are dealing with any injuries. Leaving the scene can see you or the liable party charged with felony hit and run or misdemeanor criminal charges. You might even give the liable party a chance to put the onus for an accident back onto you.
What should you do, then, if a liable party flees the scene? Do not pursue. Instead, contact the police, then reach out to an Indiana personal injury lawyer. Vaughan & Vaughan’s motorcycle accident attorneys can help you report accidents with more than $1,000 worth of damage to an insurance provider and defend your right to compensation.
Leaving an Accident Scene Can Constitute a Hit and Run
If you leave the scene of a motorcycle accident when someone’s contending with severe injuries, you may find yourself facing felony hit and run charges. What about leaving the scene when no one’s injured, though?
Technically, you aren’t committing felony hit and run when you leave an accident scene wherein no one’s been injured. That said, Indiana’s criminal courts might still charge you with a misdemeanor, and you might still be accused of negligence.
Parties who leave the scene of a motorcycle accident, even when no one is injured, specifically face Class B misdemeanors. These misdemeanors carry the risk of 180 days in jail and $1,000 fines.
The good news, in a way, is that if someone else leaves the scene of your motorcycle accident before the police arrive, Indiana’s criminal courts may issue a case against them. Should said party get convicted of a misdemeanor, you can submit that conviction to a civil judge as evidence of negligence in your pursuit of personal injury damages.
Property Damage Demands that You File a Police Report
Indiana law specifically notes that if your accident generates more than $1,000 in property damage, you have an obligation to report it to local police. That said, it can prove challenging to estimate the value of your accident while you’re still at the scene. When in doubt, report your accident. It’s better to be safe than to risk a Class B misdemeanor charge.
Leaving an Accident Scene Can See You Face Accusations of Fault
If you leave the scene of an accident before the police arrive, you may give the actual liable party a legal advantage over you in civil court. These parties can twist the narrative of your accident to make it look like you’re the one who should take the blame for their alleged losses. It can be difficult to contest these accusations if it looks like you illicitly fled the scene.
Recommended Behavior After a Motorcycle Accident
In light of these risks, what steps can you take to protect yourself in the wake of a motorcycle accident? When in doubt, you should:
Get Medical Attention
Even if you’re not suffering from injuries after a motorcycle accident, you should still work with emergency responders to assess your condition. You should also schedule follow-up appointments with your general practitioner.
There are some motorcycle accident injuries that only develop over time. The longer you leave those injuries unaddressed, the more of an impact they may have on your long-term health.
Document the Scene
If you’re uninjured, you can accurately document the scene of your motorcycle accident. This means taking photos of the debris, exchanging insurance information with a liable party, and speaking with bystanders.
You should get bystanders’ contact information at the same time as the liable party’s. This process makes it easier to call on accident witnesses should you choose to pursue a personal injury claim against the liable party down the line.
The good news is that you don’t need to document every piece of available data while you’re still at the accident. Even if you’re not injured in a motorcycle crash, shock can still disrupt your ability to respond to the aftermath. Fortunately, our team can return to the accident scene to bring forward any evidence you might have missed.
Contact an Insurance Provider
Most Indiana insurance providers require that you reach out to them with word of an accident within 48 hours of a crash. Working with an insurance provider can secure you the immediate compensation you need to address emergency medical professionals’ bills or essential property repairs.
That said, insurance settlements may not address the full breadth of your motorcycle accident losses. If you find yourself contending with the long-term financial effects of another party’s negligence, you can pursue a personal injury claim against that party.
Call an Attorney
According to Indiana’s personal injury statute of limitations, you have two years to pursue a personal injury claim against the party liable for your losses. That said, the sooner you call an Indiana motorcycle accident lawyer, the better. Our team can take over an investigation into your accident so you can focus on getting your life back on track.
Let’s Talk about Your Motorcycle Accident Today
Leaving the scene of a motorcycle accident, even if no one’s insured, can see the fleeing party face hit and run charges. All parties involved in these accidents should remain on the scene until police officers show up or until you and the other party exchange essential insurance information.
If you have questions about the nature of a motorcycle accident or need to talk to someone about a liable party’s flight from the scene, look no further than Vaughan & Vaughan. Our team can look into your circumstances and help you take civil action against an offending party, particularly if the accident resulted in property damage or other losses.
For more information about how our services might benefit you, contact us today. We can offer you a free, no-obligation motorcycle accident case consultation today.
