What Should You Do If You Are Struck by a Car While Riding a Motorcycle and They Leave the Scene in NJ?

Motorcycle riders relish the freedom and excitement of cruising down the roads and highways of New Jersey. However, riders must be careful to avoid dangerous accidents with other vehicles. Other drivers should be exercising the same caution when driving alongside motorcycle riders. Unfortunately, drivers are often careless, and they cause accidents with motorcycles. Drivers sometimes panic and flee the scene without helping the injured rider.

If you are injured in a motorcycle accident in Edison, NJ, and the other driver takes off, you may be in a precarious position because you are alone. The first thing you should do is call for help. If you are unable to call for help, there may be passersby who can stop and help. After receiving medical attention, you can focus on identifying the driver that hit you. You should contact the police since fleeing the scene of an accident is a criminal offense.

If you were riding your motorcycle when another vehicle struck you before fleeing the scene, you might need serious legal help. Our Branchburg motorcycle accident lawyer can help you track down the other driver and hold them responsible. Call Jerry Friedman at 1-800-529-4464 for a free legal consultation.

Call for Help After a Hit and Run Accident on Your Motorcycle in NJ

After a hit-and-run accident on your motorcycle, you may need serious medical attention. Motorcycle riders are more likely to suffer serious injury than the driver of a car after an accident. Motorcycles are not enclosed vehicles, and riders are more vulnerable to injuries and damage. If you can, use a cell phone to call for help. If you cannot reach your phone or do not have it with you, someone nearby might help. A passing pedestrian or another driver may stop and help. Flag them down if you can.

Remember, getting medical attention is of the utmost importance. Do not concern yourself with the condition of your bike, and do not try to move if you do not think you can. Once emergency services arrive on the scene, including an ambulance and the police, you can try to explain what happened.

Hopefully, the police can begin investigating the hit and run while you are taken to a hospital for treatment. If you get to the hospital before you can speak with the police, that is okay too. After you have received treatment, call our Burlington County motorcycle accident lawyer. Jerry Friedman can coordinate with law enforcement to begin investigating your accident.

Identifying the Driver Who Hit You on Your Motorcycle in NJ

Once you have begun to recover from your injuries, we can begin identifying the other driver who hit you. Hit-and-run cases are tricky because drivers often flee before they can be identified. In many cases, they do not even exit their vehicles to see if the motorcycle rider is okay or even alive. While many of these drivers will later claim that they regret fleeing the accident scene and only did so out of panic, they should not be absolved of responsibility.

There may be evidence left at the scene that can be used to track down the other driver. Simply by describing the vehicle that hit you, you are in a better position to track down the negligent driver. Try to recall as many details as possible about the other car. Do you know the make and model? Did you notice the license plate? If you cannot recall the details of the accident, there may be witnesses who can.

It can be especially helpful to get ahold of surveillance footage of the accident. Security cameras are common in many public spaces, shops, and stores. Try to act quickly when getting surveillance footage, as videos are often deleted. Many riders use helmet cams when they are on the road. If you or another rider with you was using a helmet cam when the accident happened, that footage would be extremely helpful to your case.

Hit and run accidents are criminal offenses in New Jersey, so you will likely have some assistance from the police when tracking down the other driver. Our New Brunswick motorcycle accident attorney will also help you in any way possible.

File a Personal Injury Lawsuit for a Hit and Run Accident in NJ

Once we have identified the other driver, we can begin filing a personal injury lawsuit. Depending on the extent of your injuries, a personal injury lawsuit may be necessary to reclaim all the money you have spent recovering. Many types of damages are typically not covered by insurance that can be compensated in a lawsuit.

You can, of course, claim damages for your physical injuries and medical bills. You may also claim the value of your motorcycle if it needs to be repaired or replaced. Other damages often not covered by insurance include lost wages from missing work, the cost of future medical care if your injuries are permanent or long-term, and pain and suffering.

The fact that the defendant in your case fled the scene without making sure you are okay will not bode well for them. We may even be able to use this information to help prove fault. An innocent driver would not have any reason to flee, but a guilty driver certainly would. If they are found guilty or plead guilty in their criminal trial, we can use that against them in your civil case. Call our Union City motorcycle accident attorney for help today.

Call Our Hit and Run Accident Attorney for Help

If you were involved in a motorcycle accident where the other driver took off or fled, you deserve compensation for your severe injuries. Call our Marlboro motorcycle accident lawyer for help as soon as possible. Call Jerry Friedman at 1-800-529-4464 for a free, confidential legal consultation.