Check yourself for injuries first. Then check anyone else involved. If you’re able to move and nothing feels broken or severely damaged, get yourself out of traffic. You don’t want another car plowing into the scene while you’re sitting there vulnerable. Call 911 no matter what. Even if you think you’re okay. Your body’s pumping adrenaline right now, which means you might not feel the full extent of your injuries yet. That scrape on your arm? It could be road rash that needs serious treatment. Plus, you need an official police report documenting everything that happened.
Utah law actually requires it if there’s any injury, death, or property damage over $2,500. That’s a pretty low bar when you’re talking about motorcycles and cars. A police report gives you an official record of what happened, who was there, what the road conditions were like, witness statements, and insurance information from the other driver.
When officers show up, stick to what you observed. Don’t speculate about what the other driver was thinking or doing. And here’s something people mess up constantly: don’t say you’re fine if you’re not sure yet. Don’t apologize or say it was your fault, even if you think you might’ve made a mistake. Those statements follow you around, and insurance companies will use them against you later.
Your phone becomes your best tool here. Take photos of everything. Your bike, their car, the entire scene. Capture skid marks, broken glass, traffic signs, road damage, and weather conditions. Get shots of your visible injuries, too, even if they seem minor right now.
Write down the other driver’s information:
Witnesses are gold. If someone stopped to help or saw what happened, get their contact information before they leave. When it becomes a he-said-she-said with the other driver’s insurance company, those witness statements can save your case. Document whatever you can because your memory won’t be this sharp tomorrow. You’re shaken up, you’re hurt, and details start blurring together faster than you’d think.
Feeling okay right now doesn’t mean you are okay. We’ve worked with riders who walked away from crashes feeling fine, then collapsed the next day from internal bleeding. Concussions don’t always knock you out immediately. Soft tissue injuries take time to swell and hurt. Your body’s in survival mode, masking symptoms that you’ll make you pay for later. There’s a practical reason, too. Medical records create a timeline connecting your injuries directly to the accident. Insurance companies love claiming that injuries aren’t serious if you didn’t get treated right away. They’ll argue you must’ve been hurt doing something else. Getting examined promptly eliminates that excuse before they can make it. At Strong Law Accident & Injury Attorneys, we’ve seen too many riders skip the doctor and deeply regret it when their claim falls apart.
Their insurance adjuster will call you fast, sometimes within a couple of hours of the crash. They’ll sound sympathetic and helpful. They’re not. They work for the insurance company, and their entire job is to pay you as little as possible.
Give them only the basics:
Here’s some advice from a Sandy Motorcycle Accident Lawyer, don’t describe your injuries. Don’t explain how the crash happened. Don’t guess about fault. You’re still figuring out how badly you’re hurt, and you’ll provide more details once you know more. Be polite but firm. Never, ever give a recorded statement without talking to an attorney first. They’ll use your own words against you, taking things out of context to deny your claim.
Hit and runs are awful, but you’ve still got options. Call the police immediately and give them everything you remember about the vehicle. Color, make, model, partial plate number, and which direction they went. Every detail helps. Look around for security cameras. Nearby businesses, traffic lights, homes with doorbell cameras. Someone might’ve caught footage of the driver or their license plate.
Check your own insurance policy for uninsured motorist coverage. Most people don’t realize this coverage often applies to hit-and-run situations. If you’ve got it, your own insurance company can step in and cover your damages while police search for the driver who fled.
By the time most people realize they need help, important evidence has vanished. Witnesses have moved. Memories have faded. Deadlines have passed. A Sandy Motorcycle Accident Lawyer knows what to preserve immediately and how to build a strong case while everything’s still fresh. We handle the insurance companies, gather evidence, and protect your rights so you can focus on healing. If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle crash, contact our team. We’ll review what happened and explain your options without any pressure.