Motorcycle crashes can be traumatic and are a healthy fear every rider should take seriously. Fear keeps riders from overstepping boundaries and putting their safety in danger. This fear does not mean every rider should be too terrified to ride but that every rider should take the motorcycle seriously and be aware of the road at all times. This sense of danger has always been a part of the appeal of riding motorcycles, but that does not mean we should avoid learning what to do if we find ourselves first on the scene of a motorcycle accident. Fortunately, there is an easy-to-remember acronym that will explain what a person should do if they find themselves as the first person on the scene of a motorcycle accident.
What is PACT?
PACT is an acronym that stands for; Prevent further injuries Assess the situation Contact Emergency Services Treat injuries
PREVENT FURTHER INJURIES
Preventing further injuries is the first step to helping anyone involved in a motorcycle accident. Any injured persons may not be fully aware of where they are and may only be reacting to the accident and their injuries. In this situation, the best thing a bystander can do is guide them or move them to a safe space like the road shoulder or an area away from the road. After helping injured people to safety, the next thing is to ensure the motorcycle or any empty vehicles involved in the accidents are off. Turning motorcycles and other vehicles off helps prevent any flammable materials from spreading. If you can, move any motorcycles or cars out of the road to avoid further accidents. You should only do this if you can do it safely. If it is too dangerous to remove the motorcycle from the road, it is best to move to the next part of this process and make the accident visible to other drivers on the road. If possible, use a vehicle’s hazard lights ahead of the accident, so drivers know to yield for what is ahead. If that is not possible, a flashing light or reflective vest will signal drivers to slow down. The important thing is to find something to signal drivers there was an accident, so they need to be careful ahead.
ASSESS THE SITUATION
After everyone is safe, check on the injured people. There may be apparent injuries like a broken bone, but there are also times when an internal injury occurs and is not clearly visible. Ask the injured person if there is anything that hurts beyond what is easily visible. If they have any neck or back pain, it is vital they remain laying down to avoid any further injuries. If they attempt to sit up with a back injury, it could make the injury worse. You may ask them to wiggle their toes or fingers to confirm there may be no serious spinal injuries. If they feel any “sharp pains,” treat them as if there is a confirmed spinal injury.
CONTACT EMERGENCY SERVICES
Contact the EMS to get help. Speak slowly and calmly so the emergency operator can understand you clearly and send help. Answer any questions they ask as quickly as possible. Some operators can receive text messages if you have poor service and cannot make the call. Text the address and do your best to explain the situation quickly.
TREAT THE PATIENT’S INJURIES
If you know first aid, this is the best time to use it. If not, we have some do’s and don’t’s in a difficult situation like this. Cover the injured person to help keep them warm. Once their adrenaline wears off, they may go into shock, and anything to keep them warm may make things a little easier for them. Confirm any injured people are in a comfortable position. It does not matter what the position is, only that they are in the most comfortable or least uncomfortable position for them. If there are any deep cuts or lacerations, apply pressure to stop any bleeding. If you suspect broken bones, protrusions, or items penetrating the person, do not apply any pressure in that area. These injuries are a job left to the trained emergency responders. If you think they may have suffered a spinal injury, do not move their head! Do what you can to support the head and neck area without moving their head. Do not try to remove the person’s helmet unless it is a life-and-death situation. If the helmet affects the person’s ability to breathe or they are vomiting into the helmet, it is the only time it is okay to remove it. Be careful not to move their neck to reduce the chance of further injuring the person. Do not move the injured person if they complain about neck or back pain. It is only acceptable to move them if they are in danger or may be injured further for staying in the same place. Move them the minimum amount to get to safety: the less movement, the better. Do not panic! Screaming and yelling will not help the situation and may worsen a person’s shock if they panic after seeing or hearing you panic. If a bystander is panicking in the area, it is best to ask them to move away calmly. Do not assume anyone else knows what to do in a situation like this. If people are panicking, do your best to guide them on how they can help or ask them to step away, so they do not worsen the situation.
CONTACT HERRMAN & HERRMAN IF YOU HAVE BEEN INJURED IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF ACCIDENTS:
We can help you if you have been harmed by the following:
- Car accidents – Our lawyers have extensive experience handling car accident cases. We will work to identify the party or parties at fault for the crash and build a case to demonstrate persuasively how the parties caused the accident and your injuries. We will seek fair and full compensation through a negotiated settlement or at trial if necessary.
- Truck accidents – Thousands of large commercial trucks travel the roads of Texas every single day. Unfortunately, careless truck drivers and trucking companies disregarding safety put innocent people at risk of serious injuries. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, let our experienced Texas personal injury lawyers stand up to the trucking companies and insurers on your behalf.
- Motorcycle accidents – Motorcycle riders often suffer grievous injuries in crashes caused by other motorists. Too many motorcycle accidents in Corpus Christi are caused by careless drivers who don’t look for motorcycle riders or violate their right of way. Our personal injury lawyers will work to cut through the bias and stigma against motorcycle riders. Our goal is to seek the financial compensation that you’ll need to recover from a serious motorcycle accident and injuries such as bone fractures, road rash, or traumatic brain injury.
- Product liability – Product manufacturers have a legal obligation to make products that are safe for their intended uses and to warn consumers of any risks that may come with the product. When products have design or manufacturing defects or undisclosed dangers, the product manufacturer may be legally responsible for injuries suffered by consumers. Our attorneys can help you evaluate whether you have a valid product liability claim.
- Brain injury – Brain injuries can leave accident victims with disabilities that leave them unable to work or perform many tasks of daily living. Seeking compensation for a brain injury in an accident often proves incredibly complex. The brain injury survivor may seek compensation for anticipated future medical care and the medical care already provided. Our personal injury lawyers can help you through the difficult recovery process following a brain injury and will fight to make sure you have the resources you need.
- Spinal injury – Spinal cord injuries could cost millions of dollars of care over the course of the victim’s lifetime, especially when those injuries result in partial or complete paralysis, such as paraplegia or quadriplegia. If you or your loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, you deserve compassionate legal representation. Our attorney can help you determine whether you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injury and expenses related to living with the disability, such as making a home more accessible.
- Wrongful death – If you have lost a loved one due to the negligent or reckless actions of another party, your family deserves to seek accountability and compensation from those at fault for the wrongful death. Our caring and dedicated attorneys can help guide you and your family through this difficult and painful time and seek justice for your loved one.
