What to do if hit by a motorcycle

Check for injuries first, since a rider can be seriously hurt even in a collision that leaves a car barely marked. From there, the same core steps apply regardless of which vehicle you were in: photograph the scene, exchange details, and lodge a police report the same day.

What to do right now

1. Check on the rider’s condition immediately, since motorcyclists are far more exposed in a collision than someone inside a car.
2. Call for an ambulance if there is any doubt about the rider’s injuries.
3. Photograph both vehicles, the road, and the rider’s helmet and gear if it is safe to do so.
4. Exchange details: name, identity card number, phone number and vehicle registration.
5. Lodge a police report the same day describing exactly what you saw and did.

Fault is not decided by vehicle size

A common assumption is that a car driver is automatically at fault whenever a motorcycle is involved, simply because the car is larger. This is not how Malaysian law assesses liability. Fault depends on what actually happened, such as lane position, signalling and right of way, not the size of either vehicle.

If you were the pedestrian who got hit

Your claim generally proceeds against the rider’s insurer once fault is established, since motorcycles are required to carry the same third-party insurance cover as cars.^[1] Get medical attention and a police report in place the same way any injured road user would.

Handling pressure to settle quietly

Some situations involve one side asking to “settle it there and then” to avoid a report. It is worth being cautious here, since a proper report and medical check protect both people better than an informal arrangement, especially if injuries turn out to be more serious than they first appeared.

Next steps

What to do after a road accident covers what happens over the following days, and making a road accident claim explains how fault and compensation are worked out once the immediate steps are behind you.