What Should You Do After a Motorcycle Accident

If you've been involved in a motorcycle accident in Los Angeles, there are crucial steps and precautions that need to be taken. Any motorcycle personal injury attorney in Los Angeles worth their salt will attest to that what you do after an accident can greatly impact the outcome of your claim. In order to properly support your potential future legal actions and rights, be sure to adhere to the following steps after a motorcycle accident.

Move Your Bike Off of the Road

Don't leave your motorcycle on the road, or it may incur more damage. Immediately after the accident, move yourself and your vehicle away from oncoming traffic. From afar, approaching drivers may not be able to tell that there has been an accident, which might possibly lead to a second accident. If you fail to move your bike and there is another accident, you may be held liable for the latter crash.

Gather Contact Information

Once it has been confirmed that everyone is safe and no longer in immediate danger, exchange information with all parties involved in the crash. You need to collect each driver's name, phone number, mailing address, insurance information and license numbers. Additionally, take several pictures of the vehicles and jot down their license plate numbers. Be sure to write down the car make and model in addition to a thorough description of the motorcycle and cars involved in the crash. Also, take note of any visible scratches or scars that any driver seems to be visibly displaying post accident. Try to write clearly so you can prevent mixing up the information of the different drivers involved (if more than one).

Watch What You Say

After a motorcycle accident, you may feel vulnerable and scared. However, it is very important to watch what you say at every moment. Under no circumstances should you apologize. It is very normal and natural to want to say "sorry" to show concern and empathy to another person who was in the same accident. However, by apologizing, you may be admitting to guilt and being the cause of the accident. Depending on the rest of the details of the crash, your personal injury lawyer might struggle to prove the other party's guilt if you are on record with an apology.

Call 911

It is essential to call the police (911) post accident so they can arrive on the scene and properly assess and document the accident. If there was significant property damage (over $500), you are highly advised to file a police report. Even if you do not notice any damage, a police report provides a record of the event, which can be used later for your claim. This report can prove to be useful in the future when you would like to recover payment for damage to your belongings or injuries. Sometimes, physical injuries are not evident until days after an accident, following a medical examination, MRI scans and other testing. Be sure to jot down the names and badge numbers of the police officers for your attorney to have on file. Additionally, in the event that someone has been injured or potentially injured, you should also ask for an ambulance to go to the nearest hospital. If your injuries are too severe to file a report that same day, you can always wait to do so at a later date.

Take Note of the Scene

If you are able to document your surroundings, do so. Where did the accident take place? What were the road conditions? What was the speed limit? What was the weather like? Was the lighting bad? How did the accident occur? Try to take a picture of the nearest interaction and mile marker, allowing you to come back at a later date to take more pictures. 

Get More Than One Witness

When you are pursuing your claim, eyewitnesses may come into play. After you gather contact info from the drivers, talk to anyone who was standing nearby the accident. Record their observations on your phone with an audio recorder, write down what they saw and exchange numbers so you can contact them later if you pursue legal action. It is best to speak to them on the spot because the information will be fresh and more accurate than waiting a couple of days.

Call Your Insurance Company

After you've filed a police report, spoken to witnesses and have been to the doctor, then you can proceed with calling your insurance company. Provide them with all of the information that you've collected from the drivers involved in the accident. You should also supply them with the respective accounts provided by the witnesses. No matter what happens on the call, never admit to fault. Speaking to an insurance agent may hold similar weight as filing a police report. You do not want to be on record for admitting to fault in an accident. 

Contact a Lawyer

If you've been in a motorcycle crash, it is important to seek legal representation. However, not all lawyers will be a good fit for you. Don't simply rely on the lawyer family friend to help you with this case. Contact a local motorcycle accident attorney who is well-versed in this niche to help you navigate next steps. For example, if you live in Los Angeles, find a motorcycle personal injury attorney in Los Angeles and schedule a free consultation. A conversation with a motorcycle injury lawyer will inform you of the importance of seeking representation. For example, if your insurance company denies your claim, the other parties believe that the accident is your fault or you have incurred serious physical injuries, an attorney can help you. They will also review with you how to proceed with the case, including payment for services.

Without the right lawyer, you may find it very difficult to obtain rightful compensation for the accident. In fact, if you choose to proceed without an attorney, you may end up paying for accident costs even if you were innocent. However, if you choose to seek professional support, a good motorcycle accident attorney will support you in handling communication with the police, navigating the legal system and getting what you deserve.

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