The most important thing you should do at the scene of a motorcycle accident is to get medical assistance if you need it. If you are stable at the accident scene and don’t need to leave for emergency treatment, you should also:
- Notify the police, who may respond to the scene of the accident and create a crash report
- Take photos of the scene of the accident and the vehicles
- Get information from the other driver
- Collect witness names and contact information
- Avoid making statements about your liability for the crash
Your Next Steps at the Accident Scene
As well as staying at the accident scene and assisting those who may be hurt, you could take the following steps to protect your legal rights:
Receive Medical Treatment
Allow yourself to receive emergency medical treatment at the scene of the accident, if necessary. If you do not leave the accident scene for emergency treatment, you should see a doctor as soon as possible after your accident to get any injuries treated. Some injury symptoms might not show up right away.
Call Emergency Services and Law Enforcement for Help
Calling 9-1-1 for medical help and the police should be your first step unless another person has already done so. Make sure that you give a comprehensive statement to the police officer drafting the accident report. A police report can later be used as evidence for holding an at-fault driver to account.
Take Photographs and Videos of the Scene
Taking pictures of the accident scene, if you are able to do so, can help accident reconstruction experts piece together how the accident happened and who is at fault.
For this reason, having as many photographs as possible, including evidence of the damage on any vehicles and motorcycles, can be crucial for protecting your legal rights. Photographs and videos can serve as important evidence in court.
Collecting Driver and Witness Information
Having the contact details of all those involved in the accident can be important, especially if you are planning on holding the at-fault driver to account.
You should try to get full names, addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers from all involved parties and witnesses. Try to record the make and model of all vehicles, license numbers, and insurance details from any drivers that are a party to the accident. If any commercial vehicles are involved, make sure to note the company name.
Get in Touch with Our Firm
A motorcycle accident lawyer from our firm can work on protecting your legal rights immediately and advise you on your next best steps after an accident that was another driver’s fault. We provide a free initial consultation to all motorcycle accident victims to begin this process.
A lawyer from our firm can also negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurance company for a fair settlement. If negotiations are unsuccessful, your motorcycle accident attorney can file the necessary paperwork for a personal injury lawsuit and fight for your rights to compensation.
Compensation Motorcycle Accident Victims Could Receive
Motorcycle accident victims can suffer from potentially life-altering and debilitating injuries that cause sky-high medical bills, income losses, and other expenses. However, victims of negligent drivers generally have legal recourse and could recover compensation such as:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of income
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Reduced life enjoyment
The Statute of Limitations
Victims may also be able to seek other and additional damages, depending on the facts of their motorcycle accident claim.
However, there are time limitations for filing personal injury lawsuits in California. According to the California Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) §335.1, those injured through the negligence of others generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party.
The Attorneys at Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices Can Fight for Your Best Interests
A motorcycle accident attorney from Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices can fight for compensation on your behalf in several ways, including:
- Offering legal advice
- Calculating your damages
- Gathering crucial evidence for proving your claim
- Building a comprehensive case against an at-fault driver
- Communicating with the applicable insurance companies
- Presenting your case passionately at court
For more information on what to do at the scene of a motorcycle accident or in the days after, call Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices at (888) 522-6291. A member of our team will be happy to answer your questions during your free case review.