Steps to Take Immediately Following a Motorcycle Accident in California

The immediate aftermath of a motorcycle crash can be very disorienting for the people involved. You may be in shock and don’t know what to do. While it can be overwhelming, you must try to stay alert because everything you do after the crash can significantly impact your health and ability to recover compensation for your crash-related losses. Here’s a guideline on what steps to take immediately following a motorcycle accident.

Get Medical Attention

Call 911 or get someone to seek emergency help if you're injured. Some injuries from motorcycle crashes can be sneaky. Many people feel well after a crash and don’t seek medical attention. But a lot of motorcycle crash injuries involve head, back, or neck trauma.

Even if you think you’re not hurt, you could find yourself in agonizing pain several hours or days later. Certain back, neck, and head injuries can take some time before displaying symptoms. The sooner you have your injuries diagnosed, the higher your chances of treating them and avoiding more severe issues later.

Contact The Police

Having a police officer on the accident scene will enable you to obtain important documents, such as the police report, which you can use to support your claim for compensation with the other party’s insurer or support your personal injury claim if you need to pursue one to recover adequate compensation.

Collect Information

Collect as much information about the crash as you can, including:

• Names and contact details of everyone involved in the crash
• License plate numbers, color, model, year, VIN, and make of vehicles involved
• Insurance information of the other party
• Statements and contact details of witnesses
• The name of the officer that responded to the scene

If possible, take photos and videos of any injuries, damage to your bike, road conditions, weather conditions, traffic signs, nearby businesses that may have surveillance cameras that caught the accident, etc.

Be Careful When Talking to The Police and Other People Involved

Ensure that you don’t say anything that can be misconstrued as admitting fault for the crash, even if you feel that you may have contributed to it. There might have been various factors at play when the crash happened that you didn’t know about. For instance, the driver that hit you could have been speeding, drunk, or using their phone while driving. Remember, you deserve compensation for your injuries and damages if a negligent party caused them.

Contact a Motorcycle Accident Attorney in California

Ideally, you should call your attorney before speaking to any insurer. The other party’s insurer may offer a quick settlement, but this offer will not be enough to cover your losses. They may also try to get statements from you and use your innocent statements against you to deny or undervalue your claim. Never accept anything from the insurer until you’ve talked to your attorney.

Seek Legal Guidance From a Skilled California Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Now

To learn more about what you should do following a motorcycle crash, contact the California motorcycle accident lawyer at Bamieh & De Smeth today. Schedule your complimentary consultation by calling 805-643-5555 or reaching us online.