Biker Injured in Modesto Motorcycle Accident
A biker was injured in a Modesto motorcycle accident on the morning of September 1, 2019. The crash occurred around 9:00 a.m. on Carpenter Road in the vicinity of Woodland Avenue. A driver of a Chevrolet Silverado was turning left into a Chevron gas station parking lot, and a motorcycle rider was headed northbound on Carpenter Road. For unknown reasons, the Chevrolet was involved in a collision with the biker. The Chevrolet came to a stop partly in the gas station lot while the bike remained upright with its front tire caught with the rear bumper of the Chevrolet. First responders were called to the scene to transport the motorcycle rider to the hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Updates regarding his condition were not immediately available.
What You Should Do After a Modesto Motorcycle Accident?
After a motorcycle accident in Modesto, there are specific steps that must be taken to protect your health and legal rights. These include:
- Call Emergency Services: If you or anyone else was injured in the collision, contact 9-1-1 immediately. Check yourself and others for any injuries. Also, contact police to the scene if there are injuries and property damage involved.
- Look for Witnesses: If anyone witnessed the crash, try to take down their name and contact information. When a police officer is dispatched to the scene to prepare a traffic collision report, they will include witness statements that support their analysis.
- Exchange Contact Information: After an accident, you will need to identify yourself to other parties involved and exchange information. This is required by state law. Do not apologize to others involved in the crash and keep the conversation to a minimum. Anything you say may be taken out of context and may come back later to affect your personal injury claim.
- Seek Medical Care: If you are not taken by ambulance to the hospital after a motorcycle crash, you should seek immediate treatment with your doctor. Failure to seek medical care after a collision may cause the other driver’s insurance company to dispute the nature of your injuries.
- Take Photos: A picture is worth a thousand words and can be a critical component in a personal injury claim. If possible, try to take photos of all vehicles involved in the collision and property damage. The same should be done with injuries sustained. Take photographs of your injuries at different angles and continue doing so throughout the healing process.
- Contact Your Insurance Carrier: You are expected to inform your insurance company of your motorcycle accident immediately, regardless of fault. You may have several coverages on your motorcycle insurance policy that may protect you, such as uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and medical payments coverage. You will want to use these, particularly if the other driver does not have insurance or has very minimal coverage to pay your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you do not, your insurer may deny coverage for the crash.
- File a Claim: You will want to file a third-party claim with the other driver’s insurance to have your economic and noneconomic damages covered. Politely decline any requests for recorded statements until you have spoken with an experienced Modesto personal injury attorney.
Determining liability in a motorcycle crash may be challenging. To learn how this is done, watch the below video.
Is There a Time Limit to File a Personal Injury Claim?
Each state sets a time limit on bringing a personal injury claim. In California, there is a two-year window to file a claim. This is by California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. Failing to meet the time limit may cause your case to be dismissed by the court. This is why it is critical to contact an experienced Modesto motorcycle accident attorney immediately after an accident. An attorney can help you throughout the claims process and filing deadlines to protect your right to fair compensation.
Personal Injury Lawyers in Modesto
I’m Ed Smith, a Modesto personal injury lawyer. Motorcycle accidents can leave those involved with traumatic injuries. If you or a family member has been injured in a motorcycle accident due to someone else’s negligence, please dial me at (209) 227-1931 or toll-free at (800) 404-5400 to receive my free, friendly advice.
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