Steps to Take Following a Motorcycle Accident
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento motorcycle accident attorney. Riding a motorcycle can be dangerous. Here are the steps you should take if you are ever involved in a motorcycle accident.
Look for Injuries
One of the first things you should always do if involved in a motorcycle accident is to look for injuries. Obviously, you can check yourself for injuries but you should always check on whoever was the passenger on your bike. If at all possible, you should check with the driver of the other vehicle involved to see if they need medical attention too. Next, seek medical attention for your injuries.
Get Off the Road
If you can do so, it’s best to get off the road following an accident. You might not be able to move your bike but you should physically get off the road to avoid any further injury. Move to the shoulder or the grass. If you are near a parking lot, go into the parking lot to get as far away from moving traffic as possible but still close enough that first responders will be able to see you upon arrival.
Call 911
It’s best to always call 911 following a motorcycle accident. You will want at the very least the police or California Highway Patrol (CHP) to respond so they can compile an accident report. A call to 911 will also make sure that some sort of EMS response is added to the accident dispatch.
Collect Information
If you are not suffering from traumatic injuries you need to collect information from the other motorists involved in the accident. This includes their name, insurance policy, address, phone number, and the license plate numbers. You should also write down the make, model, and color of all the vehicles involved in the motorcycle accident.
Speak with Witnesses
If witnesses to the accident stopped to make sure you were fine, ask them to remain at the scene to speak with the police. Find the witnesses to the accident and speak with them about what they saw at the scene if you are not badly injured. If you can only get their phone number, be sure to call them not long after the accident as memories fade quickly.
Note Your Surroundings
Again, if you have not been injured too seriously you need to note your surroundings. This includes either taking pictures of the accident scene or taking notes on your phone. You should take note of the weather conditions at the time of the accident, the road conditions, the time of day the accident occurred, the posted speed limit, the location of the accident, the lighting in the area and the direction of travel or if it occurred at an intersection.
Never Admit Fault
Be mindful to never admit fault in a motorcycle accident. It can be commonplace for those involved in accidents to subconsciously admit fault in an accident. It’s very likely for someone to simply utter the words “I’m sorry” after an accident. Adrenaline is running high immediately following a motorcycle accident. Blurting these words out even if you were not at fault can put you in a difficult position when trying to recover compensation for your injuries down the road.
Consult with a Personal Injury Attorney
After you have performed all of the above steps you should consult with a Sacramento personal injury attorney who has the experience necessary to handle such a case.
Sacramento Motorcycle Accident & Personal Injury Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento motorcycle accident attorney. If you find yourself involved in a motorcycle accident, please seek medical attention right way. After that, please call me at 916-921-6400 or 800-404-5400 for free, friendly, and helpful legal advice.
You can read reviews written by my current and former clients on Yelp, Avvo, and Google.
You can also review my prior cases by reading my verdicts and settlements page on my website, AutoAccident.com.
I belong to the national group known as the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. This group is responsible for recognizing trial attorneys who have secured one-million dollar or more awards for their clients.
Image Credit: Skitter Photo. Roman Traffic by Peter Heeling. CC0 1.0.
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