What to do if You are Involved in a Motorcycle Accident in California

Have your or someone you know been involved in a motorcycle accident in California? If so, you may have some questions regarding what to do and how to do it. Fortunately, you can find some answers to your questions below.

Read on to discover some first steps after a motorcycle accident and some practical considerations to keep in mind as you navigate your claim.

First Steps

The first steps after a motorcycle accident are similar to those taken after a car accident. Prioritize your health and safety first by seeking medical attention immediately. Not only will doing so best protect yourself medically, as some injuries or ailments appear only in days or weeks after an accident, but it can help protect your claim down the line. Do your best to remove yourself from the stream of traffic. Set up road flares or turn on your hazard lights to indicate the problem and direct other cars away from you. These steps can prevent further accidents. Take photographs of the property damage to all vehicles. Take down the names and contact information for any witnesses that may be available. Contact your insurance company immediately; many policies require that you notify your insurance company as soon as possible to avoid a gap in coverage.

Practical Considerations

You need to get good documentation of the damage to your motorcycle especially, as motorcycles are high-value assets. That is why taking photographs of the damage is so important. You should also consider any state or local laws that may have been broken in the process of the accident, either by you as the motorcyclist or by another driver. In California, lane splitting is legal, so you do not need to worry if that is what you were doing. There are other laws that apply strictly to motorcyclists. A good attorney will know what they are and how to ensure that your settlement is what you deserve, regardless of whether any laws were broken in your case.

Causes of Accidents

Part of determining any settlement in your case will revolve around determining who is at fault for the accident. There are several potential causes of motorcycle accidents. One of the most common forms is a driver hitting a motorcyclist that they did not see while making a left turn. Motorcyclists can also be the victims of hit-and-run accidents, and other types of accidents caused by negligent other drivers who may be fatigued, lawbreaking, careless, or distracted by something else in their vehicles. Drunk driving accounts for almost one in three motor vehicle accidents in the United States. These types of accidents are prime candidates for getting a motorcyclist the type of settlement they deserve.

You Need an Attorney

The best way to get the most out of your settlement is to contact an attorney experienced with motorcycle cases. As mentioned above, there are special laws that apply only to motorcyclists, and special considerations to take into account about which your average personal injury attorney may not know. Find an attorney with experience to take your case.