Our attorneys have been assisting the Orange County and Southern California communities for over 40 years.
If you or a loved one have been injured or sustained property damage in a motorcycle accident, there are various steps that you need to take to ensure your well-being. If the crash was caused by the actions of another driver, you should be able to recover compensation. When you follow the steps that we list below, you will be much more likely to recover the compensation you are entitled to for your medical bills, property damage expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering damages.
As soon as a motorcycle accident occurs, somebody needs to call 911. It is vital for law enforcement officials to come to the scene to conduct a preliminary investigation, even for minor accidents. For motorcycle accidents where a severe injury has occurred, EMS professionals need to come to the scene to tend to the wounded.
Any person involved in a motorcycle accident needs to seek medical care immediately. Even if the injuries seem relatively minor, or if a motorcyclist feels no pain at all, they need to be evaluated by a trusted medical professional. Often, the signs and symptoms of some motorcycle accident injuries do not appear until hours or even days after a crash occurs. By seeking immediate medical care, injured motorcyclists are establishing a sound link between the crash and their injuries. This is important when it comes to securing compensation from an insurance settlement or a personal injury jury.
If it is safe to do so at the scene of a crash, motorcyclists should begin gathering as much evidence as possible. This can be as simple as using a cell phone to take photographs with everything in sight. This includes damaged vehicles and motorcycles, injuries, traffic and weather conditions, debris, skid marks, and more. Individuals should also make a note of any cameras they see nearby because these cameras may have captured the incident on their footage.
If there were any eyewitnesses to the crash, their names and contact information need to be gathered before they leave the scene.
Motorcyclists need to report the incident to their insurance carrier as soon as possible. Most insurance carriers have very strict reporting deadlines, and failing to report an incident quickly could result in a claim delay or denial. Motorcycle accident victims need to be cautious about what they say to their insurance carrier, and they do not need to go into significant detail.
Motorcycle accident victims need to contact a skilled attorney as soon as possible. An Orange County motorcycle accident lawyer will have the resources necessary to conduct a full investigation into the claim, gather evidence to prove liability, and vigorously negotiate with insurance carriers to recover full compensation for their client.
It is recommended that any motorcycle accident victim keep a journal or diary that documents their day-to-day activity after the crash occurs. This includes discussing how the individual feels both physically and mentally, as well as keeping tabs on all doctor visits and recovery progress.
Motorcycle crash victims have to continue all medical treatment until after their doctor says they have reached maximum medical improvement. If a motorcyclist discontinues medical care before their doctor recommends doing so, the insurance carrier could use this as a reason to offer lower compensation amounts.