After you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, there are severral important steps you should take to ensure that your rights are protect and that you receive the compensation you deserve. If you were hurt, these tips can help you recover and move on with your life.
After any motorcycle accident, there are several important steps you’ll need to take to ensure that you get the full compensation you deserve. Insurance companies don’t make this easy, but with the right legal counsel on your side, you can rest assure that your rights will be protect in the event of an injury due to negligence or inattention on the part of another driver or motorcycle rider.
Important statistics on motorcycle accidents in California include:
- California has more motorcyclists than any other state. The state has over 800,000 registered motorcycles, followed by 550,000 in Florida and 445,000 in Texas.
- Between 2011 and 2015, 2,299 motorcycle drivers were fatally injure in road traffic accidents in the state.
- The Centers for Disease Control recorded 4,976 motorcycle deaths last year.
- The California Highway Traffic Safety Administration said 548 motorcyclists died in California last year, up 11% from the previous year.
- Of the 12,844 motorists, 491 (4%) sustained fatal injuries.
- In recent years, the number of fatal and serious injuries has increased dramatically.
- From 2011 to 2015, the number of fatal and serious injuries increased by 18%.
- Deaths among motorcycle riders without helmets increased by 4 percent from the base year 2015 from 23 to 25.
Establish Motorcycle Accident Responsibility
If a person is involved in a motorcycle accident and wants to know who is to blame. The party responsible for the accident depends on the specifics of the accident. In general, the following parties may be liable:
- Driver is responsible – Drivers are most likely responsible for motorcycle accidents. All drivers must exercise caution towards all other road users, including motorcyclists. Drivers must exercise caution (they must obey all laws and exercise caution) to avoid accidents with motorcyclists. To prove that the driver is responsible for the accident, plaintiffs must:
- Motorcyclist is responsible: Motorcyclists are sometimes responsible (or partially) for their accidents. Motorcyclists are just as careful as other drivers. Motorcyclists must use caution (obey laws, etc.) to avoid accidents. If they contribute to your accidents, they may be responsible for them.
- City / County Responsibility: Cities and counties are often responsible for maintaining roads, ensuring that they are safe for all vehicles. If a city or county do not care about road maintenance, they may be liable for damage caused.
The proof of who is to blame for a motorcycle accident will depend on many factors. A traffic accident attorney is require to gather all necessary information in accordance with the various laws and codes that govern motorcycle use in the State of California.
The speed at which someone was driving, the location of the accident, and the traffic conditions at the time of the accident are aspects to be take into account when determining the perpetrators of a motorcycle accident.
Role Of Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
When faced with an injury from a motorcycle accident, it’s important to get legal advice right away. It can be hard enough sorting out all of your medical and insurance issues without having to navigate courtrooms and other legal matters.
The last thing you need is for someone else’s negligence or carelessness to put even more stress on you and your family.
An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer will fight for every dollar of compensation he or she can get on your behalf, while working to avoid delays and other tactics that insurers try and use against injured people. A good motorcycle accident lawyer has seen these tactics used time and again—and they know how best to avoid them.
Here are five important steps you need to know after any motorcycle accident, including how to handle insurance issues, police reports, medical treatment, and more.
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Talk to Police
When you’re involve in a motorcycle accident, your first priority should be keeping yourself and others safe. And while it may be tempting, don’t leave the scene of an accident until you speak with police. Your failure to stop can lead to harsh penalties and civil suits against you if anyone is injured or kill in an accident.
When dealing with law enforcement after an accident, tell them your side of things and keep it professional. They have seen many sides of accidents, so let them investigate before coming up with a conclusion about what happened.
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Get Medical Attention
A motorcycle accident lawyer will tell you that you should always get medical attention after an accident, even if you don’t feel injured.
If you have been in a collision with another vehicle or with an object, take medical treatment as soon as possible after making sure no one else is hurt. It’s easy to forget about your own injuries in these situations and it’s important not to overlook possible concussions, neck and back injuries and other ailments that can come from riding a motorcycle.
Talk with your insurance company: A motorcycle accident lawyer will tell you that talking with your insurance company is crucial after an accident, especially if there is more than one party involved or someone has been seriously injured.
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Gather Evidence
Be sure to get as much information about the crash as possible. Write down exactly what happened, even if it’s your word against theirs. Note everything you can remember about how fast you were going, weather conditions, road conditions, and any other contributing factors that contributed to your crash. If another driver seems at fault, try to take pictures of their vehicle and plate before leaving (or having them leave). The more evidence you have on hand immediately after an accident, the better prepared you’ll be when dealing with insurance claims or legal action down the line.
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Contact Legal Counsel
If you’ve been involve in a motorcycle accident, your first call should be to an experience motorcycle accident lawyer. Once you’ve spoken with them, there are five important steps you need to take:
(1) Keep all records regarding your injury
(2) Seek medical attention
(3) Notify your health insurance provider
(4) Gather information about anyone else involved in your crash
(5) Contact a motorcycle accident lawyer
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Stay Calm
No matter how dire your circumstances seem, try not to panic. Find your motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. When you do find that legal professional, let them know exactly what happened so they can help you figure out what steps to take next.
Above all else, don’t say anything that could hurt your case. If at all possible, don’t speak with an insurance adjuster without consulting your motorcycle accident lawyer first. No matter how helpful or well-meaning they may seem, insurance adjusters are there to protect their own interests—not yours—and saying something without knowing for sure whether it is accurate can cause problems later on in court.
In a Nutshell…
As we all know motorcycle accidents can happen anytime for many different reasons. It is very important that you immediately seek medical attention and consult with a motorcycle accident lawyer.
As we discussed, insurance companies will try and take advantage of injured individuals in order to maximize their profits, so you should always speak with an attorney prior to accepting any settlement or agreement from your insurance company. If you or someone you love has been involved in a motorcycle accident, contact motorcycle accident lawyers today for your free consultation.
