What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Pasadena, CA
A motorcycle accident can happen in seconds, but the consequences may affect you for weeks, months, or longer. Riders can suffer serious injuries even in collisions that occur at relatively low speeds, and the moments immediately following a crash can be confusing and stressful.
Knowing what to do after a motorcycle accident can help protect your health, preserve important evidence, and put you in a better position to understand your legal options.
At Rodriguez Law Group, Inc., we represent injured motorcyclists in Pasadena and throughout Southern California. If another driver's negligence caused your accident, taking the right steps afterward may be important to a potential personal injury claim.
1. Get to a Safe Location and Call 911
Your immediate safety should come first. If you are able to move safely, get away from moving traffic and other hazards. Do not attempt to move if you believe doing so could worsen a serious injury.
Call 911 and request emergency assistance when appropriate. Law enforcement officers can respond to the scene, address immediate safety concerns, and document information about the collision.
A police report can also become an important piece of evidence when determining how the motorcycle accident occurred.
2. Seek Medical Attention
Motorcycle accidents can cause significant injuries, including fractures, spinal injuries, internal injuries, road rash, and traumatic brain injuries.
Some injuries may not be immediately apparent. Adrenaline and the stress of an accident can make it difficult to recognize pain or other symptoms at the scene.
Symptoms associated with certain injuries, including concussions and other traumatic brain injuries, may also become more noticeable later.
Seeking appropriate medical evaluation can help identify injuries and establish documentation of your condition following the accident.
If you develop headaches, dizziness, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, vision changes, unusual fatigue, or other concerning symptoms after the crash, discuss them with an appropriate healthcare professional.
3. Report the Motorcycle Accident
If law enforcement responds to the scene, provide accurate information about what happened without speculating about details you do not know.
California also has reporting requirements that may apply to certain traffic accidents.
Depending on the circumstances, additional reporting to the California Department of Motor Vehicles may be required.
Make sure you understand any reporting obligations that apply to your particular accident.
4. Exchange Information With the Other Driver
If your condition allows you to do so safely, obtain basic information from the other people involved in the collision.
Important information may include:
Driver's name and contact information
Driver's license information
Insurance company and policy information
Vehicle make, model, and license plate number
Names and contact information for passengers
Employer information if a commercial vehicle was involved
Avoid arguing about who caused the accident at the scene. Liability should be evaluated based on the available evidence.
5. Take Photos and Videos
Evidence at an accident scene can disappear quickly. Vehicles may be moved, debris can be cleared, road conditions can change, and witnesses may leave.
If you can safely do so, take photographs or videos showing:
Your motorcycle
Damage to other vehicles
The overall accident scene
Vehicle positions
Skid marks or debris
Traffic signals and signs
Road conditions
Visible injuries
Damage to your helmet and riding gear
Nearby businesses or properties that may have surveillance cameras
Do not put yourself in danger to obtain photographs. Your health and safety remain the priority.
6. Get Contact Information From Witnesses
Independent witnesses can sometimes provide valuable information about how a motorcycle collision occurred.
If someone saw the crash, obtain their name and contact information when possible. Witnesses may have observed details that the drivers involved did not see, such as a vehicle changing lanes, running a traffic signal, making an unsafe turn, or following too closely.
Your attorney may later contact these witnesses for additional information.
7. Preserve Your Motorcycle, Helmet, and Riding Gear
A damaged motorcycle can provide evidence about the forces and circumstances involved in a collision.
Before repairing, selling, or disposing of your motorcycle, consider whether it may need to be inspected as part of an insurance claim or potential lawsuit.
You should also consider preserving your helmet, clothing, and other damaged riding equipment. Photographs should be taken before damaged property is repaired or discarded.
In serious or disputed accidents, physical evidence can become particularly important.
8. Be Careful When Speaking With Insurance Companies
After an accident, you may receive calls from insurance adjusters asking questions about what happened or requesting a recorded statement.
Remember that an insurance company's interests may not necessarily be the same as yours.
Provide required information to your own insurer, but consider speaking with an attorney before providing extensive statements to another driver's insurance company or accepting a settlement.
You should also avoid guessing about your injuries. Some medical conditions may take time to evaluate, and the full impact of an injury may not be known immediately after the crash.
9. Avoid Posting Details About the Accident on Social Media
Social media posts can potentially become relevant in a personal injury case.
Photos, videos, comments about the accident, descriptions of your injuries, or posts showing your activities after the crash may be reviewed by insurance companies or opposing parties.
Even a post that seems unrelated to your injuries can potentially be taken out of context.
Consider limiting what you share publicly while your claim is pending.
10. Keep Records of Your Accident and Recovery
A motorcycle accident claim may involve much more than the initial medical bill.
Keep copies of documents related to the accident, including medical bills, treatment records, prescription expenses, insurance correspondence, repair estimates, towing bills, and other accident-related costs.
If your injuries cause you to miss work, maintain documentation showing your lost wages and time away from your job.
It can also be helpful to keep track of medical appointments, symptoms, physical limitations, and significant ways the injuries affect your everyday activities.
What If the Other Driver Blames You for the Motorcycle Accident?
Motorcycle accident claims sometimes involve disagreements about who caused the collision.
A driver may claim that the motorcyclist was speeding, lane splitting, difficult to see, or otherwise responsible for the accident. An allegation does not necessarily establish legal responsibility.
California follows a comparative negligence system. Depending on the circumstances, an injured person may still be able to recover damages even if they are found partially responsible, although their recovery may be reduced according to their percentage of fault.
Evidence such as photographs, video footage, witness statements, vehicle damage, police reports, and other records may help determine what actually happened.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Motorcycle Accident?
The compensation available in a motorcycle accident claim depends on the circumstances of the collision and the injuries and losses involved.
Potential damages may include compensation for:
Medical expenses
Future medical treatment
Lost wages
Reduced future earning capacity
Property damage
Pain and suffering
Other losses permitted under California law
Serious motorcycle injuries may require ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, or assistance with everyday activities. Understanding the potential long-term effects of an injury can therefore be an important part of evaluating a claim.
How Can a Pasadena Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Help?
A Pasadena motorcycle accident lawyer can investigate how the collision occurred and help preserve evidence that may be important to your case.
At Rodriguez Law Group, Inc., our legal team can review accident reports, photographs, medical documentation, witness information, available video footage, and other evidence. We can also communicate with insurance companies, evaluate potential sources of liability, document accident-related losses, and help injured riders understand the options available under California law.
If liability is disputed, a detailed investigation can be especially important. Motorcycle accident cases should be evaluated based on the evidence surrounding the collision, not assumptions about how motorcyclists drive.
When Should You Contact a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?
It can be helpful to speak with an attorney soon after a serious motorcycle accident, particularly when another party may have caused the crash, injuries are significant, or responsibility for the collision is disputed.
Evidence can become more difficult to obtain as time passes. Surveillance footage may be overwritten, witnesses can become difficult to locate, and physical evidence may be repaired or removed.
California also imposes deadlines for filing personal injury claims. Different deadlines may apply depending on the circumstances and parties involved, so you should not assume that every motorcycle accident case has the same filing deadline.
Speak With a Pasadena Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Pasadena or elsewhere in Southern California, Rodriguez Law Group, Inc. can help you understand your legal options.
Our firm represents clients throughout Southern California, including Pasadena, San Gabriel, West Los Angeles, Westlake, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Corona del Mar, Laguna Beach, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, and surrounding communities.
Contact Rodriguez Law Group, Inc. to discuss your motorcycle accident and learn more about your options for pursuing a potential personal injury claim: https://www.attorneyprod.com/contact-us
Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every accident and injury claim is different. Consult an appropriate healthcare professional regarding medical concerns and a qualified attorney regarding your individual legal situation.
