Over the years, the Law Offices of Mark C. Blane has helped dozens of victims of California motorcycle crashes and bicycle accidents. If you are involved in a California Motorcycle accident, you should take the following steps to care for yourself and your passengers and to protect yourself medically, and your legal rights:
- Stop. You must stop if you are involved in an accident in California. Failure to do so may constitute a felony for hit and run;
- Do not admit fault for the accident to anyone, especially not to the police or your insurance company. An investigation must ensue first, and you are not required to make a legal conclusion as to fault or liability of any party.
- Do not sign anything the other party or insurance company gives you or agree to make a statement (recorded or unrecorded)-- they (insurance or other party) can use that information against you, to give you less compensation than you deserve for your particular injury case or claim.
- Check with the people involved in the accident to see if they have been hurt. Call the police, and the ambulance (if one is necessary). Obtain medical treatment for your injuries at the scene of the accident if you need to.
- If you have a cell phone with a video camera mode, you can take video of the accident scene for documentation. I now have many clients doing this due to the advent of technology.
- Obtain the driver’s critical information including name, address, phone number, drivers’ license number, vehicle registration certificate, insurance carrier, insurance agent, insurance policy number and phone number for the insurance agent. Also obtain the vehicle make, model, license plate number and date of registration expiration. All of these details are extremely important, and be aware that at an accident scene, it is already very stressful, so be sure you do not forget this step!
- Gather information regarding all the occupants or riders from the vehicles involved in the collision. They may be witnesses to the events, and as such, their contact information is equally important.
- Gather the names of all other witnesses to the events. Do your best with this step as most people forget to search out witnesses after an accident.
- Obtain pictures of your vehicle and any other vehicles involved in the collision. Take photographs showing the damage and the accident site, any traffic control signals and devices and any physical injuries you have suffered. Again, if you have a cell phone with a video mode, then video at this point in time would be good idea. Video also captures statements made at the scene as well.
- If the police do not come to the scene of the accident, you should go to the nearest police station as soon as possible and make a report listing your version of the events. Additionally, you are required by statute to file a report with the Department of Motor Vehicles should your accident involve injury to a person or property damage of a significant amount (in excess of $750.00). This procedure is called the SR-1 form and it is filed with the California DMV.
If the police do not respond to a collision, contact Attorney Mark C. Blane immediately at (619) 813-7955. Even if the police do respond, their police report might not be accurate. Attorney Mark C. Blane can meet with you for a free case evaluation and find out who is really at fault for your California motorcycle accident.
More Legal Questions About Car & Motorcycle Accidents?
Do you have more legal questions about car & motorcycle accident cases? Return to the Auto & Motorcycle accidents in California Frequently Asked Legal Questions page.