What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Orange, CA

If you’re injured in a motorcycle accident, chances are you’re suffering from serious injuries and will likely face a long road to recovery. Unlike passenger vehicles, motorcyclists have little protection in a crash. The first thing you should do after a motorcycle crash in Orange, CA is pull over to the side of the road to get to safety. Then, you will need to follow certain steps to avoid further injury and protect your rights to pursue legal action against the liable party.

Here’s what you need to know about what to do after a motorcycle wreck.

If you’re able to do so, try to collect as much evidence from the accident scene as you can before it’s no longer available. Take photos and/or videos of the crash site, your bike, injuries to yourself, roadway hazards and features, street signs, weather conditions, and the other vehicles involved.

If you’re not able to take these photos and/or videos yourself, go ahead and ask someone else at the accident scene to do so for you. You should also collect the names and insurance information of everyone involved in the accident.

All of this information will be used to obtain compensation from the negligent driver’s insurance company. While insurance companies claim to be on your side, the reality is that they’re only concerned with paying out as little money as possible. The more evidence you collect at the accident scene, the more information your Orange motorcycle accident attorney has to work with, and will be able to effectively negotiate for maximum compensation.

During this collection period, you should also try your best to document anything you think will be relevant to your case moving forward. Did you see the driver who hit you using their phone moments before the accident? Did another driver cut the person who hit you off? Memories fade over time, so the sooner you can write down your recollection of events, the better.

One of the most important things to do after a motorcycle crash is to schedule a consultation with a motorcycle accident lawyer in Orange, CA. As noted, insurance companies will do everything they can to undervalue and underpay your claim.

In addition, motorcyclists are often faced with a bias working against them, as they are viewed as reckless thrill-seekers who likely caused the accident. This is why you will need strong legal representation to defend against such inaccuracies or misconceptions.

Your attorney will be able to value the damages associated with your motorcycle accident, as well as calculate your current and future medical bills, lost wages, and/or lost earning capacity if you’re severely injured and unable to return to work. This can usually be done by examining your previous pay stubs and attendance records.

Your motorcycle accident attorney will also be able to investigate the details of your claim to determine who was liable. In every motorcycle accident case, it must first be determined that the negligent driver broke the duty of care they owed to the motorcyclist.

An experienced lawyer will be able to find out if the driver who hit you was being negligent. Or, in some cases, if your motorcycle accident was caused by defective road design or auto parts.