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Motorcycle, Scooter, and Moped Accidents — what to do after your accident
It is essential to take action immediately after a motorcycle accident occurs due to laws regarding statutes of limitations. Every personal injury claim must be filed within a specific amount of time or you will lose your opportunity to receive compensation for damages incurred. Contact Dean A. Goetz today for a free initial consultation to discuss both your rights and prospects for recovery in the case.
Seek immediate medical attention, if you are injured in a motorcycle/automobile accident.
After everyone is out of danger and any medical and police help has been summoned, obtain the following information:
- The full names of the drivers of all of the vehicles involved
- The driver's license numbers and addresses of all of the drivers
- If any of the driver's appear to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, notify police or other emergency personnel immediately
- The full names and addresses of any passengers in any of the vehicles
- The full names and addresses of any pedestrians or other parties involved
- The full name, address, and phone number of any witnesses to the accident
In addition, you should make observations and record notes about the following:
- What was the actual location of the accident?
- In what direction were the vehicles traveling just prior to the accident?
- At what time of day did the accident occur?
- What were the weather conditions at the time of the accident?
- Was there anything "wrong" with any of the vehicles before the accident, such as a broken headlight or brake light?
- Was there any damage to the vehicles as a result of the accident? What parts of the vehicle were damaged?
- Who are the registered owners of the vehicles (names and addresses)?
- Were all vehicles involved in the accident insured? What are the names of the insurance companies and the policy numbers?
- Did any of the vehicles need to be towed from the scene of the accident?
- How did the accident occur?
- Did anyone accept responsibility for the accident, or make a comment such as "It was my fault, I am sorry. I was speeding / not paying attention / not wearing my glasses / distracted / tired / late for work / in a hurry / my coffee had just spilled / I should have seen you but I was on my cell phone / I've been taking these pills / my eyesight isn't what it used to be after dark, etc"?
- Did the police come? If so, did they issue anyone a ticket? Which officers were present? What are their names and badge numbers?
- Was any of the drivers involved driving while working, or driving a company owned vehicle?
Call the police.
It is important to contact the police immediately, if you are involved in a motorcycle accident. They will provide proof of the accident and conduct an immediate investigation of the scene of the accident. Police will take statements of witnesses and will examine the other driver to check for drug or alcohol use. The police can also be valuable witnesses to your injury at the scene and they can assist in securing an admission of fault from the negligent driver.
Even in minor motorcycle accidents, resist the temptation to not call the police. If you are injured, you want the police to come out and investigate.
Should I go to the doctor?
Yes. Don’t hesitate to get checked out by medical professionals even when don’t think you are seriously injured. Many times the onset of physical complaints begins 12 to 24 hours after an accident. Even if you did walk away only feeling "shaken up" after being rear-ended by a truck, tomorrow morning when you get out of bed it may be a different story.
It is also important that you get medical attention if you feel any pain or discomfort. Many people hope that their pain will go away on its own and wait for several weeks before finally succumbing and going to the doctor. Waiting to get treatment is not good for your health or your claim. Seeing a doctor following the accident will insure a preliminary diagnosis and perhaps minimize the discomfort and future treatment you may need later.
Follow the doctor's advice and never miss a doctor’s appointment. Do not substitute your judgment for that of an experienced medical professional.
If you have been in a serious accident, chances are that someone has already made a record of what has happened to you. There already is a police report, an on-the-job worker's compensation report, or the like. If your condition required immediate medical care, hospital records will confirm your injuries. Make sure you promptly follow-up with treatment from your regular doctor or an appropriate specialist following hospitalization.
When should I contact an attorney?
After leaving the scene of a motorcycle accident, contact an attorney who is experienced in handling personal injury matters as well as an experienced California motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible.
Dean Goetz is available to provide a free consultation and to answer all of your questions immediately and at no charge. Additionally, Dean there are no attorney fees until you have a monetary recovery.
Contact Dean Goetz at (858) 481-8844 oremailhim for a FREE CONSULTATION. Or complete the case form here.
Is there anything special I should tell my doctors?
Yes, make sure you identify all your complaints and symptoms when you report your injury to police, paramedics, hospital staff, and doctors. Take extra care to identify specific complaints, and do not omit any complaint you may have, no matter how minor.
Even if you feel it is "no big thing" or not related to your accident, you still verbalize all of your complaints. A headache and a little dizziness may be evidence of something more serious.
For example, a patient who has very slight tingling in the fourth and fifth fingers and a minor crick in the neck, may not report the tingling sensation, which could be the sign of nerve impingement in a cervical disk. If that disk ruptures and requires major surgery, it would have been far better to have had the initial medical diagnosis at the time of the accident in order to prove that the injury is related to the accident. Otherwise, the defense will argue that it may have occurred doing household chores two weeks after the accident.
Take pictures of the accident scene.
Even if the police take photos, you should try to take pictures if possible.
Take photos of:
- the accident location
- the vehicles involved
- various approaches to the accident scene
- the persons involved, particularly if they have suffered an injury
Do I have to take photos right away or can I wait?
Take the photos of the scene of the accident and the vehicles as soon as possible after the accident.
Take photos of yourself or the injured persons right after the accident and on a daily basis, if there is swelling or bruising.
If I don’t have medical insurance will you be able to help me get medical treatment?
Yes, we have access to doctors and medical care providers who are willing to treat our clients without being paid until the case is resolved.
Should I talk to the other driver’s insurance company? What if they call me?
NO. Do not give an oral statement to the other side’s insurance company. If you do, you will regret it. If you are contacted, be polite, but decline to talk. Insurance companies' claims adjusters are professional negotiators, with extensive experience in using every technique to get you to say things that will harm your case. Politely tell them that you will have your lawyer talk to them. Do not agree to let them take a recorded statement of your conversation.
