Motorcycle accident checklist
What should you do if you are involved in a motorcycle accident?
By following the tips below, you may have secured evidence that will be extremely valuable for a future motorcycle injury case. If you wait an extended period of time before hiring an attorney, the following tips are especially important.
Stay Calm. Seek Medical Attention
First, stay calm. If there are injuries, seek medical attention immediately and alert the police.
Exchange Documentation:
- Don't discuss the accident with anyone or blame anyone, including yourself. Exchange only your license, registration, and motor vehicle identification card
- Driver Facts: Take down the name, address, driver's license number and state, date of birth, sex, and the phone number of the other driver
- Ownership Facts: The person driving may not be the owner of the car. Be sure to write down the name, address, and the insurance company of the owner of the other auto involved.
Document the Accident:
- Damages: Note the make, body type, year, and license number of the other vehicle. Also, make note of the damage to the other vehicle and your own vehicle.
- Draw a diagram of the accident. Make note the date and time of the accident below the diagram. Also, be sure to write down the accident location including the street, intersection, or any landmarks.
Take Photographs:
- Uneven pavement. If a motorcycle accident occurs due to uneven pavement, take photos immediately. A business owner, road crew, homeowner, or landlord could fix the pavement and the evidence is gone. Attempt to measure the uneven pavement with anything you have handy - a ruler, a pen, a piece of paper, a credit card or anything that will demonstrate a difference in height. Place the object against the uneven pavement and take a photo of it.
- Damaged Vehicles. Always photograph damage to the motorcycle and other vehicles involved in the accident. After an accident, many automobiles and motorcycles are quickly totaled and destroyed by an insurance company, so they are no longer physically available. The only evidence you will have are the photographs.
- Camera. Always carry a throw-away camera in the seat or sidebags of your motorcycle. If you are in an accident, these photos could be valuable to your future case.
Damaged Motorcycle Helmets & Clothing:
- Keep damaged helmets and the clothing you were wearing during the accident. Do not throw them away. They may become evidence in your case.
Document Witnesses:
- Get Witnesses' Name, Address & Phone Number. When in a motorcycle accident, try to get a name, address, and phone number of any witnesses that may have seen the motorcycle accident happen. This could be critical to some cases where the witnesses' statements are the main source of information about the motorcycle injury case - especially when there is no police report to rely on or the information on the police report happens to be incorrect. When you have statements that support your contention that the police report is incorrect, it is especially helpful.
Report the accident to the police.
Injured in a motorcycle accident? Put our experience to work for you.
For over 25 years, our attorneys have represented more than 30,000 people who have been injured in all types of accidents including motorcycle accidents. In addition our legal team has answered over 350,000 injury-related legal questions. When a motorcycle injury occurs and legal help is needed, experience counts.
Free Legal Evaluation
If you, or someone you care about, have been injured in a motorcycle accident, you can contact our law firm for a free evaluation by:
- Filling out a simple online form so we can evaluate your claim
- Calling toll free 1-866-881-3317. Our phones answer 24 hours a day/7 days a week
Our law firm will evaluate your claim free of charge and advise you on your legal rights to collect compensation. There is no obligation to use our services, and there is never a fee unless we get money for you.
Client Satisfaction
