You’ll want to contact emergency services first. Ask for an ambulance if anyone is injured. Then, try to collect as much evidence at the scene as possible. If it’s safe to move around the location, take photos of the damage to the car and the motorcycle. Take a photo of your helmet if you were wearing one. Get witness contact information.
After a crash caused by a careless driver that causes a serious injury, you should definitely discuss your case with a California motorcycle accident attorney. Take advantage of a free case consultation. It’s a way to find out what you should demand for your recovery and how to avoid the tactics insurers use to blame riders in any accident.
US 395 Motorcycle Accident Dangers
Motorcyclists pick out US 395 on the map for many reasons. Some want to get out of L.A. and head up to Reno along the Eastern Scenic Byway or over to Death Valley. Others want the solitude and straightaways along the highway’s run through Northern California.
There’s plenty of road for motorcyclists to open up their bikes in the fresh air. Unfortunately, riders may never get far enough from careless drivers. These drivers can be scanning their cell phones while making a lane change near a rider. They can forget to check their mirrors and blind spots, and cause an impact. Riders can first be struck by a vehicle and suffer a second collision with the pavement.
Drivers may say they never saw the smaller motorcycle, but that’s just an excuse for not paying enough attention. Unfortunately, insurance companies like to twist what happened and blame the rider in almost every situation. It’s a shady practice, especially when a motorcyclist has major injuries and no way to pay massive medical bills. Injured riders deserve justice and full support from at-fault drivers.
Steps to Take Immediately After a US 395 Motorcycle Accident
Victims must prioritize their own care and safety after an accident. If victims are in the path of traffic, they should try to get out of the lanes. Then, they should determine if they are injured or not and then call 911.
Call 911 and request an ambulance if anyone is injured. Once the scene is secure, if you feel well enough, you should also consider combing the scene for evidence. If you were sent into an accident due to a reckless driver’s mistake, you’ll need proof of what happened so an insurance adjuster can’t change the facts and leave you with an inadequate settlement check.
Try to gather these details if possible:
- Tell the responding California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer or police officer everything you can remember about how your accident unfolded.
- Pull out your cell phone and take pictures. Show the damage to your motorcycle, clothing, and helmet. Take pictures of any visible injuries, including road rash, and damage to your clothing.
- Get contact information from witnesses. Your California Motorcycle Accident Lawyer will be reaching out to them for testimony.
- Exchange information with the driver involved if the CHP officer doesn’t provide it to you.
- Afterward, don’t dispose of your damaged clothing and shoes. It will all serve as powerful visual evidence of what you were put through.
- Alert your motorcycle accident insurance company about what happened.
- Schedule an appointment with your doctor. Get all injuries documented. Pay special attention to any pain that arises after the shock of your incident wears off. You may have injuries you weren’t aware of immediately after the crash. Do everything your doctor recommends. Save all medical invoices.
How Can a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Help the Outcome of My Case?
If your injury involves only some minor scrapes and bruising, you may not need the help of a lawyer. You can probably file a claim yourself to get help with relatively small emergency room bills or repair bills to fix your motorcycle.
However, if your crash was caused by a reckless driver, and you receive a serious injury, like a broken arm or a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), a motorcycle accident lawyer may be an important safeguard.
Here are a few of the protections your lawyer will provide:
- Fully investigate your accident and the driver involved
- Has evidence ready when a car insurance company tries to pin the blame for the accident on you
- Has medical evidence from your doctors ready if an insurance adjuster tries to downplay how serious your injury is or claims you injured yourself in a previous accident
- Negotiates to get you the maximum amount in compensation and secures the benefits insurance adjusters won’t always mention are available
- Has your case prepared for a lawsuit if an insurer refuses to accept blame and needs to be taken to court
- Handles the frustrating claims process while you are allowed to focus on healing, so you can get back on your motorcycle as soon as possible
Contact a California Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Contact Maison Law to talk with a real California motorcycle accident attorney about your options in a free consultation. You’ll learn what your injury is worth and how to secure the compensation you need for a full recovery. There’s no obligation, but if you feel we can earn you much more for your claim, you’ll need no upfront money to hire Maison Law. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement a car insurance company must pay you.
