Preserving a legal claim following a motorcycle accident

Taking a motorcycle out for a spin can be one of life’s great pleasures. But that fun is shaded with danger. For example, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 100,000 motorcyclists were injured on the road in 2007. It should be noted that most of those injuries were not the motorcyclist’s fault. Washingtonians who find themselves in this position need to know what to after a motorcycle accident.

Start by insisting on having police come to the scene to fill out an accident report. This report is a great first step towards your own investigation. It will also be an essential document when it comes time to file your claim.

Next, gather evidence. Take pictures of your injuries, your bike, the other vehicle, the road, the intersection and anything else that seems even remotely relevant. Err on the side of too many pictures. Also, speak with others at the scene. But be careful what you say to them since your words may be thrown back at you come trial time.

After leaving the scene, keep track of your injuries. Some will be easy to note, but others may take some time to manifest. Either way, recording all of the injuries and the treatment needed to deal with them will be helpful for proving damages.

Also, consider bringing in experts. For instance, depending on the case, you may need a biking expert, a trucking expert or a skid-mark-analysis expert.

Lastly, refrain from taking your bike into the shop for fixing. Keep it in its damaged condition. Doing so helps with accident reconstruction as well as identifying if the bike had any manufacturing flaws that might prompt suing the bike manufacturer.

Washingtonians interested in knowing more about what steps to take may benefit from speaking with an experienced motorcycle-accident attorney.

Source: FindLaw, “Preserving Claims in the Aftermath of a Motorcycle Accident,” Joseph G. Klest, Accessed Oct. 18, 2016

Matthew D. Dubin

Matt Dubin has spent more than 20 years honing his skills as one of the top personal injury lawyers in the State of Washington. In his career, Matt has focused on protecting consumers from dangerous household products, medical mistakes, roadway accidents, and many other causes of injury. Matt has recovered nearly $20 million on behalf of his clients.

Education

• University of Washington School of Law, Seattle, Washington – J.D.
• Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut – B.A.

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