Important Evidence in a Motorcycle Accident Case

A motorcycle accident has the capacity to inflict severe and life-changing injuries on a rider. If you find yourself in this difficult situation, the strength of the evidence you collect to support your case can make all the difference. Knowing what evidence to focus on – and how to effectively preserve it, before it’s too late – is critical for the outcome of your injury claim.

The Police Report

You should always get a police report after a motorcycle or car accident in California. State law requires police reporting if a motorcycle accident in California causes injuries, deaths or at least $750 in property damage to any one vehicle. 

Call 911 from the scene of your motorcycle accident. If anyone is injured, report this information to get medical assistance. Don’t admit fault to the police. Write down your police report number so that you can contact law enforcement to request a copy as evidence later.

Photos and Videos 

Photographic evidence can be critical during a motorcycle accident case, as it can show undeniable and unbiased proof of certain facts. Pictures of the positions of both vehicles, for example, can show travel directions and place fault with the motorist who was in the wrong place at the wrong time based on traffic laws. 

Do your best to take pictures at the crash scene. Include close-up shots of vehicle damage and your injuries, as well as wider-lens photos of the crash scene as a whole. Capture images of the roadway and any nearby traffic signs or signals. Look for nearby traffic and surveillance cameras, as well.

Witness Statements

Information from people who witnessed the motorcycle accident – or passengers who were directly involved – can deliver unique evidence to investigators. Eyewitnesses often have details and insights that no one else has, which may allow investigators to piece together what happened and who is at fault.

Cell Phone Records 

If a motorcycle accident in Los Angeles appears to have involved driver distraction due to a cell phone – the most common type of distraction – obtaining cell phone records in a timely manner is important. The other driver’s cell phone records may show proof that he or she was texting, using social media, taking pictures or videos, or otherwise distracted by the device in the moments before striking the motorcyclist.

Medical Records and Injury Documentation

Always get prompt medical care after a motorcycle accident in Los Angeles, as this can show an insurance company that you suffered serious injuries that were caused by the collision. Keep copies of your medical records to serve as proof and documentation of your injuries. Maintain an injury journal, as well, where you describe your daily pain and suffering.

Expert Opinions

Experts on subjects relevant to the motorcycle accident case, such as crash reconstruction specialists and medical experts, can lend their testimony to an injury claim to strengthen the plaintiff’s arguments. Experts can explain technical issues related to the case to a judge or jury, for example, or demonstrate the impact of the victim’s catastrophic injuries.

How to Preserve Key Evidence for Your Motorcycle Accident Case

You can preserve and gather pertinent evidence right away by contacting an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in Los Angeles as soon as possible to assist you. Once you hire an attorney, the law firm can send investigators to the scene of the crash to gather evidence, take official photographs and speak to witnesses. 

You can count on a lawyer to collect key evidence before it gets lost, destroyed or loses accuracy (such as witnesses forgetting what they saw over time). A lawyer can piece together your evidence in a clear and compelling way to convince a judge or jury of the truth of your side of a motorcycle accident claim.