Motorcycle crashes aren't your typical fender benders. Because motorcyclists have virtually no exterior protection, these incidents tend to involve much more serious injuries and damages. Riders fortunate enough to survive these accidents are often left with life-shattering brain injuries, spinal cord damage, or other 
serious conditions, as well as lost income and mounting medical expenses.
Grappling with the devastating consequences of a motorcycle crash you didn't cause? Ordinarily, you'd be able to file a personal injury insurance claim or lawsuit and seek compensation for your injuries and losses. However, when the responsible party leaves the scene of the accident, it can dramatically complicate your recovery efforts. Here's what you should know about California hit-and-run motorcycle crashes and how our exceptional Inland Empire personal injury team can help you fight for the fair financial award you deserve.
Take Immediate Action to Protect Your Rights
In the immediate aftermath of the accident, anything you can do to document how the collision occurred to help show the hit-and-run driver caused the collision can help. This can be obtained through witnesses, your memory or a police investigation. The ability to identify the vehicle that caused the collision is very helpful in recovering compensation. Using a cell phone to snap a picture of the responsible vehicle leaving the scene is sometimes all that is needed to secure a recovery. Thereafter, make sure a police report is created either at the scene or within a few days at a local police station. Also, immediately report the collision to your insurance carrier. If a hit-and-run incident is not promptly reported to your insurance carrier the carrier can deny uninsured motorist benefits which would otherwise be available to you. Also, document your injuries and damages, including the harm you suffered, your medical care, lost earnings and the impact the collision has had on you. Follow these essential steps after a motorcycle hit-and-run crash:
- Take photos of the scene of the accident, or have someone take them for you, making sure to document any road, weather, or other conditions that may have contributed to the crash
- Photograph your injuries and any damage to your motorcycle
- Talk to witnesses and get their contact information
- Write down any and every detail you can remember about the vehicle that hit you, including its color, make, model, license plate number (or partial plate number), etc.
- Make a note of anything you can remember about the driver's appearance
- Contact the police to file an accident report
- Seek medical attention, even if your injuries don't appear serious
- Consult an experienced personal injury attorney
Fighting for a Fair Recovery
Ideally, after a hit-and-run, the police—or you and your attorney—would be able to identify the at-fault motorist, giving you the opportunity to take legal action against them to pursue compensation. Unfortunately, trying to find a hit-and-run driver can sometimes be like trying to find the proverbial needle in the haystack—and even if you are able to identify them, you may discover that they lack the insurance coverage or assets to make a lawsuit worthwhile. If that happens, you can use your uninsured motorist coverage and go through your own insurance company to recover damages for injuries and other losses. As a motorcycle rider, you should insure yourself with uninsured motorist coverage in an amount as large as you can afford. Many motorcycle crashes are serious and often available insurance from an at-fault driver is insuffiicient to pay for the losses, uninsured motorist coverage can make up the difference.
How an Attorney Can Help Your Case
If you were hurt in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident, there's far too much at stake to go it alone. You need fierce legal advocates to fight for your rights. Here are just a few of the things our highly skilled attorneys can do for crash victims:
- Investigate the crash
- Gather essential evidence, such as surveillance footage that could provide information about the hit-and-run driver
- Handle communication with insurance companies and other attorneys
- Interview witnesses
- Arrange for testimony from accident reconstructionists, medical professionals, life care planners, and other experts
- Review your medical bills and other expenses to assess economic damages
- Seek damages for non-economic losses such as pain and suffering, scarring and disfigurement; and permanent disability
- And much more
Whether you're pursuing a recovery through your own insurance company or need help holding an identified hit-and-run driver accountable, we can provide the skillful legal services and support needed to make the process go as smoothly as possible.
Talk to Us About Your Case
Hurt in a California motorcycle hit-and-run and need help exploring your legal rights and options? You've come to the right place. At the Inland Empire Law Group, our adept injury attorneys have helped many injury victims and clients reach their goals and collect the compensation they deserve. We may be able to do the same for you. Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss the details of your case. Call now, 909-481-0100.
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