by Greg Winkler

Created on: January 05, 2009   Last Updated: January 09, 2009

Each year over 80,000 motorcycle riders are injured in roadway accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Approximately 75% of these accidents involve collision with another vehicle, typically an automobile.

Accidents can occur for any number of reasons, including: Inattentive drivers; failure to notice the motorcycle; road conditions; roadway hazards; or distracted truckers. Accident scenes in motorcycle collisions tend to be disturbed very quickly, particularly where traffic is affected by the accident. When a scene is cleared too quickly, crucial vehicle location, witness, and scene information can be removed, relocated, or lost, placing the motorcyclist in a weakened position to make claims against negligent parties.

Because of the nature of motorcycle accidents, it is critical that accident information be collected quickly, at the scene if possible. If the motorcycle rider is not seriously hurt, and is able to secure the scene and collect information, he can gather valuable information that may help his attorney to document claims against negligent parties. Information that should be collected at the scene of a motorcycle accident includes:

IMMEDIATE INFORMATION

*Photos from the scene, including road conditions and other vehicles;

*Investigating officer business card or contact information;

*Accident Incident number;

*Witness contact information, including names, addresses, and phone numbers;

*License plate numbers and insurance information for all other vehicles involved in the accident;

*Notes from the scene (Examples: roadway condition, weather, debris in the road, open expansion joints, grates, sun glare, posted speed limits)

FOLLOWUP INFORMATION

Information that may be acquired later to further document the accident includes:

*Statements from witnesses;

*Truck "Black Box," or electronic data module;

*Electronic data modules from any cars involved (if available);

*Trucker logs (documenting driving time);

*Police report;

*Estimate of motorcycle damage repair cost;

*Estimate of other vehicle damage and repair cost.

WHAT NOT TO DO

*A victim of a motorcycle accident should not admit blame to the investigating officer, or otherwise claim some responsibility for the accident. He should simply state the objective facts of what happened.

*The victim should not discuss with accident witnesses, medical personnel, or even his friends his assessment of blame and potential outcomes of insurance or legal claims.

A motorcyclist involved in an accident

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