Personal Injury Law: Check List

It is worthwhile for the client to understand a few legal terms and concepts which apply to all personal injury cases

Automobile/Motorcycle Accidents

Though accidents can occur virtually anywhere and under any circumstances, some of the more serious and costly accidents occur while people are involved in transportation-related activities. It should be stressed that tort litigation involving transportation-related activities can be extremely complicated. Retaining an inexperienced lawyer may result in a plaintiff losing a lawsuit or not receiving the recovery that he or she deserves. It is important that plaintiffs choose attorneys with appropriate levels of experience and familiarity with the subject matter of the lawsuit. Like any state, California has its share of serious automobile accidents. California requires its residents to carry minimum vehicle liability insurance for their vehicles.
A claim for an automobile or motorcycle collision in California requires proving fault. The amount of the damages to which you may be entitled, depends on the nature of your injury, the reasonable amount of your medical expenses taken together with any loss of earning or loss of earning capacity. There may be additional damages to which you are also entitled, which we would be happy to discuss with you.
If you are in an accident, particularly if someone is injured or there is a great deal of property damage, try to collect the following information from the other driver(s) involved in the accident:

Automobile/Motorcycle Accident Checklist (Most Important Items)

• Name and address
• License plate number
• Make, model, and year of car
• Driver's license number
• Make note if it appeared the driver had been drinking.
• Note and try to write down everything the other driver said.
• Names and addresses of passengers in other cars
• Try to find people in the vicinity who may have seen the accident and ask for their name and phone number.

Before moving any of the vehicle(s) involved in the accident, try to write down the following:

• Position of your vehicle
• Position of any other vehicles
• Location of any tire marks, vehicle parts, glass, and other debris caused by the accident that is in the vicinity
• Location of point of impact
• Road conditions
• Traffic conditions
• Weather conditions
• If you have a camera, take pictures of the site of the collisions, and the vehicles involved... It would be extremely beneficial to you to carry a disposable camera with a flash in your car at all times, so that if you are in an accident you can accurately document the incident.

After you move your vehicle write down the following:

• Date and time of accident
• Location of accident
• Speed of your car just before the accident
• Direction of your car and other cars)involved in the accident
• If either car was turning
• If the car turning have its turn signal on
• Were headlights turned on in both vehicles (if it is night)