Published on behalf of The complexity of a motorcycle accident case often depends on whether liability of the other party is clear or not. Since motorcycle accidents often result in very serious injuries, proving liability is of utmost importance, especially since insurance companies will look for any reason to deny or delay paying a claim. Therefore, to aid in proving liability, a bike rider who is in a motorcycle accident due to another driver’s negligence should be sure to obtain witness information, including name and telephone number.
The Importance of Eyewitnesses in a Pennsylvania Motorcycle Accident Case
When any accident occurs, whether it involves a motorcycle or not, witnesses and bystanders often render aid, or at the very least, call 911. Such witnesses and bystanders may not wait around for police to arrive. By the time the police get around to interviewing people, an hour or more may have lapsed. This may result in some witnesses and bystanders leaving without ever being interviewed by police. In contentious motorcycle accident cases where liability is at issue, such witnesses can be very helpful.
In many cases, 911 dispatch operators keep notes of the call, such as name and cell phone number of the 911 caller. In some cases, obtaining the 911 call information will be impossible. While some municipalities keep such information for a year or more, large cities like Philadelphia do not retain 911 call log information for more than 30 days. Read more about steps to take after you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident in Pennsylvania.
Regardless of whether a rider is injured or not, getting witness information may be crucial. For injured riders, proving liability may mean obtaining a full financial recovery from the other driver’s insurance company. Click here to read more about financial recovery in a Pennsylvania motorcycle accident case. For a rider who is uninjured, proving liability may mean having bike repairs paid for in a timely fashion. Eyewitnesses can literally make or break a case.
For more information, contact our Pennsylvania motorcycle accident lawyers.
More Pennsylvania Motorcycle Accident Legal Articles:
- What to Expect in a Pennsylvania Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit
- Investigating Pennsylvania Motorcycle Accident Cases for Liability Beyond the Other Driver
- Pennsylvania Motorcycle Accident Law – Who Pays for Medical Bills?
Pennsylvania Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Schwartz & Blackman handles motorcycle accident cases in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey area:
- PA: Berks County, Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, Philadelphia County, Allentown, Lehigh Valley, Norristown, Philadelphia
- NJ: Atlantic County, Burlington County, Camden County, Gloucester County, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Camden, Cherry Hill, New Jersey shore cities
*This website does not provide legal advice. Every case is unique and it is important to get a qualified, expert legal opinion prior to making any decisions about your case. See the full disclaimer at the bottom of this page.
October 15, 2012