Motorcycle Accident Evidence Checklist
A motorcycle collision record needs more than a photo of the damaged bike. Map where both vehicles traveled, what the road and sightlines were like, and which original files or objects still exist. Helmet use and lane splitting may matter, but neither answers the full fault or injury question by itself.
Hurt Advice editorial guide. Source review: . This guide does not state that the attorney authored, reviewed or approved it. Visit the profile for public licensing and background records.
Review the attorney’s public background, then confirm experience and availability directly.
Raffi Naljian
Founder, Civil Litigation, Personal Injury & Criminal Defense Attorney
Raffi Garabed Naljian is the founder of Naljian Law Offices and an active California attorney under State Bar #238919. A Los Angeles Times profile says he founded the firm in 2008 after beginning his legal career in 1997, and the State Bar lists personal injury, litigation, criminal law, and business law among his self-reported practice areas.
View Raffi Naljian's full verified profilePrimary identity record
Learn more about Raffi Naljian
This is a focused supporting page. Use Raffi Naljian's full sourced attorney profile as the primary identity record for biography, role, languages, office information, and public-record links. Review that profile alongside the issue-specific preparation and public sources below.
The State Bar record lists Raffi Garabed Naljian as an active California attorney, State Bar #238919. Hurt Advice is a separate referral and legal information service, not the attorney's law firm.
How to Evaluate Attorney Fit for This Issue
Use this guide to identify the missing observation or record before discussing a claim. A lawyer can assess which facts are disputed, who controls the motorcycle or road evidence, and whether a specialist inspection is justified. The linked attorney profile is public background, not an assertion that the attorney prepared this guide or accepts this matter.
Consultation worksheet
Motorcycle collision evidence map
For each row, write the custodian, what was personally observed, the question the record may answer and the gap if it is unavailable. Do not enter private case details into this page.
There is no submit or save action. Copy your notes before leaving this page.
Who holds the bike, helmet and camera originals? What contact, protection or damage is visible? What changed before storage or repair?
Which witness or lawful camera view saw both vehicles before impact? Where was the observer, and is the timestamp reliable?
Who controls road records or nearby cameras? Which lane markings, surface or sightline facts matter? Are later photos being confused with collision conditions?
Which agency responded, and is there a report or diagram number? What does the report actually record versus infer?
Which alleged speed, lane change or visibility fact has no independent source yet, and who could lawfully clarify it?
Sources for this guide
- California Vehicle Code section 21658.1
Defines lane splitting; the definition alone does not determine fault in a particular crash.
- CHP: California Motorcyclist Safety
Official context for lane-splitting safety and the relevance of speed difference, surrounding traffic and conditions.
- California Vehicle Code section 27803
California helmet requirement; actual helmet condition and injury questions are separate from the statutory requirement.
- California Highway Patrol: Request a crash report
Describes how an eligible party may request a CHP report when CHP investigated; a report should not be assumed to exist for every incident.
- California DMV: Report of Traffic Accident (SR-1)
Current DMV instructions identify the conditions for an SR-1, the separate 10-day filing duty and information needed; a police or insurer report does not replace it.
What to Do Next
- 1From a safe location, save original scene, vehicle and helmet-camera files with their dates; note which views show the lane positions before impact rather than only the aftermath.
- 2Keep the motorcycle, helmet and other riding gear in their post-collision condition when safe. Photograph identifying marks and record who has custody before repair, disposal or inspection.
- 3Identify the investigating agency, report number, witnesses and any nearby camera operator; ask each record holder whether relevant material exists and how to request preservation.
- 4Separate observed facts, another person’s account and your own reconstruction in a short collision timeline.
Evidence Checklist
- Original helmet or dash-camera files, with device time and any clock-offset note
- Motorcycle, helmet and gear photos; VIN, repair estimate and custody or storage details
- Lane markings, road-surface and visibility photos taken lawfully and without re-entering traffic
- Witness contacts and the CHP or local police report number, if an agency investigated
Keep your unanswered questions handy when comparing the attorney’s public profile with your needs.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Treating lane splitting as automatic proof of legal or illegal riding
- Discarding damaged gear or replacing a vehicle part before noting its condition and custodian
- Describing a later scene photo as though it shows the traffic positions at impact
How the Process Typically Works
Preserve what you hold
Keep original media, gear and motorcycle condition information, documenting any safety-related movement or change.
Map outside holders
List witnesses, camera operators and the responding agency with the exact time, location and record sought.
Test the account
Compare lane positions, speed descriptions, road conditions and injuries with the records; mark unresolved points rather than guessing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does lane splitting decide fault?
No. California law defines lane splitting, and CHP gives safety guidance, but a collision still requires the actual positions, speed difference, traffic and road conditions to be examined.
Should damaged gear be kept?
When safe, photograph and retain it with a note of who has it and any changes. The gear may help document condition or impact, but it does not by itself establish fault or injury severity.
What if no officer investigated?
Mark the report as unavailable and retain the scene, vehicle, witness and insurance records you do have. Do not describe a report as missing until the relevant agency has been checked.
Use the attorney’s public background as a starting point for a direct conversation about fit.
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Important Disclosures
Attorney Advertising. Hurt Advice is a lawyer-referral and legal-information service, not a law firm. This website provides general information, not legal advice. Viewing a page or submitting a form does not create an attorney-client relationship. Independent participating attorneys decide whether to accept a matter, and representation begins only under a separate written agreement. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome; results depend on the facts and circumstances of each matter.