Even though most bicycle accidents aren’t caused by cars, it’s terrifying when bikers collide with cars. But the actions you take after an accident can affect the amount of compensation you receive for your injuries and bicycle damage. If you’re a regular bicycle rider, here are a few guidelines to follow after a bike accident with a car.
Wait for the police to arrive
One thing to keep in mind if you ever get involved in a bicycle accident is that you have to wait for the police to arrive at the scene. Some cyclists aren’t aware they’ve been injured until several hours later. And sometimes, injuries that initially seem to be minor turn out to be serious and lead to long-term issues. You may never be able to identify the driver once you’ve left the accident scene.
Get Your Version of Events into the Accident Report
When an officer of the law takes a statement from a motorist, they may or may not bother to speak with the cyclist. Make every effort to have your side of the story included in the police report. Also, disclose all of your injuries, no matter how minor they are.
You should also avoid negotiating with the driver. So often, drivers tend to apologize and accept blame at first, only to deny their negligence later or even deny being present at the accident.
So, try as much as you can to resist accepting their apology. Instead, wait for the police to arrive so that everything that occurred can be documented in the police report.
Get the vehicle driver’s information
You should also get the vehicle driver’s name and address and their phone number, driver’s license number, car license number, and insurance information next. Finally, it would be best if you tried to obtain the names and contact information of anyone who witnessed the accident.
It would help if you didn’t assume that the police report will contain all of this information; it might not. If you are injured and unable to obtain this information, you can have a bystander assist you.
Document how it all happened
Make mental notes about the accident, if possible: what happened, how it happened, where it happened, when it happened, and the road, traffic, and weather conditions. Then, write down everything you have learned as soon as possible.
Keep the Evidence
One thing you shouldn’t do after a bike accident is to take your bike to the repair shop immediately. Instead, it would help if you left your bike and anything that might have been damaged due to the accident.
Do not attempt to repair or have anything inspected. Do not attempt to wash your clothes. You shouldn’t send your bike, helmet, or any other equipment to anyone other than your lawyer. Instead, take pictures of your broken equipment.
Consider a Bicycle Accident Lawyer
The average bike and car accident usually involves complex legal issues. Therefore, you may want to consult a personal injury attorney who understands bicycling or has handled bike accident cases.
Whether you had a slight or significant injury in a bicycle accident, you deserve to have a personal injury lawyer on your side. It will be unjust to you if you do not receive compensation for your injuries.
Fortunately, with an experienced bicycle accident attorney on your side, such as those at Perenich Law Injury Attorneys, you won’t have to worry about waging this legal battle on your own. Visit their website for more information.
