When people ride their bikes on or near the road, they deserve to feel safe and protected. Unfortunately, many people get hit by cars while riding their bikes or are involved in some other sort of bike accident. These accidents can result in severe injuries and even death. This is why it’s so important for bicyclists to follow these simple steps after being involved in a bike accident.
Seek medical attention
If a bicyclist is hit by a car or crashes into something, there’s a pretty good chance they’re going to have some sort of injury. So even if the bicyclists feel fine, they should receive medical attention anyway. Many injuries may not show up right away or could be internal, so it’s important to have a medical professional take a look. Common injuries after a bike accident can include broken bones, cuts and scrapes, concussions, or even whiplash. And if bicyclists get medical attention, it’s crucial for them to keep track of documents for treatments and medical records.
Collect information
After checking for severe injuries and getting off of the road, it’s important for the bicyclist to gather information from the driver and anyone else involved. Even if the damages were minimal, no one has any obvious injuries, there’s the chance that injuries can develop later on. If this occurs, the bicyclist will need the driver’s information for an insurance claim. Information that should be collected could include the driver’s license number, license plate, contact information, and insurance information. And if any other people were witnesses, collecting their contact information would be a good idea as well.
File an accident report
For any type of accident, it’s always best to file an accident report with the police. When the police officers arrive, both the driver and the bicyclist should give statements to document their side of the story. And, bicyclists should report any and all damage and injuries to the police, no matter how small.
Gather evidence
Bicyclists should gather as much evidence as possible before leaving the scene. This can include taking notes about the weather, road conditions, traffic, what time the accident occurred, and what exactly happened. Furthermore, taking pictures of the surrounding area as well as damages to the bike or vehicle is important, too. Gathering this evidence will be important for both insurance claims and any potential personal injury claims down the line.
Contact an attorney
Perhaps one of the most important steps bicyclists need to take after an accident is contacting an attorney. Accidents that involve motor vehicles and bicycles can turn into complex legal situations. Fortunately, contacting a personal injury attorney in Albuquerque, like Ben Davis or Zackeree Kelin, can help bicyclists navigate the complexity of a personal injury case. Attorneys have the knowledge and experience needed to give suggestions on whether or not to file a personal injury claim, make negotiations with insurance companies, or help to gather the evidence and records needed to file a claim. To have the best chance possible at receiving fair compensation for injuries or damages, bicyclists should always work with an attorney.
Being involved in an accident while on a bicycle can be scary and overwhelming, making it difficult to figure out what to do next. But if bicyclists take the time to take these few steps, they can prioritize their well-being and can gather what they need for a personal injury case down the line. And working with an attorney can be beneficial to help bicyclists determine which route to take after the accident.
