Riding a bike is one of life’s pleasures, providing both mental and physical benefits to the body. However, that doesn’t mean bike riding comes without a sense of risk. If you’re biking in a public place, accidents can and do occur.
If you’ve been in a bicycle accident, what should you do? Getting into an accident involving another bicyclist or driver can be complicated – especially if serious injury or damage has occurred.
The actions you take immediately after this kind of incident can be quite important to your future stability. What do you need to know about which steps to take after an accident? Read on, and we’ll walk you through what you need to know.
Obtain Contact Information and Evidence
The most important thing you can leave the scene of a bicycle accident with is the contact information of the opposing person involved in the accident.
You should not negotiate with or say anything definitive to the other individual while still at the scene of the accident – anything you say can be used against you later in a court of law.
It’s also smart to get the contact information of anyone who was a witness to the accident. The third-party perspective of these individuals can be a huge help when building a case.
If these individuals agree to be recorded, you can get their witness testimony at the scene while their memories are still fresh.
Make sure to get photos and videos of the accident if you can, or evidence of the damage and injuries. All of this will be helpful in building your case later.
Following the Bicycle Accident
Whether you believe you are seriously injured or not, you’ll want to take the time to go and visit a medical professional. If you are to obtain any compensation for your injuries, you’ll need a doctor’s report as soon after the accident as possible.
Waiting to see the doctor too long can weaken the credibility of your case, so you’ll want to do this as soon as possible. With this evidence collected, you’ll also likely want to obtain the help of a bicycle accident attorney.
A bicycle accident lawyer will have handled cases like your own dozens and dozens of times in the past. They will know how best to fight for you and get the compensation that you deserve.
While it may be possible to handle your case on your own, having the experienced guiding hand of a legal professional can make a huge difference in how much you’ll be able to take home at the end of the day.
Recovering After Bicycle Accidents
A bicycle accident can be unexpected, frightening, and damaging – but they happen all of the time. If you’re a frequent biker, it’s important to take the time to understand what to do when this kind of incident occurs. It’s a matter of bicycle safety.
Need more immediate help with your case? Have more questions? Give us a call anytime for assistance.