As a bicyclist, you should take every precaution to avoid accidents. Luckily, bicycle accidents do not always involve cars or other vehicles. But when they do, it can be scary. If you are involved in such an accident, what you do immediately following the accident may have an impact on how you recover from your injuries. That’s why we’ve put together a simple guide explaining what you should do if you are ever involved in a bicycle accident.
- Call for Medical Assistance – First and foremost, make sure you do everything necessary to get your injuries treated quickly and adequately.
- Wait for the Police to Arrive – It is important to wait for police assistance. Even in a seemingly minor accident, law enforcement can file a police report. If you discover an injury or damage later, this could be necessary to determine who is at fault.
- Don’t Negotiate Fault – Let the police or others handle this aspect of the accident. Police will document important facts in a police report. Even if the driver accepts blame initially, they may deny it later.
- Tell Your Story – Make sure your side of the story is reported in the police report. Report all injuries and don’t leave out any details. If the officer won’t include your statement, you may be able to be amend it later.
- Gather Contact Information – Collect contact information from the driver that includes his or her name, phone number, address, driver’s license number and insurance information. Also, if there are witnesses, note those names and phone numbers as well. If you can’t take care of this step yourself, see if a bystander will assist.
- Document Everything – As soon as you can, write down everything you remember about the accident. What was the road like? How about traffic? Were there weather issues? Don’t leave out any detail, no matter how small.
- Document Injuries – Have your injuries documented. By receiving medical treatment, you will have documentation. In addition, take photographs, if possible.
- Preserve Evidence – Leave your bike, clothing, and equipment in the same condition as it was after the accident. This could be valuable evidence if the case goes to trial.
- Don’t Talk to Insurance Companies – The insurance company may try to contact you to work out a settlement. Don’t discuss the case with the insurer. They do not have your best interest at heart. You do not want to give away any information that could hurt your case.
As you can see, there are a lot of things to think about if you’re involved in a bicycle accident. The best thing you can do is to work with a professional Vancouver bike accident attorney to make sure you get the assistance you deserve. If you’ve been involved in a bicycle accident, reach out to us today. We look forward to helping you get the settlement you deserve.
