What to do After Being in a Bicycle Accident

If you ride your bicycle with any frequency, you understand that there are inherent risks involved. Since you are riding on the side of the road, there are cars that are much larger than you driving at faster speeds than you. These cars also are driving past you very close to you. Many people don’t think to look for bicycles when they make turns or pull out of driveways.

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Unfortunately, all of this adds up to a scenario that requires a bicyclist to use all their senses to stay safe – and that is sometimes not enough. If you find yourself having been in an accident while riding your bike, be sure to follow these steps.

Assess the Damage

Are you injured? If so, how bad are you injured? If you have been hit by a car, chances are that you are injured in some way or another. Even if you don’t feel anything right away, there are symptoms that might show up hours or days later. Take every precaution necessary and don’t be shy about calling an ambulance. Even if it costs you more money, it’s better to be safe and make sure nothing is seriously damaged.

Find Witnesses

If you are feeling ok, see if anyone saw the accident and if they are available to talk to. Find them and get their contact information first before you talk to the driver of the car. Witnesses are vital to determining what happened and why a driver hit you.

Take Pictures and Video

If you have your phone on you, take pictures of the scene and the accident. Try to show where you were on the road and where the car came from that hit you. Also try to show where you, your bike, and the car ended up after the accident occurred. If you have video capabilities, shoot a short video panning across the intersection.

Talk to the Driver of the Car

Once you have found witnesses and taken a few photos, talk to the driver of the car that hit you. Get their insurance and driver’s license information – take pictures of them if you need to. Don’t admit to anything, just get their information and see what they say about what happened.

Call an Attorney

Even if you think you are fine and don’t need help, it’s always a good idea to talk to a personal injury attorney. Explain what happened, how you are feeling and what your ideal goal or outcome is for the accident. From there, an attorney can explain your options and let you know some good next steps. Most importantly, they can tell you if you need an attorney or not.

 

If you have been in a bicycle accident and have questions, please give us a call at 949-496-7000. It’s always free to ask questions and we can help you determine what options you have.