What to Consider After a Bicycle Collision

Any type of accident is scary, but an accident involving a car and a bicycle can be especially dangerous. No matter how safe a cyclist tries to be, an accident can still occur through no fault of their own. After all, there are far more cars on the road than there are bicycles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 846 cyclists involved in fatal traffic accidents in 2019. You can increase your odds of avoiding a fatal accident by wearing a helmet and biking in rural areas, but the fact remains that bicycling near cars can potentially be dangerous.

If you do ever find yourself in an accident with a car while cycling, it’s important to know what to do in the immediate aftermath. It can be a hectic and stressful situation to be in, which is why you should be informed about these steps to take. Once you’ve brushed yourself off to make sure you don’t need any immediate medical attention, move off to the side of the road and consider taking the following steps:

Wait for the Police to Arrive

One of the biggest mistakes you could make would be to leave the scene of the accident without having a police report filed. You and the motorist are required to remain at the scene of the accident if there have been any injuries or damage to your property, such as your bike. Even if you think you might be ok, still call the police and wait for them to arrive and file a report because you might not realize you have an injury until after the fact. If you leave the scene without getting a report filed, your chances of tracking down the motorist are slim to none.

Get Your Side of the Story in the Report

It’s not uncommon for a police officer to focus on the motorist when creating their accident report. However, your version of events is just as important. Do everything you can to make sure the officer has recorded your side of the story in the accident report, as well as reporting any injuries, no matter how minor they may seem. Those minor injuries could become major injuries down the road, which is why it’s so important to have them recorded in the original accident report.

Obtain Contact Information

If possible, don’t forget to ask for the contact information of the motorist and any witnesses. Ask for their name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, license plate number, car make, and insurance information. Don’t just assume that all this information will be included in the police report, because it might not be. If you’re unable to ask for this information for any reason, ask a witness or bystander to obtain the contact information for you instead.

Safeguard the Evidence

It’s a good idea to keep everything involved in the accident itself in the same condition. Take photos of any damaged property or injuries you may have as soon as possible. Don’t try to fix your bike or any other damaged personal items, as that may cause problems down the line when trying to prove your side of the story. 

After 911, Call 411

Once the dust has settled and the police report has been made, if you don’t have any injuries that require immediate attention, call 1-800-411-PAIN. Any kind of accident of this nature is an extremely complicated legal issue. You’ll want to be working with someone who has a deep understanding of these types of disputes. A personal injury attorney will do most of the heavy lifting in dealing with the situation.

Hopefully, you never find yourself in a bicycle accident, but if you do, you’ll want to have someone on your side who has handled this type of case before. If you or someone you know has been the victim of a careless or reckless driver and has been injured, call 1-800-411-PAIN and get the help you need! We will refer you to the attorneys that will fight to get you the compensation you deserve and the medical attention you need. If you have been hurt in an accident, call 1-800-411-PAIN, and we will guide you in finding you the best medical and legal professionals.