What to Do If You Get In A Biking Accident
You obviously want to avoid accidents and injuries from happening – but if the worst were to occur, it’s good to have a plan in place. It’s tricky to navigate the police, insurance, legalities, and more; here are the steps for you to follow that will make it less intimidating!
1. Stay Calm and Call for Help
Don’t leave the scene of the accident after talking with the driver – it is very important that you call the police and wait for them to arrive at the scene where the accident occurred. Even if you don’t think you were injured, the police will file an accident report. Sometimes because of the adrenaline that kicks in when your body goes through an experience like this, you may not even feel hurt or know the extent of your injuries on the scene. Having the police document the accident will be important later in getting any injuries or damaged property covered by your insurance. If you do not feel safe calling the police, make as many notes as you can about what happened and call for medical help.
2. Take Care of Yourself
Your health is most important – so, in the event of a bike accident, you need to take care of yourself. You don’t have to wait until the police arrive before seeking medical assistance. You need to make sure that you are okay. Often, it can be difficult to tell in the first moments if you have any injuries. Move slowly and get medical assistance if you can. Even if your injuries are minor, you should seek immediate medical assistance. Any medical report they make will document the extent of your injuries.
3. Obtain Information from Drivers and Witnesses
If you can, try to obtain the contact information from the driver – including their name, address, driver’s license number, phone number, license plate number and insurance information.
If possible, you may also want to get information from the witnesses – such as their names and their contact info. You should not assume that the police will add it to their report – because they may not. If you are injured and can’t do it by yourself, you may want to ask a bystander to do it for you.
4. Document the Accident
Make some mental notes of the accident: what exactly happened, what caused it, where and when it happened, along with some notes on the traffic, road, and weather conditions. As soon as you find yourself able to, write all of these down. The smallest detail might help you receive compensation for the accident from either insurance or legal help later.
Take as many pictures of your injuries as possible, as soon as you have the opportunity to. You may also want to start a journal containing your medical symptoms, doctor visits and add entries of your symptoms every few days.
5. Visit a Bike Shop
You don’t want to ride your bike again after an accident without having it looked over by a professional to make sure it’s in good riding condition. Visit your local bike shop and ask them to write you up an accident report, an official document that can be used to prove the damage to your bike. Then the mechanics can walk you through all the damage done to your bike and help you discuss next steps. They can make a plan to get your bike fixed up for you and ready to roll!
6. Seeking Legal Help
If you choose to seek an attorney, being compensated for your injuries can help you recover and restore your health and well-being so you can get back to enjoying cycling once again. Getting compensated after a bicycling accident can be very complex and stressful – and an attorney can help you navigate the legal process and help negotiate and represent you properly during a lawsuit.
If you or the driver has driver’s insurance of any kind, contact them and file a claim. Sometimes car insurance will cover injuries that occurred in a road even if you were not in a car at the time. Insurance can cover your medical and work loss fees and help you recover.
Hopefully, you will never go through this, but knowing ahead of time what to do can help you feel more prepared and confident when you are on the road!
Getting as much information and documentation in the moment as you can will help you immensely down the road, because we live in a legal and medical system that requires proof for compensation. Stay safe out there, and enjoy your riding!