When we talk about the declining road safety, we mostly discuss the increasing number of automobile accidents, and the internet is flooded with things to do in case of being in a car accident. But, with the wave of environmental awareness, an increasing number of people have started to use bicycles as the preferred mode of transportation. During the last few months, people have become even more health-conscious because of the prevalent coronavirus pandemic.
As a result, there has been a boom in the bicycle industry as cycling is often linked with healthier immunity. Therefore, more bicycles can be observed roaming on the roads, and it warrants a broader discussion about bicycle safety as well. We have discussed here five things you must do especially if you are at the receiving end of a bicycle accident, and fortunately, there are competent attorneys like at Ventura bicycle wreck law firm to help you out.
- Call 911:
The first thing you must do after the accident is call 911 so that they can immediately take you to the hospital. If you are unable to make the call, ask the pedestrians to make the call for you so that you can get timely medical care. Moreover, you can also call a friend or relative who can take you to the hospital because they will also take care of all the hospital formalities.
- Inform authorities:
You must also inform the police immediately so that they can reach the accident scene before you have to be taken to the hospital. When they arrive at the scene, your presence is vital because your statement will be recorded right at the spot. Moreover, the accident scene will be thoroughly examined, and an accident report will be generated. It will greatly help you in establishing liability against the vehicle’s owner who rammed you on the road.
- Collect evidence:
You must look to collect evidence right at the accident scene, but only if your condition allows you to do so. But, you can ask a friend or even a pedestrian to take some pictures of your injuries, your bicycle, and the overall accident scene. These pieces of evidence will help you tremendously in consolidating your claim and will go a long way in ensuring that you get your due compensation. Moreover, you can also get the names and contact numbers of the witnesses because their testimonies will also help in building your case.
- Get a detailed medical evaluation:
You must always get a thorough medical examination after an accident even if you feel that there are no evident injuries. One thing that needs to be understood that injuries can also be internal which can have devastating effects if left untreated. Moreover, the doctor’s report and other medical documents are vital pieces of evidence that must be served in court to validate your claim.
- Never talk to the insurer without your lawyer:
After the accident, you will be approached by a representative from the insurance company of the perpetrator, and he will strive to make you say things that can be used against you in open court. Therefore, you must always hire a lawyer while filing for a personal injury lawsuit because they will navigate you through all those legal mines, and will make sure that you get your deserved compensation.
