Getting into any kind of accident on the road is a terrible experience for any survivors. Driving is fun and everything, but when there is a crash because of some reckless driver’s behavior, things get ugly. It is even worse if you happen to be riding a bicycle because the chances of sustaining serious injuries are much higher. For some reason, car drivers seem to ignore bicyclists on the road, too. If you happen to get into a bike crash, you need to do certain things to ensure that you are well and that you will be compensated.
Here’s what you need to do.
Make Sure You Are Not Seriously Injured
The first thing that you have to do is to make sure you haven’t sustained any life-threatening injuries. Call the proper authorities for help, and sit by the road waiting for the police and ambulance to arrive. Either way, you are going to have to check yourself into a hospital to ensure that there aren't any internal injuries or anything like that.
Gather Evidence
Before leaving the crime scene, it is always a good idea to gather as much evidence as you can, because it will definitely help you with insurance claims later on. Take photos of everything –– the bicycle and car, the accident scene, and even your injuries. Make sure to also take witnesses’ contact information in case you need any of them to testify later on. Last but not least, get a copy of the accident report that the police officer writes on the scene; it proves quite useful in the case.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
Your next step after seeking medical attention and collecting evidence should be calling a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Insurance claims if you get injured in a bicycle accident can be complicated and intense, and the last thing you want is handling one on your own. So, you must reach out to a personal injury attorney at once and ask them for a consultation. They would handle the case for you, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if it comes to that.
Look after yourself
Leaving the case to your personal injury lawyer to handle, you need to start focusing on your personal wellbeing and recovery. Bicycle accidents can be devastating both physically and emotionally. So, take a step back and seek medical attention and work on your physical recovery. It is also advisable to consult with a mental health expert, so you could overcome the crash and get back on your bike soon.
Take things slowly after a bike crash. You don’t want to rush any aspects of the process. The two most important things are getting medical help and enlisting the help of experienced attorneys so you could be compensated for your physical and emotional suffering. If someone’s negligence led to the crash, then you deserve financial compensation for medical bills and lost wages, not to mention suffering, and with the right lawyers, you could get it.
