Cycling is something that’s good for your health as well as your pocket, and why the majority of cyclists choose to use their bicycles as a medium of exercising or transport. However, cycling on a road that’s populated by much larger and heavier vehicles can be very dangerous. You’re essentially only relying on the mutual trust that exists between the pedestrians and the drivers. However, things can easily take an ugly turn when you crash into a car, or it crashes into you.
At this point, you will need to know how to tackle the crash and protect your rights while doing so. Most people are unaware of what their rights include or don’t include, which is why they usually end up making a few major mistakes. In this guide, we’re going to take a look at the 6 most important things you need to know about protecting your rights post-accident. So without further delay, let’s determine what you should do after a bicycle crash.
1. Call the Police
The very first thing that you must do once you’ve recovered from the immediate crash is to call the police. Calling the police is always something that should be initiated as soon as possible. While most people are afraid of calling the police, you need to understand that the police are meant to help you, not hurt you. The cops will record everything and create a record that will help you in the future if you or the other party wishes to take the incident to court.
2. Don’t Make Statements
People often make statements at the crash site without much thought, and this is a mistake that must be avoided at all costs. Everyone involved in the crash will be pumped with adrenaline immediately afterward, and that’s not a very good time to be making statements. Making any controversial statement can have long-term repercussions, and even the lawyers at https://adamsoncleveland.com/bicycle-accidents say that you should wait for your attorney to arrive before making any statements. Your attorney will handle the situation much better and make statements that won’t jeopardize your claim in any way.
3. Record Everything
The only assured defense that you have against any claims made by the other party is evidence. Therefore, try recording all the details about the accident, the crash site, the contact details of everyone involved, everyone’s injuries, and the damages by taking photographs or writing them down. It is absolutely imperative to your success when you want to claim in court.
4. Seek Medical Attention
A bicycle crash isn’t very different from other road accidents, and in many cases, it can be even worse. You need to immediately seek medical attention to identify any injuries you might’ve sustained. The doctors will help you identify if you’ve suffered from any physical trauma that can become serious in the future, and their medical records can be used as evidence, too.
5. Contact Your Insurance provider
After you’re done with all the urgent concerns, you need to inform your insurance agent about the accident so that they can take adequate action from their side. Most insurance providers will examine the accident scene, and the sooner you call them, the higher are your chances of being compensated fairly and promptly. Remember, insurance companies aren’t there to help you out, and they’ll try to save money by questioning your claims. So, it is very important to inform them as soon as possible so that your chances of being reimbursed expeditiously are increased.
6. Consult an Attorney
An accident attorney will always be more experienced than you in matters of law and order. Hiring a good lawyer can make things much easier as they’ll be able to help you with their expertise. You need to focus on your recovery after an accident. A good accident lawyer will usually take care of the legal formalities and represent you so that you can get some much-needed rest and recover from your injuries.
These are some of the most important steps you need to take immediately after your bicycle crash. There are a few more things that you can do if you desire, and this guide isn’t exhaustive by any means. However, the steps outlined here should be more than enough to help you deal with the matter in a fluid and trouble-free manner. Remember that the accident is a strenuous time and what’s most important is your recovery, so just focus on getting better while your attorney deals with all the other matters.
