HIT BY A CAR ON YOUR BIKE. NOW WHAT?
Bicycle accidents occur more regularly than you might think. In the State of Florida it often involves being hit by a car, truck or some other vehicle. In fact, the State of Florida has led the country in the past for fatal accidents involving a cyclist.
It is definitely not what you had in mind when getting on your bike, but it happens all too often. It is not supposed to be planned, could have probably been prevented and was not even your fault, but it happened. What now?
Getting the next few steps right are crucial and may have a big impact on your ability to get the health care you need and the amount you are able to recover from the accident and injuries you’ve suffered.
WAIT FOR THE POLICE
Many drivers will be very quick to apologize and even downplay the event to the point where calling the police to make a report would seem over-the-top. There are a couple of things to remember here. If contacted later, the apologetic driver can often change their story – even to the point of denying it ever happened. You must also keep your injuries in mind. It is common for the body to suffer an impact during an accident and feel minimal discomfort shortly after the event, only to wake up the next day to a much more severe type of injury. This pain can be delayed due to the type of injury or even the amount of adrenaline running through the body when the accident occurred.
GIVE YOUR SIDE OF THE STORY
Many Florida cyclists who are involved in an accident with a car end up in a hospital or worse. If you are lucky enough to be present after being hit by a car, make sure you give your side of the story. Don’t leave any details out about how the accident happened, road conditions, time of day and injuries. Sometimes the officer may even give a ticket to the driver – this will help greatly when dealing with the driver’s insurance company.
TAKE NOTES AND INFORMATION
Even though there is a police report, it does not hurt to take your own notes of the accident. This includes taking the information of eyewitnesses if possible. You need to also document your injuries. Taking photos and seeking medical attention prove that there were in fact injuries.
PRESERVE YOUR DAMAGED PROPERTY – IT’S EVIDENCE NOW
The bike, the clothing and anything else that was damaged or bloodied. Don’t clean, wash or try to repair it. It is evidence now. Also take photos of your damaged equipment.
THIS IS NO TIME TO BE SOCIAL
Stay off of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or any other Social Network about what happened. This can and will be used against you. Some things are worth sharing. This is not one of them.
Contact an Attorney that understands the unique approach needed for a Bicycle Injury Case.
The Bicycle Accident Attorneys at Madalon Law know how to handle these types of cases and are ready to fight for you. Madalon Law handles bicycle accident cases in Broward, Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, Orange, Hillsborough, Pinellas and all other Florida Counties. There will be no attorney fees unless we are able to recover compensation for your bicycle accident and bicycle injuries. Contact us now to get answers.