What to Expect After a Bicycle Accident

In 2018, 857 bicyclists died as a result of traffic crashes, and many more people were injured. If you or a loved one were injured as a result of a bicycle accident with an automobile, you may be dealing with intense injuries and wondering what you should do. Here is an overview of what to expect after a bicycle accident.

Handle Injuries

When a vehicle collides with a bicycle, the cyclist may experience a range of injuries including road rash, joint dislocation, broken bones, concussions, spinal cord injuries, or traumatic brain injuries. After a bicycle accident, always seek medical help. 

Medical can safeguard your health, and additionally, seeing a doctor helps you establish a connection between the accident and your injuries. If you need to bring a claim against the driver, this link can be essential.

Create Records 

Make sure to keep records after you see the doctor. Also, take notes about the pain you experience and maintain receipts of any costs you incur due to the bicycle accident. If possible, try to start creating records at the scene of the accident. Take photos of your bicycle as well as the colliding vehicle, and get contact info from witnesses. 

Identify Responsibility

In many cases, the vehicle driver causes bicycle accidents. When drivers get behind the wheel of a car or truck, they assume an obligation to keep other users of the road as reasonably safe as possible. When drivers break this obligation by speeding, driving while intoxicated or distracted, or breaking other rules of the road, they are acting negligently. 

When someone's negligence causes your injuries, they may be liable for damages related to your injuries. Often, the liable party is the driver of the vehicle, but if they are driving a commercial vehicle or on the clock for work, their employer may be liable. In that same vein, if a ridesharing driver hits your bicycle, the driver or the company may be liable. 

Understand Damages

In a legal sense, damages refer to the direct and indirect economic losses you suffered as a result of your bicycle accident. Generally, this includes medical bills, lost wages due to inability to work, expenses for traveling for medical care, paying for home care, and the cost of replacing your bicycle if damaged.

However, damages can also include the long-term impact on your wages. For instance, if your injury prevents you from working, you need to take future lost wages into account. Similarly, if you lose a parent or spouse in a bicycle accident, your damages may include the loss of their future earnings and support. 

In some cases, you may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering. This is especially true for bicyclists because they are in such a vulnerable position, and their injuries may be even more severe than someone riding in a vehicle. While no one can easily put a number on pain, attorneys have ways to estimate the value of pain, and they can negotiate with the driver's insurance company to ensure you are treated fairly.

Claim Injuries

Typically, the driver's liability insurance pays for your injuries. You can make a claim to the insurance company directly, but you need to remember that insurance companies lose money by paying claims. Their best interest is usually to reduce claims as low as possible. 

If the driver is uninsured, you may be able to make a claim against your own coverage. Often, the personal injury portion of your own car insurance covers injuries you sustain while cycling or walking. 

Consult an Attorney

If you suffered serious injuries or lost a loved one in a bicycle accident, an attorney can help you assess your damages, identify liable parties, and negotiate with insurance companies. Most importantly, they can safeguard your rights and ensure that you get the appropriate amount of compensation after your accident. 

To get help after a bicycle accident, contact Walsh & Associates, PC. We give our clients the individual attention they need and deserve after an accident.