Crucial steps after being involved in a Bicycle accident

Bicycling is becoming ever more popular in Los Angeles. The warm and dry climate of the city make it the perfect place for people to commute by bicycle. Cycling is also a great way to get one’s daily exercise. Going to and from work on a bicycle is much healthier than sitting in congestion for hours at a time each weekday.

The state of California has taken heed to the desire of its citizens to travel more by bicycle. The state has built infrastructure which makes this easier and it has passed new laws that protect bike riders. Not everyone is happy with the increase in bicycles on the road. There are motorists who drive aggressively and recklessly around bike riders. If you have been hit by such a driver, you should understand your rights and do what is necessary to protect them. A bicycle accident lawyer can help you.

What You Should Do After a Bicycle Accident

As a bicycle rider, you know the rules of the road. You know what you can and cannot do in relation to motor vehicles. This will not always prevent an accident. And if you are hit by such a vehicle, the shock of it may leave you confused for a little while. Once you have regained your bearings, you should do the following:

1. Remain where you are

You must remain at the accident scene. It is unlawful to do otherwise. The police who respond to the accident must take your statement before they release you.

2. Check your body

Very few bicycle riders walk away unharmed form a collision with a motor vehicle. In addition to the scrapes and bruises that will inevitably result from an accident, you should check yourself manually for bleeding and broken bones.

3. Call emergency services

If you have your cell phone with you, call 911. If you are too hurt to speak to the operator, pass your phone to a bystander who may have come to help you.

4. Get information

You may be too badly injured to get up. The person who hit you is more likely to come to where you have fallen. Get their name, contact number, and insurance details. You need not say anything about who caused the accident.

5. Speak to witnesses

Speak to as many witnesses of the accident as you can. Certain individuals will be desperate to tell you what they saw. Make sure you speak to them first. Get their names and phone numbers before you go.

6. Go to the hospital

Bicycles offer no protection against impact. If you have been hit by a car while on your bicycle, you will need to go to the emergency room. Even if your injuries are only superficial, you will need to see a physician.

7. Get documents

Do not leave the hospital without a copy of all documentation related to your medical examination and course of treatment.

8. Call a lawyer

You must then call a good bicycle accident lawyer. A lawyer can provide you with the insight and guidance needed to get you the money you deserve.

Why You Need a Bicycle Accident Lawyer

If it is established that the motor vehicle driver caused the accident, then their insurance company will need to pay. The first priority of any insurance company is to avoid paying out money. And if they cannot meet this goal, then they will strive to pay as little as possible. The driver’s insurance company will offer you a low-dollar initial settlement. If they attempt to contact you to offer the money, you should refer them to your attorney. Your lawyer should handle all such communications and negotiation. That is the easiest way to minimize confusion and misunderstanding—the kind of misunderstanding that can undermine your case.

If your injuries are light, your lawyer might encourage you to take the money. They will only do so if it is enough to pay your medical bills and compensate you for any lost wages. If the accident was serious, if it led to prolonged hospitalization, then your lawyer will demand that the insurance company pay a heftier sum. If they refuse, then you will need to sue them.

The Consequences of a Serious Accident

If the collision with the motor vehicle knocked you unconscious or led to broken bones, internal bleeding, and other grievous injuries, then you will need to undergo serious medical treatment. This will might put you in the hospital for months; all the while you will be unable to earn money. If the accident leaves you with a permanent disability, you will need to invest in in-home care and assistance devices to help you adjust to your new life.

Such a sudden shift in your life situation should not be borne alone. The person whose recklessness caused it should be made to bear some of the burden.

What Your Personal Injury Lawyer Will Do

A bicycle accident lawyer Los Angeles has the expertise and insight to get you the compensation you deserve. Your personal injury lawyer will need to prove that the motor vehicle driver who hit you acted in a reckless and negligent fashion, that you are owed money for damages, and that their insurance company must pay you a specific amount of money as restitution for all that you have suffered.

Your bicycle accident lawyer Los Angeles will use their private investigators to look into the background of the driver. They will assess their sobriety and state of mind just before the accident. They will also investigate the driving record of the person who hit you. Your investigative team will also re-interview the witnesses of the accident. There may be a few people who the cops failed to interview. Your team will get to them and find out if they have information that can shed additional light on the case.

Your lawyer will also bring in accident reconstruction experts and medical professionals. The latter can attest to the severity of your injuries and the debilitating effect they have had on your health and well-being.