When you are involved in a cycling accident, it is important to understand your legal rights ¹as a victim. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, and it is important to speak with an attorney who can help you file a claim. There are several things you can do to protect your rights and maximize your chances of obtaining a favorable outcome in your case. Let’s explore those things and your best options.

Get Medical Attention Right Away

This is the most important thing you can do after a cycling accident². Your health and well-being should be your top priority. Go to the emergency room or your primary care physician as soon as possible to get checked out. Documenting your injuries and getting a professional opinion about their seriousness is important.

This will be helpful when it comes time to file a claim for damages, as explained by Chicago bicycle accident lawyers. This is also important because some injuries, such as concussions, may not be immediately apparent. Additionally, if you wait too long to seek medical attention, the insurance company may argue that your injuries are not as serious as you claim.

Do Not Give a Statement to the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Company

The insurance company for the at-fault driver will likely contact you after the accident and ask for a statement. You mustn’t give them one. The insurance adjuster may try to use your statement against you to minimize the amount of money they have to pay out on your claim. If you must speak with the insurance company, tell them that you will not state until you have spoken with an attorney. Also, do not sign any documents they send you or permit them to access your medical records.³

Gather Evidence at the scene of the Accident

If you are able, take pictures of the scene of the accident, your injuries, and the damage to your bicycle. This will help document what happened and who was at fault. You should also get the contact information of any witnesses to the accident. These people may be able to provide valuable testimony about what they saw. Evidence is crucial because of numerous things, however, the most important is that the insurance company will try to argue that you were at fault for the accident or that your injuries are not as serious as you claim.

Speak with an Attorney

After being involved in a cycling accident, you should speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. Having an attorney, in this case, is just as important as having an attorney for a car accident. An attorney can help you understand your legal rights and options. They will also be able to handle all of the paperwork and negotiations with the insurance company on your behalf so that you can focus on healing from your injuries. If you have been involved in a cycling accident, contact the law offices that are reputable today to schedule a consultation. A knowledgeable and experienced attorney can help you obtain the compensation you deserve. Additionally, if you have any questions about your legal rights, an attorney can answer them for you. 

File a Police Report

If the police did not respond to the scene of the accident, you should go to the nearest police station and file a report. This will document the accident and may help prove who was at fault. It is important to get the contact information of the officer who takes your report so that you can obtain a copy of it. If you have been involved in a cycling accident, it is important to take steps to protect your rights. One of the first things you should do is file a police report. This will document what happened and will be helpful if you need to take legal action.

Here are the steps to filing a police report:

• Call the police: You should call the police as soon as possible after the accident. They will come to the scene and investigate what happened.
• Give a statement: The police will ask you for your version of events. It is important, to be honest, and detailed in your statement.
• Get a copy of the report: Make sure to get a copy of the police report for your records. This will be helpful if you need to take legal action.

Seek Medical Treatment

If you were injured in the accident, it is important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Some injuries, such as concussions, may not be immediately apparent. Additionally, if you wait too long to seek medical attention, the insurance company may argue that your injuries are not as serious as you claim. For example, if you wait a week to see a doctor after an accident, the insurance company may argue that your injuries must not have been very severe if you waited that long to seek treatment. Additionally, it is important to keep all of your medical records and documentation of your injuries. This will help prove the extent of your injuries and the amount of compensation you are entitled to.

Keep a Record of Your Expenses

If you have been involved in a cycling accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. Keep a record of all of your expenses related to the accident, including medical bills, receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses, and documentation of lost wages. This will help prove the damages you have incurred as a result of the accident. Records such as these may also help negotiate a settlement with the insurance company.

If you have been involved in a cycling accident, it is important to take steps to protect your rights. One of the most important things you can do is seek the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney⁴. An attorney can help you understand your legal options and will be able to handle all of the negotiations with the insurance company on your behalf. If you have been injured in a cycling accident, contact a reputable law firm today to schedule a consultation.

1. Coleman, Jules L., and Jody Kraus. “Rethinking the theory of legal rights.” Yale LJ 95 (1985): 1335. ↩︎
2. Billot-Grasset, Alice, Emmanuelle Amoros, and Martine Hours. “How cyclist behavior affects bicycle accident configurations?.” Transportation research part F: traffic psychology and behaviour 41 (2016): 261-276. ↩︎
3. Masys, Daniel, et al. “Giving patients access to their medical records via the internet: the PCASSO experience.” Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association 9.2 (2002): 181-191. ↩︎
4. Ireland, Thomas R. “Valuation of advice and counsel in personal injury and wrongful death litigation.” J. Legal Econ. 17 (2010): 59. ↩︎

Last Updated on July 24, 2024 by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology