Attorney
If you got hit by a car while riding your bicycle and you suffered injuries, you might be able to seek compensation from the party who was at fault in causing the accident. Taking legal action against someone involves many steps with deadlines and procedural requirements. A mistake at any one of these stages could cost you your entire claim for monetary damages.
It could be to your advantage to work with a DC personal injury attorney who handles bicycle accidents and knows what to do if you’re injured on your bike. Here is a brief overview of some of the questions people have about what to do after a bike crash:
What to Do at the Scene of the Bike Crash in DC
If at all possible, you would want to collect information that you will need for your injury claim. Try to jot down the license plate and description of the vehicle that hit you. Call the police immediately so they can perform an investigation and assess fault. The information from their report will be essential for your bicycle accident injury lawsuit.
You will want to go straight from the scene of the bicycle accident to the emergency room or another appropriate medical facility for an evaluation of your injuries and treatment. You might have injuries from the impact that have not yet manifested symptoms.
Ideally, either you or someone you trust will photograph the scene of the accident and your injuries on their cell phone. Cell phone videos can also be useful. Above all, at the scene of the accident, the most important issue is your safety.
What NOT to Do After Getting Injured on Your Bike in DC
Different things could decrease the dollar value of your claim for compensation from the careless driver who caused your bike crash. For example:
- Apologizing after the accident even if you did not do anything wrong. People often express sympathy or apologize simply out of good manners. Unfortunately, the at-fault driver could try to use your words against you to blame you for the accident.
- Grabbing the first settlement offer from the claims adjuster. Usually, the claims adjuster will throw out a lowball offer that is well below their settlement authority. They don’t expect anyone to accept the initial offer. Instead, that offer is usually merely the starting point for negotiations.
- Posting on social media. Many people keep their friends and family up-to-date on things that happen in their lives by posting photographs and information on social media. Getting injured in a bicycle accident is certainly a notable event, but we recommend that our personal injury clients step away from social media entirely until after their case gets resolved. The defense lawyers could twist your postings into something you never intended.
Getting Help from a Lawyer on Your Bike Accident Injury Claim
When a motor vehicle strikes a person on a bicycle, the bicyclist often suffers severe injuries. Life-changing or fatal injuries are not uncommon in these accidents. With so much at stake, you will want to talk to a DC personal injury lawyer about handling your bike crash case so that you can focus on healing from your wounds and adjusting to your new normal. Reach out to our office today for help with your case.