Most drivers are taught how to deal with car accidents while learning to drive a car. If you are in a collision with another vehicle while driving a car, you very likely know what to do immediately afterward. But what if you are riding a bicycle and get into an accident? What should you do then?
Above all, stay calm. The steps you should take after a bicycle accident are relatively simple.
Call 911
Your top priority in the aftermath of a bicycle accident should be your health, which means calling emergency medical personnel as soon as possible. Bikes provide no meaningful protection to riders, meaning you’re likely to have suffered serious injuries in the accident. Avoid moving as much as possible after calling 911 unless it is dangerous to remain where you are.
Enlist the Help of Others
With any luck, one or more people will have witnessed you being struck by a car and are willing to assist. If so, let them do the things that you would normally do after a car accident, such as:
- Contacting 911
- Gathering the contact information of the car driver
- Providing medical care if they have the appropriate skills
- Talking to the police when they arrive
- Taking photos of the accident scene and any injuries you suffered
Except for the driver of the vehicle that hit you, anyone aware of the accident is also a potential witness if you need to file a lawsuit. Ask them to provide their own contact information, just in case.
Contact a Lawyer
Most likely, contacting a personal injury lawyer is a step you won’t take until after you are already at the hospital. Regardless, the sooner you can consult with one, the better. Bicycle accidents are often difficult to litigate, and that’s in large part because they are often hit-and-run accidents.
A lawyer will be able to assist you with getting support resources and will guide you through every step of the claims or legal process, as appropriate. That sort of help is incredibly valuable when you are severely injured and likely stuck in a hospital bed as a result.
Get Information About the Vehicle That Hit You
Gathering details about the car that hit you can be easy if the driver stops and waits for the police to arrive, as the law requires. But in many bicycle accidents, the driver takes off.
If that happened in your case, check with witnesses to see if they remember the car’s license plate and other defining details. Additionally, look around to see if any cameras may have recorded the accident.
Contact Your Car Insurance Company
Believe it or not, if you have car insurance, it will cover your accident even though you were riding a bicycle. That’s because personal injury protection (PIP) coverage in New York covers any car accident you are involved in, regardless of whether you are in your vehicle.
That being said, you shouldn’t contact your car insurance company alone. You must be present to advise your attorney during that conversation, but you should let them do the work.
Rest and Recover While Your Attorney Works to Get You Money
Recovering from a serious injury sustained in a bicycle accident is a process that can take months, even years, and every moment you spend straining your mind or body can potentially increase that recovery time.
An exemplary Nassau County or Long Island personal injury attorney, like the ones at Kohan Law Group, will handle all the paperwork and negotiations with the insurance companies, giving you time to focus on recovery. With any luck, your lawyer will present you with a fair compensation offer from the insurance company shortly after you recover from your injuries. Contact us today.