What to do if You’re a Victim of Cycling Wrecks
Did you know bicycle riders are injured in collisions with cars and trucks every day? Most bicycle crashes tend to occur at intersections; hence when you are riding your bicycle and come to an intersection, you really need to be aware of your surroundings because a person on a bike is going to fare much worse than the person in a car if a collision occurs. Unfortunately, incidents even occur in areas where there is a designated bicycle route. Many drivers just do not respect cyclists on the road, and it results in hundreds of deadly incidents each year.
Cycling Wrecks
Determining who was at fault in a wreck is not always easy. In many cases where an intersection is uncontrolled, the fault is shared. If there are no witnesses and both parties claim they had the right of way, then fault is difficult to prove. In the state of Alabama, in order for a cyclist to be eligible for compensation, their attorney needs to be able to prove that the driver was at fault and that the cyclist was not at fault – not even a little bit.
Immediately After a Cycling Incident
If you or someone you know is injured in a collision with a driver, always call the police and report the incident. Be sure to ask the police to prepare a report – even if the crash occurred on private property. Photograph the crash scene, including the resting point of the vehicle and bicycle. Finally, if anyone has witnessed the collision, get that person’s name and contact information.
Medical Attention
Get checked out by medical professionals (Hospital ER or physician) – don’t try to “tough it out.” Immediately post-incident, your adrenaline will be “pumped” and may mask the full extent of your injuries (same for your bike – it may have a latent defect and riding it could be dangerous).
Compensation
Many claims can be settled outside of court but in order to receive the compensation that you deserve, you need to hire a lawyer who understands personal injury claims and the best way to negotiate them. One of the first steps you should take in the instance you are injured in a cycling wreck is to contact a lawyer immediately. They will need to notify the insurance company that you will be making a claim as well as help guide you properly throughout the process. Your lawyer will be able to help you know what things to do, like getting documentation of your medical appointments.
Our Birmingham, Alabama, personal injury firm can analyze your case. If you believe you have suffered as a result of someone else’s actions, contact us, Lewis and Feldman, at 888-705-3997 for a free, no-risk consultation about your injuries.
No representation is made that the quality of legal services performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.