You started out the year thinking that you’d be healthier by biking to work. After several near misses, you thought that you’d be better off driving yourself, but on a particularly nice day, you set off on your bike as usual.
You didn’t expect that a driver would blow through a red light. You didn’t think that you’d be one of the people becoming a statistic. Unfortunately, you were hit, and you’ve suffered injuries as a result.
To help yourself, there are several things you can do after a bicycle crash. Here are steps to keep in mind.
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Call for help immediately
Bike crashes are different than other kinds of motor vehicle accidents because they are more likely to lead to serious injuries. A cyclist has no real protection against the impact, which could lead to severe, potentially life-threatening injuries. Call 911 immediately, or have someone else at the scene call for help. Stay where you are and try not to move unless you need to move to get out of the way of danger.
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Write down everything that happened
If you can, the next thing to do is to write down everything you remember. As time passes, memories fade, so it’s important for you to note down what you saw at the time of the crash. If you can’t write but you can tell someone else, record yourself giving a detailed statement about what happened or ask someone else to write down what you remember.
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Get the other person’s information to make your claim
Finally, remember to get the other person’s information. Assuming they have insurance, you will need that information to begin your claim against them.
When you speak with your attorney, one of the first things you’ll go over is who you can make a claim against and if the driver has auto insurance. Whether you end up suing them personally or going after their insurance, you’re going to need to know all about the way the crash has impacted you. Keep your medical documents, notes about the crash and other paperwork ready, so you can build your personal injury case.