When you suffer injuries from a bicycle accident due to another person’s negligence, you need a skilled attorney on your side. Your lawyer should specialize in bicycle accidents and have experience in this unique area of law.
After you are medically cleared, it is important to document the accident while it’s still fresh. This will help your lawyer build a strong case on your behalf. Contact Baltimore Bicycle Accident Lawyer now!
- Gathering Evidence
When a bicycle accident occurs, the first thoughts are often about personal safety and medical care. While those are important concerns, preserving evidence as quickly as possible is crucial. Solid proof is essential to proving liability and damages in a legal case. Evidence includes witness statements, accident scene photos, video footage, and medical records. An attorney can help you gather, retain, and document this evidence to strengthen your claim.
A lawyer can make a difference in your ability to secure full and fair compensation for all your losses. A lawyer can investigate the incident and work with expert witnesses and accident reconstruction specialists to build a strong case. They can also negotiate with insurance companies to ensure you receive a fair settlement for your injuries and other damages.
At the scene of a crash, you should exchange information with the driver, including name, address, phone number, insurance policy number and license plate information. You should also write down all the details of the crash, including weather conditions, road and traffic conditions and any other relevant factors. In addition, it’s a good idea to record any medical injuries you suffered at the time of the accident for your own personal records.
If a police officer is present, they will create an official report of the incident. However, sometimes motorists leave the scene, and this can pose challenges in a case that requires establishing fault. It’s a good idea to get in contact with an experienced bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible so they can take steps to track down the driver and obtain evidence on your behalf.
A legal professional can also help you calculate all of your damages, including both special and general damages. Special damages are monetary expenses, such as medical bills, lost income and property damage, while general costs are intangible losses like pain and suffering. An attorney will take into account all of your financial, physical, and emotional damages to determine the amount you deserve in a settlement.
When an injury claim involves a dangerous driver, the plaintiff must establish negligence. This means that they must prove the defendant’s breach of duty caused the accident and the resulting injuries. They must also demonstrate that the injuries were a foreseeable consequence of the accident.
- Documenting Your Injuries
The most important thing you can do after a bicycle accident is to ensure your safety and seek medical attention, but there are many other things you should do to protect yourself and your legal rights. Documenting the incident, including your injuries and property damage, is one of those vital steps that will benefit you in the long run, particularly if you end up filing a claim to recover damages for your accident-related expenses.
As soon as possible after your accident, take photos of the scene and your injuries with a camera or smartphone while the memory is still fresh. Make note of the weather conditions at the time, as well as the road surface and any relevant traffic controls or signage. Also, try to get the contact information for any eyewitnesses and request their statements on what they saw, both written and audio-recorded. Witness testimony can be instrumental in corroborating your version of events, refuting conflicting accounts, and shedding light on the circumstances that led up to your accident.
If you’re in a collision with a vehicle, make sure to exchange insurance and driver’s contact information as soon as you can. This should include the driver’s name, phone number, insurance company, policy number, vehicle owner’s information (if different from the driver) and the vehicle make and model.
It’s important to see a doctor right away, even if you feel fine. Some personal injuries don’t show up until hours or days after the accident, so having a medical record of your initial evaluation and subsequent symptoms can help strengthen your case for compensation for your injury-related losses.
You should also keep a journal of your physical and emotional state throughout the healing process to document how the accident has affected you and your quality of life. This can be used to prove your claim for non-economic damages like pain and suffering, which aren’t typically included in your medical bills or insurance claims. Documenting the impact on your life will prove valuable in securing compensation to help cover your current and future medical expenses, lost wages, and the cost of repairing or replacing your bike.
- Contacting the Insurer
When you’re in a bicycle accident, the reality of your injuries and damages may not become clear until later. That’s why it’s important to get advice from an attorney before you talk to police or insurance company investigators. Anything you say can be used against you in the future. Your lawyer will provide you with sound legal advice and protect your rights.
Typically, the at-fault driver’s auto insurance will open up a claim to cover your injury and damage. While you should always try to ensure that the motorist remains at the scene (and calls police if necessary) to do so, it can be difficult to track down someone who has left the scene of the wreck.
Once your bicycle accident lawyer is able to gather the information that is needed for your case, they will send a demand letter to the insurer requesting compensation for your injury and damage expenses. They will usually negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to make sure that the settlement offers you receive are fair.
Your bicycle accident lawyer can also help you obtain punitive damages in cases of particularly egregious conduct. These types of damages aren’t tied to your direct losses but rather serve as a deterrent to others who engage in similar misconduct in the future.
In the event that an insurer refuses to offer a satisfactory amount of compensation, your attorney will advise you to take the matter to court. This is often the best option if your medical bills and other related expenses are high.
Bicycle accident lawsuits typically involve the same legal procedures as other personal injury cases, but they are more complex and require a unique understanding of bike law. Your bicycle accident lawyer will handle all the legal aspects of your case so that you can focus on recovering from your injuries. They will also be prepared to pursue a trial or out-of-court settlement as the case requires. They will keep you informed throughout the process so that you can make the best decision for your situation.
- Filing a Claim
When you’ve been in a bicycle accident, it’s important to gather and document as much evidence as possible. This includes things like your medical bills, property damage, and more. It’s also important to avoid making any statements to the insurance company until you speak with your lawyer. This is because anything you say can be used against you later on. A skilled attorney will know what strategies the insurance companies will use to deny you compensation and take steps to protect you from them.
The liable party’s insurance company may try to get you to agree to a quick settlement. The reason for this is that they are trying to save themselves money by paying as little as possible on claims. It is best to have your bicycle accident lawyer handle the negotiations and make sure that you are getting all of the compensation you deserve.
Having an experienced New York bicycle accident attorney can help you avoid mistakes that could hurt your case in the long run. For example, if you are interviewed by police or investigators, it’s important to avoid making any comments about how the accident occurred. This is because the information you provide can be used against you in court later on.
Your bike crash attorney will have experience handling these types of cases and can guide you through the process. They will know how to gather and present the most compelling evidence in your favor and fight for the maximum amount of compensation you’re entitled to.
While nobody wants to get into a bicycle accident, it can be unavoidable at times. Even if you are following the rules of the road and have a helmet on, the negligent actions of another person can cause serious injuries. If the driver who hit you is insured, a claim can be filed against them to recover damages for your medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. If the driver is not insured, or if they get away from the scene of the accident, then you can file a claim under your own uninsured motorist policy to cover your damages.