The size and speed of a car can create a great force in an impact against a defenseless bicycle rider.
The force of a collision can cause serious and life-threatening injuries.
The following steps may not protect you from getting hit by a car while riding a bike but it will help in protecting your potential personal injury case.
Important Steps to Take When Hit By a Car
Assess your body for any potential injuries
After the collision, you need to assess your body for any potential injuries. A bicycle helmet may help against a head injury however other body parts especially your limbs are vulnerable to serious injuries in a car accident.
In many instances, injuries may happen not only from the car itself but also from the impact to the ground. Therefore a bicycle rider has twice as many chances to be injured from a car crash. Assess your body for any pains and injuries.
Call 911
Call 911 for emergency personnel. The fire department and emergency medical technicians will arrive at the scene, in addition to law enforcement. The firefighters and EMTs will document your pains and vitals. If needed, they will take you by ambulance to the nearest emergency room for care.
Law enforcement officers like the sheriffs or the local police will gather information and statements from all parties and write a traffic collision report. Both the medical report and traffic collision report will help in your bodily injury claim against the negligent car driver.
Gather and Exchange Information
Gather as much information as possible from the scene. Even if law enforcement officers arrived at the scene, you should try to gather as much as information as possible. Exchange information with the car driver; remember to receive their name, driver’s license information, and auto insurance information.
Take photos of both your bicycle and the car, in addition to the accident scene and any other information like traffic control devices that may help your case. If there are independent witnesses, get their names, phone numbers, and addresses.
Get Medical Attention
Seek medical attention. If your injuries are serious, you may be driven to the hospital in an ambulance. In many instances, pains and injuries are not immediately apparent at the crash site. It may take two to three day or even longer for your injuries to present. For example brain injuries and internal injuries may not present themselves immediately. Therefore, you should then promptly seek medical attention.
Let the doctor know all of your aches and pains from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Call your auto insurance company. Even though you were hit by a vehicle while riding a bicycle, you may be covered for bodily injuries through your uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage is an optional insurance. Even though you are on a bicycle at the time of the incident, your uninsured motorist coverage may compensate you for your bodily injuries since the incident involved a car.
Call a California Personal Injury Attorney
Call a personal injury attorney. Promptly speak to an attorney for any potential claims that you may have in an auto versus bicycle case. A personal injury attorney can help you navigate the claim and potential litigation side of your bicycle accident case. An experienced attorney will speak with the other person’s insurance company. The Beliz Law firm offers free consultations for people that have suffered injuries from a bike accident.
Additionally, he or she will seek out the various parties who may be negligent in your claim and help you with the medical treatment.