Crashes between motorists and bicyclists are more and more common on the roadways, as more people decide to bicycle to work and events for their health and environmental reasons. However, an accident between a bicyclist and a motorist can cause catastrophic and permanent damage to a bicyclist. If you suffered injuries as a bicyclist with a motor vehicle, the following ten steps will help protect both your health as well as your legal rights.

Remove Yourself from the Road

If you were involved in an accident as a bicyclist on the roadways, the first thing you should do is move out of the road if possible. If you are unable to do so due to the severity of your injuries, just stay where you are until emergent medical help arrives. However, if you are able to remove yourself from the roadway, you prevent a secondary accident from occurring and possibly injuring you even further.

Seek Medical Attention

No matter how minor or severe you believe your injuries to be, make sure to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even if you do not go immediately to the emergency room, you should see a medical professional to receive a complete medical evaluation. In many cases serious and life-threatening injuries do not present themselves until hours or days following the accident and it is important that if you develop any additional symptoms you revisit a doctor to let them know of your additional medical issues.

Examine Your Helmet

Look at your helmet closely following an accident on your bicycle. If you see any cracks, even small ones, you should assume you have either a concussion or another type of traumatic brain injury which requires immediate medical attention.

Treat the Accident Like Any Other Accident

Treat this accident like any other accident. Make sure to contact the police immediately, and always file a police report. Also, always exchange information with all parties to make sure that you have the contact information of all other drivers and witnesses. Additionally, make sure to get the car insurance information of the drivers involved in the accident as well.

Have Your Bicycle Professional Assessed

Even if you have been riding for a long time, make sure to take your bicycle in to have it assessed by a professional bike shop. This will create a foundation upon which you can bring a claim to obtain compensation for your property damage and your personal injuries. Additionally, a professional assessment will allow you to know whether or not your bicycle is truly safe to continue to ride, or if it is now unsafe due to the accident.

Contact Us Today for Help

If you were involved in an accident between your bicycle and a motorist, you likely suffered serious physical and emotional injuries as well as property damage. Contact an experienced  personal injury attorney at O’Donnell Law Offices at 570-821-5717 or online today. We proudly serve clients in Kingston, Wilkes Barre, Hazleton, and Pittston.

Resource:

nhtsa.gov/road-safety/bicycle-safety

https://www.odonnell-law.com/2020/05/15/safety-tips-when-riding-alone-in-an-uber-or-lyft/

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