Bike accidents can be stressful and traumatic events. Taking the proper steps after the accident can ensure you will obtain fair compensation to cover medical costs and other damages.
Talk to a bike accident attorney if you need help navigating the insurance claim process after your accident. A legal representative will guide you through these steps and help you obtain compensation.
Step 1: Call the Police
Laws can vary from state to state, but most require you to call the police to report an accident if there are injuries or property damage.
Since assessing the value of property damages can be difficult, it’s best to err on the safe side and call 911 to report the accident regardless of the value of the damages.
A police officer will ask a few questions and file a police report.
Step 2: Exchange Contact Information
You should exchange your name, contact details, and insurance information with the other parties involved. If there are witnesses, write down their names and contact information.
Note the time and location of the accident so you can reach out to nearby businesses later and ask if they captured the accident on their security cameras.
Step 3: Take Plenty of Pictures
Reconstructing what happened can be difficult once first responders clean up the accident scene. Make sure to snap plenty of photographs to support your insurance claim.
Take pictures of the entire accident scene from different angles, and capture close-ups showing property damages, especially to your bike.
Step 4: Seek Medical Care
Did you know that nearly 426,000 cyclists visited the emergency room in 2020? Unfortunately, riding your bike can be a dangerous activity, especially if you live in a busy urban area.
If the accident resulted in injuries, don’t delay receiving medical care. You should have a doctor examine you even if you don’t have any apparent injuries since conditions like whiplash can appear a few days after an accident.
Step 5: Hire a Bike Accident Lawyer
Working with a legal representative will significantly improve your chances of receiving fair compensation. Your lawyer can file an insurance claim, negotiate with the insurance company, and appeal a denied claim.
They can also help gather evidence to support your claim, address questions regarding liability, and reconstruct the circumstances of the accident.
If you have to go to court, your lawyer will represent you and convince the judge or jury to award you fair compensation.
Step 6: File an Insurance Claim
Laws vary from state to state, but the amount you can claim varies based on your degree of liability.
In most cases, you can’t seek compensation from the other party if you’re 50% or more responsible for the accident. If your liability is higher than 50%, your insurance company will cover medical expenses, property damages, and other costs up to a percentage that reflects your degree of liability.
Make sure to submit evidence when filing your claim, including photographs, medical records, and the police report.
An insurance adjuster will review your claim and determine how much the insurance company can award you.
Step 7: Go to Court
A majority of bike accident claims don’t go to court. Negotiating with the negligent party’s insurance company is usually all it takes to obtain fair compensation.
However, you might have to go to court if the insurer questions the other party’s liability, if the adjuster denies your claim without a good reason, or if you seek compensation from an uninsured driver.
You might also have to take your own insurer to court if you’re seeking compensation in a hit-and-run case and the adjuster isn’t cooperating.
Conclusion
Dealing with the aftermath of a bike accident can be stressful. It’s best to look for an experienced bike accident lawyer who can guide you through this process, file an insurance claim on your behalf, and help you track the steps you need to take to obtain compensation.
