Cycling is a great way to get around town, especially if you don’t live near public transportation. At the same time, cycling does come with some risks. Even if you’re a cautious rider and take every precaution to avoid accidents, things can still go wrong. If you are involved in a bicycle accident, no matter how minor, it’s important to know your rights as an injured party. Here are some tips for handling a bicycle accident the right way.
Exchange Contact Information
This might seem like a no-brainer, but you should exchange contact information with anyone you’ve just been in an accident with. Make sure you get the person’s name, address, phone number, and insurance information. If you don’t have any of that information, it can be extremely difficult to make a successful claim later on. This is particularly true when it comes to the at-fault driver’s insurance company. If you don’t have the right information, the insurance company can make the entire process more difficult by dragging their feet or denying your claim outright.
Collect Evidence
If you get injured in a cycling accident, you want to collect as much evidence as possible to support your claim. Obviously, you want to take pictures of your wounds, but you also might want to collect medical records or even hire an accident investigation company to examine the accident site. In most cases, the amount of evidence you collect won’t affect how quickly your insurance company pays out; however, it can greatly improve your chances of receiving a larger settlement.
Get Medical Help
Even if you don’t think you were seriously injured in the accident, you should still seek out medical help. In many cases, minor injuries like cuts and bruises don’t become apparent until hours or days after the accident. If you wait too long to see a doctor, your injuries could become worse while your insurance claim is still pending. It can also make it difficult for your insurance adjuster to accurately assess the value of your claim.
Prepare to Negotiate
If you’re involved in a serious accident, it’s important to know that you don’t have to accept the initial offer from the other party’s insurance company. In most cases, the other party’s insurance company will offer you a settlement amount that is significantly lower than your policy’s value. However, you can use their low offer as leverage to negotiate a larger settlement amount. While you can negotiate with the insurance company directly, you might be better off going through a professional who understands the claims process. This is where it might be best to hire a personal injury law firm in Los Angeles.
There are numerous ways that you can avoid a bicycle accident, such as riding defensively and avoiding high-traffic areas. But no matter how cautious you are, you should have a plan of action in case something goes wrong. The right steps should help you recover faster, get the compensation you deserve, and move on with your life.
Step by step instructions to Avoid Bicycle Accidents Through Defensive Riding
Focus out and about and the activities of other street clients. One effective method for keeping away from bike mishaps is to accept the driver hasn’t seen you and act likewise. The sooner you’re ready to foresee and afterward respond to a mix-up from a driver, the more secure you will be,
Step by step instructions to Avoid Bicycle Accidents Through Defensive Riding
Focus out and about and the activities of other street clients. One effective method for keeping away from bike mishaps is to accept the driver hasn’t seen you and act
