It doesn’t matter whether you are a car driver, a pedestrian, or a bicyclist – the truth is that no one likes to get injured. As a matter of fact, if you are on a bike and you get injured – it can be an absolute nightmare, not to mention the frustration that you must be feeling if you are a sports cyclist and have some massive time training.
In case of an accident, the road to recovery can be a very long and essentially difficult one – but you shouldn’t lose motivation, stay on top of your motivation, and take it as a challenge to get fitter than you have ever been.
What to Do After an Accident?
So, you have been minding your own business while cycling, and suddenly, you are hit, and you are on the asphalt. Perhaps the accident was caused by a driver who wasn’t paying attention, or you missed a pothole, and before you know it – you landed on the tarmac.
Now, if you got injured due to the negligence of another driver, it is your best option to get a cycle accident lawyer who will help you negotiate to reach a fair settlement with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
Nonetheless, getting into an accident can be a traumatic experience – depending on the damage, pain, and suffering that you might have to endure as a result.
Here is what you, as a cyclist, can do right after an accident:
Get To A Safe Spot
The first thing that you must do right after an accident while you are on a bike is to look after your safety. In other words, you must get yourself out of harm’s way at all costs. For instance, you might want to get off the road with your cycle. However, if you have fallen and you feel dizzy, it might be in your best interest to lie down or sit down before you move.
Initially, you might feel the adrenaline rush, and you might not realize the extent of your injuries. This aspect indicates the importance of sitting and trying to assess the situation. Calm your nerves first so you get in a better state to do so. If you aren’t sure about the extent of your injuries, you will definitely want to call the police and the ambulance so you can get medical attention right away.
Treat the Injury
You should know why you got the injury and how you got it so you can ensure rehabilitation and that you don’t suffer from the same injury in the future. For instance, if you suffer from something, such as tendinitis on your knee – it is generally caused by a root cause, which needs to be identified.
If you are a professional cyclist, you might have brushed over slight injuries in the past – but – these injuries might have been brought to the surface by an accident. Make sure that your injuries are remedied and treated before you start training again.
Understanding why and how you got the injury is absolutely crucial as it can not only help with recovery but also help you psychologically after you are stuck at home or the hospital, recovering from the injury, and unable to ride the bike.
Get the Details
If you got into an accident while riding a bike due to the carelessness of another driver, make sure to get the details down of the at-fault party. This aspect includes taking notes of their license plate, their insurance details, and their name, phone number, and address. If you have been in an accident due to someone’s pet, get the owner’s name and address, as you will need these details later at the time of settlement, and take up the matter with the insurance company of the at-fault party.
Take Pictures of the Accident
We all carry our phones with us at all times. Suppose your phone isn’t damaged due to the accident; make sure to click pictures of the accident, the damage, and the surroundings. If your smartphone is broken, you can ask someone else to do what is needed for you.
While taking pictures, you must ensure that the pictures are taken from different angles to cover the entire accident. The best part about taking digital pictures is that you can collect enough evidence about the date and time when the pictures were taken.
On that note, if you got into an accident due to a pothole that you didn’t see when you were riding your bike – take pictures of the pothole as well so you can capture the exact location of the pothole as well as the depth and size of the pothole.
Collect Witnesses
Now, this one goes without saying, but it is worth mentioning. You need to gather evidence as well as witnesses. So, get the details (name, phone number, address) of anyone and everyone who saw the accident happen. Make sure that the witnesses are willing to give an account of what happened and what they saw when the accident happened.
Having witnesses and evidence is crucial if the case reaches the court.
Report the Accident
You might think that only because you were riding a bike, you might not have to report the incident. But – the truth is the other way around. When you get injured due to an accident, it is your responsibility to report the incident to the police. If you cannot reach the police over the phone, you can visit the nearest police station in person to report the incident.
Make sure to get a copy of the police report or ask the responding officers for the incident number. If your accident was caused by a pothole, you might have to report the accident to the local council, as well. This way, you can ensure that the obstruction is fixed and no other cyclists get into unfortunate incidents, such as accidents.
If the injury is serious, get in touch with a lawyer and let the professional attorney help you with reaching a fair settlement for your pain and suffering.
