What to Do If You Are Hit By a Car While Biking
Have you ever faced a bike accident while commuting and did not know what to do afterwards? Many bike users face this confusion due to a lack of awareness. Like cars and motorbikes, bicycle users have several rights when travelling between locations. In a road accident, you may receive emergency care and compensation for your loss. However, you may only be compensated if you represent your case accurately. If you want to know what to do if hit by a car on a bike, we have a few steps to guide you through the process.
Getting Hit By Car: Common Factors
Bicycles are ideal for quick commuting, but they come with a few risks. Bike riders are advised to wear safety kits before heading out of their homes to ensure physical protection. Before we move to the steps you should follow when hit by a car, let’s quickly review the common factors leading to bike accidents.
Road Distractions: Lack of attention or sudden distractions can cause serious accidents when on a bike. Car drivers may crash into cyclists due to distracted driving and cause injuries.
Intoxicated Driving: Some car drivers may be intoxicated while driving. They are more likely to violate the laws and run into road accidents.
Speeding: Speeding is one of the most common factors behind road accidents. When on a bike, you may be unable to cope with the impact of speeding cars at intersections.
Vehicle Defects: In some cases, none of the parties are guilty of road accidents. A faulty brake may lead to delayed stopping and cause road accidents affecting bike riders.
Poorly Designed Roadways: Some roadways have an increased risk of accidents due to poorly designed infrastructure. Bike riders are at high risk of facing an impact when going through such sections.
Things to Do When Hit By a Car on a Bike
If you are hit by a car when on a bike, you can follow the steps below for thorough compensation.
Call 911 to Seek EMS
When your bike impacts with a car, you may immediately call emergency services to seek timely assistance. Generally, the police and emergency medical services arrive at the spot within a few minutes to analyze the situation and provide first aid (if needed). A police officer may ask you questions about the incident to take your perspective.
Be sure to provide as many details as you can to facilitate the officer in making a police report. While you answer the questions, you may provide accurate information to the officer. Giving false details may turn the odds against you when making insurance claims.
Request the Witnesses for Contact Information
Eyewitnesses can majorly influence your accident’s police report. The police officers ask around to validate the accuracy of information provided by both parties to determine who is guilty. You can request the witnesses to provide their contact details or wait for the police officers to arrive at the scene. Witnesses can be vital if the car driver is guilty of hitting your bike due to personal negligence.
If there are CCTV cameras in the area, the police may access the footage to determine the party at fault. Having multiple witnesses can benefit you in terms of the police report and when filing for insurance claims.
Be Careful About the Choice of Words
Some people opt for a casual approach to state the details of the accident scene. While a common person may be able to understand the depth of such statements, an insurance officer may have a critical response to them. For instance, if you claim that you did not see the car approaching before the accident, the insurance officer may note it as not paying attention to the road. If you could not see the car, you might go deeper into the details to highlight the factors that support your argument.
It is worth noting that insurance companies use various ways to cut down claim costs during physical accidents and disasters. You may not want to lose significant insurance money based on a poorly communicated statement.
Do Not Hesitate to State the Laws for Bicycle Riders
Riding a bicycle requires having a valid license and awareness of the state’s laws. If you are good at that front, you may use the laws to describe the accident scene. Highlighting your awareness of local laws creates a good impression on the police officers and helps them prepare a report that speaks in your favor (if you are not guilty). When asked about local laws, you may speak clearly to show confidence in daily commuting.
Some bike riders fail to satisfy the police officers with questions regarding the local biking laws. While they may not be guilty of the accident, a lack of awareness of local laws can cause a dent in the police report.
Get a Copy of the Accident Report
Once the police officer records all the information and prepares a report, you may verify the information in the report to avoid later problems. You may also speak about the laws the car driver violated. Getting a copy of the accident report can help you plan your next move. You can opt to file a claim with the car driver’s insurance company. Before you reach out to the insurance company, you may want to consult an attorney to get the maximum benefit from the guilty party.
The car driver’s insurance company may use many tactics to minimize the claim costs. This is where an attorney takes control of your formal representation to avoid adversarial positions of the opposing party.
The Takeaway
The above steps may come in handy if hit by a car on a bike. You may always wear a safety helmet and keep the necessary documentation when heading out from the home to deal with road accidents effectively. If you need help with representing your bike accident case to claim insurance money, you can consult an experienced lawyer to avoid the hassle.
Rob Levine & Associates is a team of experienced lawyers that can help you obtain insurance benefits after facing a road accident on your bike. Contact us today to discuss your case and determine the next move.
