According to bicycle accident attorneys, in a perfect world all cyclists will have a full understanding of what they should do after an accident. With this being said however, the shock of the situation and the potential injuries afterwards, often mean that cyclists will have a tough time making sure that they follow the steps which they should do. This even includes minor sideswipe accidents. To help you get prepared for this kind of event, and of course we hope that it doesn’t happen, it is important to understand the common mistakes which are made.
Not Leaving a Police Report
Unfortunately it is quite common for the police to be more interested in the driver of a motor vehicle rather than the injured cyclist. This is not so much a mistake on the part of the cyclist, as much as it is the fault of the police. It is however important that a police statement is made by the cyclist so that it is registered.
Failure to Preserve Evidence
Whilst it may not seem like much, the clothes and even the bicycle could prove to play a significant role in attributing blame after these kinds of accidents. It is also worth keeping the equipment to one side for future use, rather than washing or throwing away the clothes which were being worn during the accident.
Negotiating With The Driver
Most drivers who know that this was their fault will try and negotiate with the cyclist so that they do not push this case forward any further. This is not a good way to negotiate however and there are a couple of reasons why. Firstly it may be that the driver changes their mind later on, and you may have not followed steps at the time which will help lawyers as a result of a deal. Secondly you honestly have no ideas of the extent of your injuries or the status of the driver until some days after the event.
Negotiating With Insurance Companies
You may find that the insurance company of the guilty party seeks to get in touch with you and offers some level of compensation. What they are trying to do here is get ahead of the curve and pay out far less than they will have to if the case moves forward to court. If you receive a call from the insurance company then simply say that you will be in touch with them in due course.
Not Calling a Lawyer
It is always worth getting legal advice after this kind of event, as you need to know what your rights are. Even if you push the case forward there is no obligation to call a lawyer, but it will always make the best sense. Representing yourself can be tough and the best option is to get in touch with a great personal injury lawyer which specializes in bicycle accidents. .
Try to avoid these mistakes if this kind of event should ever take place.
