Nobody expects to suffer a serious or life-altering injury in a bicycle accident in downtown Cleveland or in the suburbs, yet bike collisions do happen. Indeed, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a total of 857 bicyclists sustained deadly injuries in collisions in 2018, and a majority of those deaths occurred in urban areas.
While motorists are supposed to share the road safely with cyclists, when a driver is distracted or fails to obey a traffic law, a bicyclist can suffer the consequences. Even when roads have bike lanes designed to keep cyclists safe, they can still sustain debilitating and fatal injuries.
If you are injured in a bicycle collision with a motor vehicle, it is important to take a number of steps to ensure that you remain eligible for financial compensation. The following provides you with information about what you should do after a bike collision.
- Document the Scene of the Bicycle Accident
Similar to the first step you should take after a car accident to preserve your right to compensation, you should document the scene where the bike accident occurred. If your bicycle was damaged, be sure to take clear photos showing the damage. You should also take pictures that depict the area where the crash happened. If you have injuries that can be recorded on your phone, you should be sure to document those, as well.
- Get the Contact Information for the Motorist and Any Witnesses
Be certain to get the contact information for the motorist who crashed into you, along with that driver’s insurance information. You should also obtain contact information from anyone who saw the collision. A pedestrian on a nearby sidewalk, for example, or another motorist may have seen the driver crash into you.
- Seek a Medical Evaluation
Do not wait to be seen by a doctor. Bicyclists are vulnerable to serious injuries when they are involved in collisions with cars, but some injuries may not show up immediately. A doctor can evaluate you, and can spot signs of serious injuries that have not yet produced symptoms. Your doctor can also provide important evidence about your injuries and how you likely sustained them for your bicycle accident case.
- Hire a Lawyer
You should not proceed without discussing your case with a lawyer. I can help you to seek the compensation you deserve.
- Learn About the Statute of Limitations
Ohio law limits the amount of time an injured plaintiff has to file a lawsuit. Ohio law requires that most bicycle accident lawsuits be filed within two years from the date of the initial collision.
Get in Touch With Me Today to Get Started on Your Case
Were you injured in a bicycle collision? Motorists on the roads in and around Cleveland are not as careful as they should be, and bicyclists and pedestrians can suffer the consequences.
It is important for cyclists to feel safe on the road and to know that automobile drivers are taking steps to avoid collisions. If a motorist’s negligence causes a collision with a bicyclist, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call my office at 877.944.4373 to find out about your options for seeking financial compensation for your losses.