People all across the Inland Empire choose to ride bicycles for different reasons. Some choose this form of transportation to commute to work to avoid the famously busy roads of Southern California. Others enjoy taking a leisurely ride for exercise. But we all know that riding a bike can be dangerous. In mere seconds, a driver’s negligence can cause a collision leaving you with severe injuries. From head, neck and back injuries to broken bones, the aftermath of a bicycle accident can be quite painful and intense. Knowing what to do in the moments, weeks and months following an accident is crucial.
The chaos and confusion following a collision with a motor vehicle can leave a bicyclist anxious and unsure of the next steps. You are likely to see damage to your bicycle and feel pain. Regardless of your immediate assessment of your injuries or pain level, your first step should be to call the local Moreno Valley police, even if you do not feel injured right away. Filing a report and reporting damages is essential, especially because your injuries and pain may grow more intense over time. As you wait for the police, begin to document the accident with photos and notes if you are capable.
Once the local Moreno Valley police have arrived, be sure to speak with them directly. You want your account of the event written down and you need the police to acknowledge your injuries and include them in the police report. This is also the time to gather the contact information of witnesses and the driver involved with the accident.
You will want to call your attorney as soon as possible, but don’t wait too long. You will want to write down any physical injuries along with dates and times. Your memory of the events will be sharpest immediately following the accident.
The personal injury attorneys at Duque Law Group may recommend that you seek medical attention as evidence of the injuries caused by the collision. Documenting all damages, no matter how small you think they are, is a crucial step.
Retain as much evidence as possible. Leave your bike and any other damaged property (clothing or helmet) in the same condition as it was when you left the accident. Keep the evidence available in case your attorneys request photos of the pieces.
You will likely have met with your lawyer by this time and discussed the accident and which circumstances will allow you to earn the compensation that you deserve.
If you are contacted by an insurance company, inform them that they will need to contact to your attorney to discuss the issue. Your attorney may wish to hire an independent expert to step in and analyze the situation before you communicate with insurance agents.
Personal injury cases are difficult and require a skilled attorney. Do not try to take on the insurance company lawyers by yourself. The Moreno Valley lawyers at Duque Law Group want to get to the bottom of the case and help you receive any compensation for injuries, damage or pain and suffering that you may deserve.
Contact our Riverside County Personal Injury Attorneys at 1-877-241-9554 to learn more about your legal options. A free consultation is just a phone call away. You can even use our online contact form, and we’ll reply to you quickly.
After a bicycle accident, you must take the right steps to prevent compromising your claim.
First, try to seek medical attention for yourself and anyone else involved. Doing this will make it easier to get the medical documentation to support your claim later.
Gather any evidence you can. This means contact details of those involved and witnesses, photos, and videos (injuries, property damage, the location, position of the vehicle(s), registration documents, and more.
Ensure that you provide a statement to the police as well.
Finally, call a bicycle accident lawyer in Moreno Valley as soon as possible!
No! Though insurance companies may pretend as if they have your best interests at heart, they only want to make a profit. This means that they will intentionally give you a settlement that is less than you deserve.
Don’t directly engage with any insurance company before you speak to a bicycle injury lawyer in Moreno Valley. If you are contacted by one, let the representative know you wish to wait for your attorney before you speak.
Even the most innocent-seeming question may eventually be used against you when claim time comes around.
Victims of bicycle accidents can visit us without needing to worry about consultation charges. The aim is to help clients who need it, and cost should never be a prohibition. All case evaluations are done completely free.
Additionally, there is no commitment. Therefore, you don’t need to be concerned about being forced to proceed with services because you had a consultation.
California, like many other states, operates under the premise of comparative fault. Essentially, the settlement will be based on the extent to which each party was at fault. For example, if it can be proven that you were 20% at fault as the victim, while you can still claim compensation, you may not be able to claim the total.
In any case, you are encouraged to lean on the expertise of your lawyer for the best possible result.
Bike accidents happen all the time, and there’s no legal obligation for you to get an attorney. However, getting one will provide you with the best chance of getting the compensation you deserve!
The damages that attorneys help you recover from bicycle accident injuries fall under economic and non-economic categories. Economic damages are those that have an attributable and documented cost such as lost wages and medical bills. Non-economic damages are quality of life-based and include emotional distress, as well as pain and suffering.
This is not something to worry about. You are not required to pay anything unless you win! The payment will be a percentage of the settlement awarded.
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