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Common Pitfalls To Avoid If You Have Been Injured In A Bike Accident

Most of the time when you take a bike ride through your neighborhood or perhaps out along a country road, everything goes as expected. However, with so many drivers on the road today, there is a greater likelihood you may find yourself being involved in an accident. Unfortunately, even though bike riders are supposed to be given equal consideration by drivers when on the road, this rarely happens. As a result, many bike riders are seriously injured each year due to the carelessness or negligence of those behind the wheel. If you have found yourself injured in a bike accident, consult with an experienced bike accident attorney. Here are some common pitfalls you should always avoid.

Failing to Call Police

If you have been injured in a bike accident, always call 9-1-1 to make sure police come to the scene. By doing so, you will be able to tell your side of the story to officers, and it will also ensure an accident report is filed by police in charge of the accident scene. Once this report is filed, you should always make sure your bike accident attorney obtains a copy. Since this report will contain key details about the accident as well as the officer's preliminary assessment as to who was at fault, your bike accident lawyer can use this when planning legal strategy.

Not Getting Treated for Your Injuries

Even if you believe you may not be seriously hurt, never refuse to get examined by medical personnel at the scene. If you do, you may be positioning yourself to lose out on gaining the compensation you need for various damages, including:

  • Current and future medical treatment
  • Lost wages from being unable to work as it may come with a disability
  • Damage to personal property, such as a smartphone
  • Pain and Suffering
If you choose to refuse treatment, the driver's attorney and insurance company will then claim you were not injured in the accident, making it more difficult for your bike accident attorney to prove otherwise.

Admitting Fault

When involved in an accident such as this, it may feel only natural to you to say something such as "I'm sorry" to the driver of the vehicle that hit you. However, if you choose to do so, this could be a mistake. By saying something as simple as "I'm sorry" to the driver or police at the scene, this may give others the impression you are admitting the accident was your fault. Should you say this to police, it will likely find its way into the officer's accident report, which will then make it much harder for your bike accident lawyer to convince the court the accident was not your fault.

Since even the most innocent words or actions in these situations can spell disaster for your personal injury lawsuit, always be very careful what you do and say both at the accident scene and afterwards. Along with this, always make sure you schedule a consultation with an experienced bike accident attorney as soon as possible after your accident to discuss your legal options.