Bike Accidents In West Virginia : What to Do After the Crash

What to Do After the Crash?

Today, more and more people are taking to the streets. Fortunately, more and more cities are adding bike lanes to encourage this environmentally-friendly and heart-healthy means of getting from point A to B. Of course, if you’re a biker, you have to be on your guard, otherwise you get a victim of bike accidents in West Virginia

The good news is that most bicycle accidents do not involve cars. However, if you are hit by a car, it is so important to keep your wits about you as what you do in the immediate aftermath may have a big impact on how much you recover for your injuries and damage to your bike. It may also affect the outcome of any lawsuits resulting from the accident.

Wait for the Police to Arrive 

It is vital that you wait for police to arrive at the accident scene so that they can take and file a police report – even if you think you are not injured.

Some cyclists don’t realize they’ve been injured until several hours after the accident. And sometimes seemingly minor injuries later develop into serious and permanent problems. If you leave the Bike Accidents In West Virginia scene, you may never be able to identify the at-fault driver.

Don’t attempt to negotiate with the driver. Many drivers initially apologize and accept blame, only to later deny their negligence or even deny they were present at the accident.

Instead, wait for the police to come so they can document everything in the police report. Another advantage of waiting for the police: They may ticket the driver, which may be useful in settling the case with the insurance company.

Get Your Version of Events into the Accident Report

Sometimes, the police officer will take a statement from the motorist and not bother to talk to the cyclist. Do every­thing you can to get your side of the story into the police report.

And by all means, report all of your injuries, no matter how minor. Remember, those minor injuries may later become more serious.

If despite your efforts, the police refuse to include your statement in the accident report, you can later have the report amended.

Obtain Driver and Witness Contact Information

If possible, get the name of the automobile driver, as well as his or her address, phone number, driver’s license number, vehicle license number, and insurance information.

In addition, try to get names and contact information for everyone who witnessed the accident. Don’t assume the police report will include all of this information — it might not. If you are injured and cannot get this information yourself, ask a bystander to do it for you.

Document What Happened

If you can, make mental notes about the accident: what happened; how it happened; where it occurred; when it occurred; and road, traffic, and weather conditions. Then, as soon as you are able, write all this information down.

Document Your Injuries

Seek immediate medical attention for your injuries, even if they are minor. The fact that you sought medical attention will serve as proof that you were injured, and medical records will document the extent of those injuries. Have several photos taken of your injuries as soon as possible after the accident. Start a jour­nal of your physical symptoms and make entries every few days.

Preserve Evidence

Leave your bike and other damaged property in the same state as after the accident – don’t attempt to fix anything or have anything inspected. Don’t wash your clothing. And don’t send your bike, helmet, or any other equipment to anyone other than your attorney. Take photos of your damaged equipment.

Seek Advice from a Professional

Many accidents between bikes and cars involve complex legal issues. If you have any question, please contact  West Virginia Car accident lawyer Jan Dils, Attorneys at law for a free consultation.

We have lawyers decades of Personal Injury experience – including bike accident cases. In the interim, do not commu­nicate with the insurance companies before contacting our team.

Anything you say to the insurance company could be used against you later. Sometimes a letter from an attorney to the insurance company will resolve issues while avoid­ing legal pitfalls. In fact, most injury cases are settled without ever going to trial.

If the case warrants it, we can hire a bike accident expert to investigate the accident. That expert might obtain skid mark measurements, photograph the scene, speak with additional witnesses, or measure and diagram the accident scene. In summary, if you ride, know that Jan Dils is always on your side!