BICYCLE ACCIDENTS
Bicycle Accidents
I’ve Been Hit by a Car While Riding My Bicycle - Help!
What Should I do?
First, make sure never to admit fault – not to the other driver, to police, to witnesses –to anyone. Oftentimes we feel sympathetic to other people involved in traffic accidents, even when they might be the sole cause of the incident in the first place. Therefore it’s understandable that you might want to apologize or make the other person feel better in the moment, but in doing so end up exposing yourself to being found at fault for the accident further down the road. To best protect your interests when you are hit while riding your bike, its best to refrain from any comments that might be taken as some acceptance of fault.
Second, get prompt medical assistance. Getting medical care right away not only ensures that you are safe, it also helps ensure your potential claims are safe as well. Having a clear history of medical care for any injuries you recieved during a collision will greatly assist you and your Los Angeles bicycle accident attorney in making sure the responsible parties are recognized by the court and you aren’t left paying for your injuries out of your own pocket.
Third, do not talk to insurance people. It’s a natural instinct to think that a call with a professional sounding person on the other end, simply asking for details of the accident is a good opportunity to set the record straight about the events. However, no matter how nice they may seem, their job is to minimize their insurance company’s responsibility to look after you and pay out for any injuries you’ve recieved. Instead, speak to your attorney and make sure to give him\her all the details of the accident so that he\she can effectively deal with the insurance companies on your behalf.
Lastly, don’t post anything (photos, comments, etc) on social media as the insurance company and defense attorneys may monitor you, your friends, even your families’ social media accounts for any evidence that they can use against you. If you have photos of the incident or recordings of any kind that might be helpful, be sure to give them to your Los Angeles accident attorney so that they can best be used to help (and not hurt) your case.
Can I Get Money for My Injuries?
Yes, and it might not even be from the person(s) you first think of as being responsible. Sure, the driver of the car that hit you might be found at fault for the accident, but other entities might be as well. Duties of care may be owed to you from the state, city, and/or county (if there existed dangerous signage or road conditions, for example). The only way you’ll know for sure if you’ve adequately searched and found all the parties who might be responsible for your injuries is to get an experienced attorney who knows the relevant law to look over all the facts of the case.
What if the Police Report Finds Me at Fault?
In many cases the police will automatically find the cyclist at fault. However, just because the police officer on the scene wrote a report saying you have no claim doesn’t mean it is so. Police reports often take the word of the parties involved and or any witnesses and as such may be based entirely (or at least partially) on hearsay. At Slatter Law Firm, our Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyers are experienced in finding inaccuracies within these police reports (and in the officer’s opinion of who is at fault) to get them excluded from court and to push back against your insurance company denying you payment because of them.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage – Will it Help?
It might. The amount your uninsured coverage will pay out to you depends on your injuries and what you lost as a result of the accident. In addition, it depends on how much coverage the other party has. Your coverage will generally pay the difference between what theirs pays you and what your actual medical expenses and damages are.
For over 30 years Slatter Law Firm has been helping the victims of catastrophic accident such as bus collisions get the compensation they deserve. We know the steps to take, and will fight to get you or your loved ones the compensation you deserve. If you or someone you know has been injured in a bus accident, please call us today for your free consultation at (310) 405-0964 or toll-free at (888) 293-0404.
