Today’s cycling trend offers us a healthy and affordable way to get from point A to point B. It’s hard to find places that haven’t embraced cycling, and most major cities are now adopting updated bicycle infrastructure to make navigating busy roads safer for cyclists. But even with these advances, bicycle accidents are still a common occurrence. And even the most minor of these can be deadly when it involves a relatively unprotected cyclist and a 5,000-pound vehicle. For injured cyclists, getting the advice and guidance of a skilled bicycle accident lawyer can be critical to protecting their legal rights to compensation.
Here in Doylestown, we pride ourselves on our bicycle-centric community and dedication to bike-friendly lanes, trails, and tracks. Unfortunately, accidents still happen despite our impressive infrastructure and bike safety initiatives. The simple truth is when a car meets a bicycle in an accident, the cyclist will almost always suffer significant injuries. If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident because of someone else’s negligence, you shouldn’t face this alone. At Silver & Silver, our Doylestown bicycle accident attorneys are here to help.
What Scenarios Commonly Lead to Bicycle Accidents?
As a cyclist sharing the roadway with larger vehicles, you don’t benefit from a sturdy metal body with crumple zones, airbags, and seatbelts protecting you. You’re more exposed, less visible, and less stable in a collision. And that makes you far more vulnerable, especially in these common bike accident situations:
- The right cross bicycle accident is the most common of all bicycle accidents. It happens when a car pulls out from a side street, alleyway, driveway, or parking lot from the right in front of a cyclist’s path, either hitting the cyclist or the cyclist hitting the car.
- A left cross-bike accident happens when a car approaching the cyclist from the opposite direction turns left in front of or into the cyclist.
- The right hook bike accident is another common bicycle accident that happens when a car passes the cyclist on the left and then makes an immediate right turn in front of or into the cyclist.
- A dooring accident happens when the driver of a parallel parked car opens the car’s door in front of a moving cyclist, causing the cyclist to either hit the door or be forced into the path of other traffic to avoid it.
- A rear-end accident happens when a cyclist is forced into traffic because of a parked car or other obstacle in their path or a motorist overtakes a cyclist from behind and hits the bicycle from the rear.
- A red light accident happens when a cyclist resumes forward motion after a light turns green and is hit by a motorist turning right at the intersection.
- A wrong-way bicycle accident happens when cyclists ride on the wrong side of the road, making them vulnerable to drivers pulling out in front of or into them from their left.
In any of these scenarios, the cyclist is now down, maybe even dangerously in the line of other oncoming traffic. If this is you, what you do next can be critical to your safety and future legal and financial welfare.
What Should You Do When You’ve Been Involved in a Bicycle Accident?
As an injured cyclist, you will want to remain calm, take care of yourself, and gather as much information as possible at the crash site.
1. Do a quick self-assessment.
Are you injured? Call 911, stay still, and wait to be examined by emergency personnel or hospital doctors. Even if you feel no immediate pain, adrenaline and endorphins can often dull the pain of an injury and make it seem less hurt than you really are.
2. Take photos documenting the crash site.
Take pictures of your injuries, the position of and damage to your bike and the other vehicle, and the overall scene of the accident.
3. Call the police.
Don’t leave the crash site. Contact the police or make sure someone else has and stay there until they arrive. A police report will include the names and contact information of anyone involved in the accident, any witnesses, and provide an objective account of what happened that will be important when you’re filing an injury claim. Ask the police officer for their card and take down the police report number.
4. Detail your version of the accident.
If you can, write down a detailed description of the events before, during, and after the accident. Keep to the facts, use objective descriptions, and avoid placing blame. Write down where it happened, the time of day, and the traffic and weather conditions. This information may be very important to an injury claim.
5. Gather important information.
Get the names, phone numbers, driver’s license numbers, and insurance information of others who were involved. Also, take down the make, model, and license plate numbers of the other vehicles involved.
6. Seek medical attention immediately.
Even if you didn’t get emergency medical attention, see a doctor immediately. Many injuries sustained in bicycle accidents take time to become evident, and getting immediate medical attention and advice will be important to document the extent of your injuries in case of an injury claim. Follow your doctor’s orders and keep a daily journal of your physical symptoms.
7. Preserve evidence.
Leave your bicycle, helmet, or any other damaged property or equipment in its damaged state, and don’t wash the clothes you were wearing. Take good photos of everything from multiple vantage points. These items may become important evidence if you pursue an injury claim.
8. Consult with a bicycle accident lawyer.
Before you even speak with an insurance adjuster, get the advice of a knowledgeable bicycle accident lawyer to understand your rights to compensation for your injuries and what you may be entitled to.
At Silver & Silver, our experienced Doylestown bicycle accident attorneys are here to help you get the compensation you deserve after a serious bike accident. Schedule a free consultation by calling us at (610) 638-7255 or contacting us through our website contact form. You never pay any legal fees unless we secure compensation on your behalf.
Disclosure:
This website is designed to provide only general information. The information presented on this website is not formal legal advice. You should not rely on any general information from any source for making legal decisions. Each legal matter is unique and requires specific attention from a qualified and experienced attorney. Unless a representation agreement has been signed with the Law Offices of Silver and Silver, we are not your legal representatives.
