It does not matter whether you are cycling as a hobby or just for your daily exercise; riding on a bike can be dangerous depending on several factors mainly because you will be exposed to the road traffic where petrol-driven vehicles will pass by at high speeds. The rise of bicycling as a popular method of transportation has led to an increase in bicycle accidents, especially in dense metro areas. However, working with an experienced bicycle accident attorney will help you build a strong case if you ever got involved in an accident.
What are the ways a reliable bicycle accident attorney can help you build a strong case?
The Bicycle Accident Attorney Can Help You Find Evidence
Bicyclists can sustain injury or death because of their vulnerability to cars and other motor vehicles, the most common injuries are head trauma, broken bones, lacerations, road rash, and shock. The first step towards filing a claim after an accident is to seek medical treatment as soon as possible so that proper documentation of your injuries will be made for evidence purposes.
The next step is to go now and find a lawyer who specializes in bike accidents. Accidents involving bicycles and automobiles carry serious consequences regardless of who was at fault because bicyclists lack the protection of metal surrounding them as other vehicles have. It is therefore important for anyone injured through no fault of their own after being struck by a vehicle to seek legal advice from a bicycle accident attorney.
Gather Evidence from Witnesses
If you have witnessed someone else being injured during a bike accident where you were present, collecting written and signed statements from witnesses about what they saw will help build your case. It can be helpful to talk with people you trust about the accident, including those who were not present during the incident but may have heard you discussing it or one of those who have been injured as well. Also, make sure to tell your attorney if anyone else involved in the accident has contacted you for any reason because this could provide important evidence as well.
Make a Timeline that Establishes When Your Injuries Occurred
One of the most significant things you lawyer can do after sustaining injuries is to document how and when they occurred by making a timeline that chronicles all your actions up until now and which details every medical treatment (e.g., doctor’s appointments, medical tests) you have undergone. If there are any ways in which your injuries have affected your life, include them on the timeline as well (e.g., reduced capacity to work or play sports).
Make Copies of All Your Medical Records
If you sustained any injuries in a bike accident, make copies of all relevant medical records pertaining to your treatment for this injury and keep them together with the timelines mentioned above. This is useful evidence when building a strong case because it shows how long you have been suffering from where these problems began, what treatments were attempted thus far, and whether they worked or not. It also proves that the injury required immediate attention after the incident because if they did not then there is no way they would have been included in your medical records.
Collect All Copies of Your Medical Bills and Other Costs Incurred as a Result of the Accident
Your lawyer will make copies of all your medical bills, receipts for treatments, and other costs you incurred because of the accident (e.g., vehicle to get to treatment facilities, inability to work). This documentation will be useful when filing a claim against another party because it shows damages that resulted from the incident such as lost wages, out-of-pocket expenses, and pain and suffering.
It is also very helpful if you can get quotes or estimates from professionals such as appraisers who can accurately put a dollar amount on any property damage which occurred during the collision. If you sustained injuries through no fault of your own, you might be eligible to claim damages for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other costs associated with the accident. However, without a strong case built on evidence that can be used to support your version of events as well as proof that the incident occurred because another party was negligent or reckless, you will have a difficult time winning compensation.
An experienced bicycle accident attorney can help you build a strong case through evidence collection, witness interviews, and doctor note verification as well as by providing guidance throughout this process. The more effort you put into building a solid foundation for your claim from the beginning, the easier it will be to win compensation later on.
It goes without saying that hiring a reputable bicycle accident lawyer to help you build your case is essential because he or she will have experience in dealing with similar cases and the skills needed to build you up as a client. The more reputable the attorney, the better his chances of getting higher compensation for your injuries. If you happen to get a bicycle accident, you should speak with an attorney or a bicycle accident lawyer to assist you in filing a personal injury claim.
