Handling a Bicycle Accident Claim

• Published at August 1, 2014
• Category: Personal Injury Insurance Claim

We hope you never need to file a bicycle accident claim, of course, because we want you to be as safe as possible whenever you ride. However, the unfortunate fact is that these types of accidents occur. If this should ever happen to you, there are several things you need to do in order to have the best chance of obtaining compensation for any damage or injuries that take place. At Cyclist At Law, we want you to be as informed and prepared as possible.

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Prepare Before an Accident Takes Place

Again, it’s obviously preferable to do everything you can to avoid an accident in the first place. Ride in groups whenever possible, be wary of right side openings when you’re on the road, and be alert to the possibility that the sun could get in your eyes and hinder your vision. You should, however, also prepare for the possibility of an accident by making sure you have the right type of insurance coverage – personal injury protection and uninsured motorist coverage will both be a must.

If You’re in an Accident…

The first thing you need to do, of course, is seek medical attention if necessary and call the police if an accident takes place. If you’re able to, take pictures of the scene and get the contact information of any witnesses. Afterward, you should request a police report, take pictures of the damage to your bike and get an estimate of the damages that you have incurred, including medical expenses and lost wages.

Dealing With the Insurance Company

It is extremely important that you give us a call at 972-392-1249 before you speak to any insurance company representative regarding a bicycle accident claim. Once you do that, take the following steps:

• Do not delay medical treatment; not only for your physical well being, of course, but also because claims only settle once your medical care has finished.
• Set up a liability claim with the driver’s insurance company.
• Set up your property damage claim – make sure your bike gets settled first.

Finalizing the Case

There will basically be two potential paths of action once your claim has been filed – you’ll either accept the insurance company’s settlement offer (provided, of course, that the accident was caused by someone else) or you’ll reject the offer and file a lawsuit. You should never try and deal with an insurance company on your own. If you do, you run the risk of not getting anything close to the compensation to which you are entitled – there could even be a chance that you won’t get anything at all.

Your best chance at getting proper compensation for your bicycle accident claim is by getting in touch with an experienced attorney such as Cyclist At Law. You can call us at 972-392-1249 or contact us online to set up a free consultation.