Medically CitedIn This Article
Overview
Cycling has become increasingly popular over the past 20 years, with a massive increase in recreational cycling. Many people now choose to ride a bicycle to work for the obvious ecological and health benefits. Increased cycling numbers have inevitably led to an increase in the number of accidents involving bicycles.
According to statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Florida is one of the deadliest states for cyclists.[1]
In 2019, 783 bicyclists were killed in the United States. Florida accounted for 125 of those deaths.
In an accident between a bicycle and any vehicle, damage to the cyclist will always be far more severe than damage to the car’s driver, for obvious reasons.
Florida is only ranked the 24th “best” state for bike riding by the League Of American Bicyclists. The League of American Bicyclists is a nonprofit organization founded in 1880. It works to make US communities safer for cyclists.
If you or a loved one have ever been involved in a bicycle accident in florida that was not your fault, you may have a legal compensation claim.[2]
Let’s take a look together at what you need to do immediately after an accident with a motor vehicle to protect your interests should a legal claim arise.
What To Do At The Scene Of The Accident
Immediately after a crash, you will have adrenaline coursing through your veins. In addition, you may have some injuries, and you may be angry at the driver of the vehicle.
Do your best to keep your wits about you. Try to remain calm and be civil to the driver, irrespective of whether you believe it was their fault.
Ensure that you wait for the police to arrive at the accident scene. Do this even if you don’t think you are injured and the driver apologises and promises to make things right. Your injuries may be masked at the time by the adrenaline, and sometimes injuries only surface much later, and these can be pretty serious.
Once the police arrive, be sure to give them your details and your version of events. If the police ticket the driver, note this, as it can be crucial in establishing your claim later.
Obtain the contact information for the vehicle's driver and any witnesses.If you are injured and cannot do this, ask a bystander to do it for you.
Cell phones have become invaluable in these instances, as you can record voice notes into your cell phone, make text notes, and take photos and even videos of the accident scene. Too much information is better than insufficient information.
Make a note to document all injuries you may have suffered from the accident. Follow this up with a visit to a medical doctor. If you do need medical care and attention, you should document this in a journal, both in terms of expenses as well as any pain and suffering you may endure.
What Not To Do At The Scene Of The Accident
Make no statements that could be used to incriminate you or place blame on you. Don’t be aggressive or threaten the driver of the vehicle.
Lastly, don’t lower your defences based on the friendly attitude of the driver, despite their promises to make good, their initial admissions of guilt, or their apparent concern for your well-being. Many drivers have denied their presence at the accident scene later.
Go And See A Specialist Bicycle Accident Injury Claims Attorney
It is critical to see a bicycle accident attorney with a proven track record, preferably in your location. If the accident happened to you in South Florida, visit SofferFirm.com to get a free consultation. Based in Miami, these personal injury attorneys have a great track record of winning maximum compensation for their clients.
These attorneys will also work on a contingency basis. They absorb all the costs of the case and deduct expenses from any award they secure for you. Therefore, no award means no fees for you at all.
The attorney will take care of all the legal aspects of your case, from evaluation to insurance negotiations, settlement negotiations, and representation at court, leaving you to concentrate on getting well again and recovering from your injuries.
2 Sources
We review published medical research in respected scientific journals to arrive at our conclusions about a product or health topic. This ensures the highest standard of scientific accuracy.
[2] Injury Compensation : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2656689/
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