Every time you are in a vehicle, your awareness and perception of possible danger should be raised. Even with the utmost caution and diligence, one cannot guarantee their own safety. Hundreds of other people are constantly present around you, so anything can go wrong. Any one card driver, cyclist, pedestrian, or even animal acting in a certain way could cause an accident. Because of this, everyone should make every effort to stay safe while driving, especially if they are riding a bicycle.
Using a Bicycle
Bicycling has always been somewhat of a grey area, which makes it potentially dangerous in many ways. Although they have their own lanes, in some places they are also permitted to drive on the sidewalk or the road. Because individuals in automobiles and on foot are not paying enough attention, many cyclists misuse this. It doesn’t help that falling off a bike is enough to cause a lot of injuries and unfortunate accidents.
You might experience fear and a sense of being overpowered after a bicycle accident. You may not think about it all the time, but you ought to. You must be prepared to respond appropriately if it ever occurs to you. A general feeling of uncertainty can cause you to make mistakes that endanger both your health and your ability to receive a just personal injury compensation. Following a bicycle accident, you should avoid making the following mistakes:
Refusing to Contact the Police
Even if no one seems hurt, you should always report collision to the police. A police report verifies the accident’s occurrence, the parties involved, who was at fault, and whether or not legal action needs to be done. You never know; it might be a bad situation, some infrastructure might be to blame, and so would the local officials.
It may be necessary to call the authorities if you subsequently experience injury symptoms because certain symptoms take longer to manifest. The police report can help establish a timeline linking the crash to any illnesses with delayed onset, such as concussions or whiplash. Whatever you do, make sure to report the mishap to the authorities so that it can be recorded for future use if necessary. If you don’t, there is no way to later get assistance because there is no way to establish what occurred.
Not Seeking Emergency Medical Care
During a bicycle accident injury in Portland, OR, you must see a doctor immediately. There are situations when you appear to be alright at first but end up suffering afterwards. For instance, internal bleeding may be lethal even though some symptoms take time to manifest. What initially appears to be a simple bruise may really represent damage to critical organs that needs very urgent surgical intervention. Visiting a doctor as soon as possible ensures that you recognize your injuries as soon as possible and that you have the medical records you’ll need to support your claim later on. The medical record is required in addition to the police report in the event that you are eligible to compensation.
Leaving the Scene of an Accident
You may break the law and be charged if you leave the scene of an accident. Also, you run the danger of losing crucial details like the contact and insurance information of the other driver. Starting to gather evidence will help your case if you do not require immediate medical attention. Use your phone to take pictures or videos of the collision site. Get the contact information of any witnesses. Starting to gather evidence will help your case if you do not require immediate medical attention. Use your phone to take pictures or videos of the collision site. Get the contact information of any witnesses. As soon as the emergency services arrive, check to see whether anyone else requires assistance. If a legal dispute arises in the future, all of this will help you.
Explicating or Acknowledging Mistakes
Things are not always as they seem at the accident scene. Never admit to making a mistake since it could be used against you later to show that you didn’t mean it. Even though it did not happen that way, it can also be turned around and pointed at you. Never apologies or confess blame to the other driver or the responding police officers, even if it seems appropriate at the time. It is best to keep quiet even if you believe you are at fault. A car accident attorney can speak on your behalf while you wait for the two of you to develop the case. The worst thing you can do is apologies or accept responsibility when you were never at fault.
Accepting Settlement too Soon
If an adjuster offers you a settlement offer a few days after the accident, possibly even while you are still being treated in the hospital, don’t be shocked. It is an effort to get you to part with money before you realize the full magnitude of your losses. Remember that you will only ever settle one thing. When your claim has been resolved, you are not eligible for more money. Always wait to see what you can negotiate with your attorney. The opposite party’s haste is a good sign that they may be concerned about a legitimate case because their side is at fault. With a lawyer at your side, seek justice and compensation since you might probably get more that way.
Proceeding Forward at you Own
You could initially try to pursue compensation on your own since it might seem clear who caused the tragedy. Nonetheless, you can never predict the guilty party’s line of defense. They can try to reduce the amount of compensation you receive by putting some of the blame on you. You need a lawyer on your side who will stand up for your interests.
Don’t think you can handle anything by yourself. You cannot argue with a professional, and the other side will undoubtedly have legal representation. An attorney who specializes in bicycle accidents can help you collect the necessary documentation, communicate with the insurance company, and negotiate a fair settlement.
Avoiding these five mistakes would greatly help your case if you want to file a claim after being in an accident. But, the best approach to protect your rights is to speak with a knowledgeable auto accident lawyer right away.
