When you’re hurt in a bike accident, you may be shocked and at a loss on what to do now. Bike accidents may not seem like a big deal to some people, but you may have been seriously injured by the accident. But what do you do next?
When you’re seriously injured, your next steps may be vital when it comes to getting compensated fairly. Without that compensation, it can be difficult or even impossible to recover fully from your injuries. Make sure you take the following steps after a bike accident to protect yourself.
Get Medical Attention
When you’re hurt in a bicycle accident, your first step is to get medical care. You may be seriously injured, even if you feel fine. While you may not have been moving as fast as a car, a collision and fall can lead to serious injuries, like the following:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Internal bleeding
- Severe lacerations
But you may not feel these injuries right away. You may instead feel symptoms several days after. But without treatment, these injuries may get more severe and can sometimes even turn deadly if left untreated.
Determine Who’s at Fault
Once you’ve talked to your doctor and gotten treatment, you need to know who caused these severe injuries. In some cases, the answer seems obvious: Another driver struck you because they were texting, drunk, or otherwise distracted.
But some claims may be more complex. For example, you may have been injured in a multi-vehicle accident, which can be difficult to untangle. In other cases, you may have been injured because of potholes or obstacles in the bike lane. In these cases, you may need to speak with a lawyer about your bike accident and who’s responsible for these road defects and obstacles.
Calculate Your Claim’s Worth
After a bicycle accident, you need to know what your claim is worth before you take your claim to court. If you’re not sure what compensation you’re due, it’s easy to accept a low settlement that doesn’t cover the costs of your injuries and other losses.
Because of this, you need to know what economic and non-economic damages are. Your economic damages cover all the financial losses you’ve suffered because of your injuries. These include your hospital bills, property damage, and other expenses.
Your non-economic damages cover the intangible suffering you experienced. This may include the pain of your injuries, the emotional trauma of your crash, and the loss of enjoyment of life your injuries may cause.
Find Out How a Lawyer Can Help After a Bike Accident
When you’re hurt in a bike accident, it can be tough to take the right steps and seek compensation for the suffering you were put through. Your injuries may hold you back, and you may not have the experience needed to get compensated fairly. Worse, you may make a mistake that limits your compensation or even dismisses your claim.
At Kohan & Bablove LLP, we understand what a difficult place you’re in. That’s why we’re here to help you take the right steps after a bike accident. Take advantage of our free consultations when you call 1-844-404-2400 or when you fill out the following online contact form.
