Bicyclists face danger every day around Long Island. Many motorists intentionally or unintentionally refuse to share the road, putting your body and property in harm’s way.
After experiencing a bicycle accident on Long Island, it’s critical to speak to the professionals at Jacoby & Jacoby right away. However, even before you pick up the phone, there are various steps to take to protect your rights and ensure the greatest chance of a fruitful outcome in court.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents
Not every collision is the same, and when you’re on a bike, there are various ways the negligence of others can cause you severe harm. Some of the most common explanations for why motorists get into accidents with bicyclists is due to driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs as well as distracted driving, such as looking at the phone while behind the wheel.
Bicyclists also have to contend with dooring, which is when a driver or passenger opens a door into a bike lane, and the bicyclist doesn’t have enough time to react. Drivers can fail to yield to bicyclists, trapping them in an intersection.
Sometimes, the local government is at fault. A bike lane may enter a state of disarray, and the bicyclist can injure themselves riding over a pothole.
Steps to Take After a Bicycle Accident on Long Island
After experiencing a collision, it’s natural to feel shaken up. You may not be in the proper state of mind to think clearly, and pursuing a lawsuit may not even be something you’re concerned with at the moment.
However, it’s critical to follow some key steps in the direct aftermath of a bicycle accident. It’ll set you on the right path of having the best chance of success in a courtroom with Jacoby & Jacoby by your side. That’s why it’s usually a good idea to follow these steps directly after a collision.
- Seek Medical Care: You or someone in the vicinity should contact 911 to have an ambulance take you to a hospital. Even if you feel fine, it’s a good idea to have a doctor check you out as soon as possible. Some injuries are hidden and only become a concern days or even weeks later. Plus, a doctor’s visit establishes a paper trail and shows how an injury was, in fact, caused by the accident.
- Call the Police: When calling 911, it’s a good idea to have the police show up to document the scene. The officer will create a written statement that’ll be beneficial for insurance purposes, and it allows the cop to offer their commentary on who was ultimately at fault.
- Document the Scene: It’s good to have pictures to document any injuries to yourself, damage to your bike, and any extenuating circumstances that would contribute to the accident. For example, if you hit a pothole, you’d want to get a picture of any road damage that would’ve played a role in you losing control of your bike. All of this is necessary to support your future case.
- Get Other Parties’ Contact Information: You’ll want to get the contact and insurance information for any drivers involved in the collision. Ideally, you can get the contact information for any witnesses who would be willing to provide testimony about what transpired.
- Leave Evidence As Is: You don’t want to change a single thing about what happened. If your bicycle is broken, you should leave it like that to show the court at a later time how badly it was damaged. Additionally, you shouldn’t wash your clothes to remove any blood or dirt. Everything is essential to paint the clearest picture of what happened.
- Avoid Apologizing:You may be tempted to say, “I’m sorry,” out of habit. However, you never want to do anything where it could be interpreted that you admitted fault for the accident occurring. You also don’t need to discuss the crash itself with the driver, but if the driver admits fault, you should get that down as an official statement.
- Don’t Post on Social Media: For an ongoing case, you should keep it private. You don’t want to post anything on Facebook or Instagram, even if you think it would help your case. Let your lawyer handle all communications with the other parties involved.
Let an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney From Jacoby & Jacoby Handle Your Case
After you get medical attention and have all the documentation you need, you should consider contacting Jacoby & Jacoby, experienced personal injury lawyers on Long Island, to take on your case. It can be invaluable to have legal help during this trying time so that you receive the most benefits out of a daunting situation.
Our lawyers can communicate with the other parties to fight for every dollar you’re owed, from medical bills to lost wages to repairs to your bicycle. Get in touch to schedule your free consultation. We’re here to get justice for you and the many other cyclists who have been hurt because of other people’s negligence.
