You can take several important steps to take after a hit-and-run bicycle accident, and knowing what to do can help you protect your health and legal rights. Any time a motorist strikes a cyclist, it can be traumatic. But uncertainty regarding the driver’s identity can be especially hard to accept.
If you suffered an injury in a hit-and-run bicycle accident, you should first call the police and get medical help, as we explain further down below. Often, the police may be able to track down and identify the driver who struck you. When the police cannot help, a personal injury attorney can help review your legal options for recovery.
Call the Police After You Are Struck in a Bicycle Hit-and-Run Crash
The first step to take after a hit-and-run bicycle accident is to call the police to notify them of the crash. This is true whether the driver who struck you leaves the scene. Not only is there an obligation to notify the police of a collision when injuries occur, but it is also a criminal matter to leave the scene of an accident. That means it is the police officers’ responsibility to investigate.
Often, the police will track down the driver that struck you. This is common in cases where an injured cyclist remembers the driver’s license plates. When the police can identify and track down the at-fault driver, you could pursue a personal injury lawsuit against them.
For a free legal consultation, call 800-333-9999
Seek Medical Care Right Away
If you suffered an injury after a biking accident, it is crucial to seek medical treatment promptly. If your injuries are serious, leaving the scene for emergency medical care may be necessary. This care is more important than gathering evidence at the scene or any other steps you might take after an accident.
Seeking medical care immediately after a hit-and-run bicycle accident is only part of the process. It is also necessary for you to follow the medical plan your doctor prescribed. This could include going to follow-up visits, keeping up with physical therapy appointments, and taking medication as ordered. The failure to follow a treatment plan could have negative consequences for your case.
Gather Evidence at the Bicycle Accident Scene
If you are in a condition where it is safe to do so, you should gather evidence from the collision scene. Accidents occur for a brief moment, and the ability to investigate all the relevant facts will not last forever. It is important to gather what evidence you can at the collision scene, even if the driver that hit you is no longer present.
One of the most important steps you can take is identifying any accident witnesses. Should your case go to trial, their testimony could support your account of events. What’s more, a witness might have noticed the license plate of the driver that struck you.
Seek Out Other Possible Sources for Bicycle Accident Evidence
Other pieces of evidence are worth investigating after a hit-and-run bicycle crash. It is worth your time noting nearby businesses, as one or more of them may have security cameras that could have captured the accident.
Finally, any physical evidence left behind from the accident could be important. If the driver damaged your bike, it could be possible that paint from the vehicle could have transferred to your bicycle. This could give the police a vehicle color to look for in case you didn’t get a good look at it. It is also possible for identifying objects like license plates to fall off in a crash.
Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
Contact Your Insurance Carrier
It is important to notify your insurance carrier as soon as you can. It is possible that your auto insurance could cover your injuries even though you were not driving at the time of your accident. This is especially important if you have uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage exists specifically for situations where the other driver leaves the crash scene or lacks insurance coverage at all.
Your policy likely requires you to contact the carrier as soon as it is reasonably possible for you to do so. The failure to contact your insurance company could have serious consequences, including that it could deny your future insurance claim. In some cases, the company might even cancel your policy. This could put one of your avenues for compensation at risk.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
You Can Reach Out to Our Injury Attorney After a Hit-and-Run Accident
One of the most important things to do after a hit-and-run bicycle accident is seeking counsel from a personal injury attorney right away. You could have multiple options for pursuing compensation after a hit-and-run bike crash, but without contact with an attorney, those options could slip away.
If you are considering legal action after a bike wreck, Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help. We collectively have 400-plus years of legal experience and have recovered more than $1 billion in settlements for our clients. To discuss your legal options, reach out as soon as possible for your free consultation. We don’t charge upfront fees or costs unless we win or settle your hit-and-run bicycle accident case.
Call or text 800-333-9999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
