How to Secure the Best Outcome in Your Bicycle Accident Claim
Explore the essentials of a bicycle accident claim to ensure the best outcome. Click to uncover tips on maximizing your compensation.
To ensure that your bicycle accident claim goes smoothly, you should document everything thoroughly, get medical treatment right away, and avoid saying the wrong thing to insurers. Most importantly, get a good bicycle accident lawyer who can walk you through the process and make things much easier.
According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), every year, there are approximately 1,000 bicyclist deaths and 42,000 bicyclist injuries. You can do everything in your power to stay safe on the road, but the fact is that you can’t control conditions and what other people do.
This means that you need to be ready to make a bicycle accident claim at any time. While you can hope that you never suffer from an incident, it’s very likely you might, so you need to be prepared.
What To Do After a Bicycle Accident?
After you’ve had a bicycle accident, the first priority is safety and medical care. Call 911, which will bring police and EMTs; do this even if your injuries seem minor, as this can help with important documentation.
Speaking of which, you should take photos of:
- Your bike
- The vehicle
- Road conditions
- Injuries
If there are witnesses around, ask them for their contact information. Don’t discuss fault with the driver or insurer.
The next steps are to seek medical attention right away and to notify your insurance company. Preserve evidence if possible.
Our Team Is Here To Assist You Every Step Of The Way.
SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY TODAYHow To Claim for a Bicycle Accident?
To file a bicycle accident claim, start by reporting the incident to law enforcement. Also, gather documentation, such as:
- Medical records
- Photos
- Witness statements
While you should notify the at-fault driver’s insurance company that you intend to file a claim, you should avoid detailed statements.
You’ll have to provide proof of:
- Injuries
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Bike repair or replacement costs
- Any other losses
Act promptly, as Oklahoma’s statute of limitations only gives you two years to file an injury claim.
How to Ensure the Best Outcome for Your Bicycle Accident Claim
The personal injury claim process can be an extensive one, so you want to do everything in your power to make sure that it goes right. Here are our top tips.
Document Everything Thoroughly
We’ve already mentioned earlier that you should document things for basic records. But you need to go a step further to show the long-term impact of the accident. For example, you should track how your injuries affect:
- Your productivity at work
- Your ability to ride your bike again
- Your overall quality of life
It can be beneficial to save communications from employers regarding missed shifts or modified duties. And if you need to repair or replace your bicycle, get written repair estimates and assessments.
Get Medical Treatment Right Away
Of course, getting prompt medical treatment can ensure that small and even unnoticed injuries are properly treated. But more importantly, it can strengthen your claim.
If your symptoms persist, then ask for referrals to:
- Physical therapists
- Neurologists
- Orthopedic specialists
If you keep a consistent treatment timeline, you’ll create reliable records of the healing process. Requesting written statements from your doctors about expected long-term limitations or lifestyle adjustments can be hugely beneficial too.
Avoid Saying the Wrong Thing to Insurers
Insurers will never have your best interests at heart, even your own provider. So be very careful about what you say and how you communicate it.
Give yourself time to think about responses instead of responding immediately to phone calls or emails. And keep logs of every interaction, as this can prevent misunderstandings.
Get a Good Bicycle Accident Lawyer
You can up the chances of getting a good outcome for your claim by getting a good bicycle accident lawyer. Not only can they negotiate with the insurers on your behalf, but they can also build a strategic case tailored specifically to Oklahoma’s comparative negligence rules.
With a legal professional protecting your rights, you’ll have a stronger chance at maximizing your final bicycle accident settlement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Long Do Most Accident Settlements Take?
Most bicycle accident settlements can take anywhere from a few months to over a year, depending on how complex your case is. For example, a simple claim with clear liability and documented injuries can settle within 3-6 months, especially if the insurance companies are responsive.
However, if there’s any of the following, it can often take 9-18 months:
- Disputed fault
- Severe injuries
- Long medical treatment timelines
- Multiple parties
If you work with an experienced personal injury lawyer, then this can help streamline the process.
How Much Compensation for a Cycling Accident?
The compensation you can get for a cycling accident will really depend on the following factors:
- Injury severity
- Medical costs
- Time away from work
- Long-term impact on your life
For most minor injury claims, you can get a few thousand dollars to cover your medical bills and repairs. As for more serious accidents, these can lead to settlements or verdicts from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
What Is a Maximum Claim Limit?
A maximum claim limit refers to the highest amount you can recover from an insurance policy or responsible party after a bicycle accident.
If you’ve been hit by a car, the driver should have an auto insurance policy that meets minimum liability limits. They may even carry higher limits, so this affects how much money you can receive.
In the former case, your compensation may be capped. This is unless you have uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your own bicycle accident insurance policy.
Ensure Your Bicycle Accident Claim Goes Smoothly
Now you know the proper steps to take so that you can make a bicycle accident claim with as few issues as possible. While much of it lies in your own hands, having a reputable and excellent lawyer on your side certainly wouldn’t hurt.
When you have the expertise of a legal professional at your disposal, it can give you peace of mind. This will allow you to focus on the healing process and on having less stress.
Contact us now to get a free case consultation if you want to pursue bicycle injury compensation. BDIW Law is available 24/7 and doesn’t charge you a fee unless you win!
