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It doesn’t matter how careful you are; accidents can still happen. If you ride a bicycle to work, it only takes one reckless driver to cause you serious injury. Pittsburgh bicycle accident attorney Jonathan M. Stewart at SMA Law Group has years of experience representing cyclists. He’ll work to get you the compensation you need and deserve to move forward with your life without a financial burden.<br>
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What to Do After a Pennsylvania Bicycle Accident
It doesn’t matter how careful you are; accidents can still happen. If you ride a bicycle to work, it only takes one reckless driver to cause you serious injury. You’re always careful and mindful of other drivers, but you may not have time to react if a driver opens their car door into the bicycle lane or cuts you off with a right turn at an intersection.
Steps to Take After a Pennsylvania Bicycle Accident Move Call 911 Take Photos Always Get the Driver’s Information Don’t Admit Fault Talk to Police Seek Medical Treatment Properly Maintain Evidence Contact a Lawyer
Move If you aren’t seriously harmed, move away from the road. If you have severe injuries, it’s better to lay in one place until the ambulance gets there to avoid further injury.
Call 911 If you are not physically able to do it yourself, ask someone else to call emergency services. You’ll need to report the accident, what injuries you’ve sustained, and the location so an ambulance can find you.
Always Get the Driver’s Information This accident is no different than a car crash. Pedal cycles are subjected to the same duties and rights as vehicles on Pennsylvania roads according to PennDOT Code 3051(a). Get the driver’s address, phone number, full name, and insurance information. If they insist on leaving the scene before police arrive, get their license plate number and state as well, so you can request a copy of the driver’s ID.
Take Photos Using a digital camera or your cell phone, take photos of the scene of the accident. You’ll want pictures of your injuries, your bike, the car with its license plate number, and the place where the accident occurred.
Talk to Police Give the police a detailed report of your side of the story including all injuries incurred. Then ask for a copy of the incident report.
Seek Medical Treatment Even if you think you’re alright, head for the hospital. Sometimes the adrenaline involved in an accident can hide injuries or make serious injuries seem smaller.
Don’t Admit Fault Never talk to the driver’s insurance company without first speaking to a lawyer. It’s a slim chance that the driver or their insurer will be looking out for your best interests. They’re likely to try to put the blame on you. Even if you think the accident might have been your fault, never admit liability.
Properly Maintain Evidence After the accident, don’t do anything that could hurt your case. This includes throwing away your helmet, repairing your bicycle, or washing the clothes you wore when the accident occurred. Keep track of all of the pictures you took and the contact information for your witnesses and the driver, and hold onto all of your medical receipts. These could all be invaluable evidence if you decide to fight for compensation.
Contact a Lawyer The Pittsburgh bicycle accident attorney at SMA Law Group have years of experience representing cyclists. He’ll work to get you the compensation you need and deserve to move forward with your life without a financial burden.
Address: 437 Grant St. #600 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Contact: Phone: 412-765-3345 Website: https://www.smalawgroup.com/contact/
