A Philadelphia Bicycle Accident Attorney Explains What To Do Immediately After A Bicycle Accident In Pennsylvania

Nothing compares to taking in the scenic landscapes of Pennsylvania on a bicycle. City streets, rural bike trails, and riverside paths, Pennsylvania has something to offer all cyclists. Exploring this state on a bicycle is a recreational activity that thousands of people choose to engage in each year. However, even though government leaders take steps to help ensure the well-being of cyclists, certain risks are still involved with riding a bicycle. Sharing the road with motor vehicles or experiencing difficulties with pathway surfaces could lead to an accident. That many, if not most, of these accidents cannot be foreseen makes the accident even more difficult for you to experience. Expecting the unexpected is necessary when cycling in Pennsylvania. Identifying roadway hazards may not always be possible until it is too late. Staying safe on area roads and trails helps keep you safe. Today, a Philadelphia bicycle accident attorney will share with you information gathered from years of serving individuals injured in cycling accidents in Pennsylvania. 

Steps To Take After Experiencing A Bicycle Accident In Pennsylvania

Being involved in a bicycle accident is a disorienting situation. Once you have thought through what happened, there are a handful of steps to take to prepare yourself for the remaining stages of a bicycle accident case.

Step #1: Safety First

It will come as no surprise that a person who is injured in a bicycling accident would have many thoughts circulating in their mind about how to avoid accidents in the future. However, if it is too late to prevent an accident, then you should consider the following steps geared towards helping injured Pennsylvanians.

After suffering an injury as a cyclist, do your best to move yourself and your bicycle to a less crowded area. Once in a less congested area, you can check yourself for injuries and prevent additional accidents from occurring. In the moments after a bicycle accident, it is not uncommon for you to experience a diminished level of pain. However, once the initial shock of an accident subsides, you can better assess yourself for injuries. 

Step #2: Contacting 9-1-1 To Complete An Accident Report

Regardless of the severity of the accident, it is advisable to contact law enforcement afterwards. The moments immediately after an accident may result in you experiencing a muted level of pain. As time passes, however, the true extent of your injuries can be more accurately assessed. A police report memorializes the events of the accident and details the injuries suffered. 

Step #3: Trade Information With The Other Person Involved In The Accident

Before exiting the scene of the cycling accident, ensure that you exchange information with the other party. Simple information that needs to be exchanged includes the name, contact information, and insurance circumstances of each party. Even if no party was operating a motor vehicle, it is a good idea to collect driver’s license numbers as well. 

Why is collecting this information so critical? An insurance claim will likely need to be filed as time progresses. Reporting an accident to an insurance carrier without essential pieces of information can delay the process and prevent you from obtaining the help that you need. 

Anthony C. Gagliano, III, Esquire, P.C., is a Philadelphia bicycle accident attorney who understands how to advocate for the interests of injured cyclists. A free consultation is yours simply by contacting our office today. 

Step #4: Keep A Record Of The Events As They Occur

Whether you are filing an insurance claim or proceeding to a contested court case, evidence is necessary to substantiate your side of the story. Evidence takes a two-dimensional case and turns it into a three-dimensional story. In other words, evidence adds depth to your claim or legal case. 

Unless an injury or road condition prevents you from doing so, it is a good idea to take photos of the scene of your accident. You can never assume that the opportunity to photograph an accident scene will always be there. The accident scene includes damage to your bicycle and the bicycle or motor vehicle of the other party. Finally, any injuries you have suffered should be photographed unless you are physically incapable of doing so. 

Step #5: Seek Immediate Medical Care

Bicycle accidents are among the most severe that a person can suffer through. The key difference is that a cyclist has their entire body exposed to the full force of that impact. This tends to result in cyclists suffering more severe injuries. When you suffer significant injuries, it is critical that you think about medical care first and foremost. 

A medical professional can examine you for injuries, even if you consider yourself to have only suffered minor injuries. Even though your injuries may seem relatively minor in the immediate aftermath of an accident, the more time passes, the more likely your injuries are to reveal themselves fully 

Do you have any pre-existing conditions that impair your ability to perform activities in your daily life? If so, then documenting the events of the accident and photographing any visible injuries is especially important. Once you report your injuries, consider seeking medical care as soon as possible. 

Waiting to receive medical care increases the likelihood that the insurance company will argue that some or even all your injuries were not caused by the cycling accident. Insurance companies can accept fault for an accident and then continually make settlement offers that are beneath the fair value of your claim if medical treatment is brought to an end

Step #6: Determining Whether To Seek Emergency Medical Care

When the injuries suffered in the cycling accident are especially severe, consider seeking emergency medical care. Depending on the injuries sustained in the accident, a witness, law enforcement, or an injured person may call 9-1-1 to have emergency personnel arrive at the scene of the accident. Do not dismiss offers for emergency care without seriously considering your injuries. 

Excessive bleeding, cuts, or other signs of trauma indicate that hospital-level care may be necessary. Unfortunately, cyclists are prone to suffering head injuries when impacted by a motor vehicle. The nature of these accidents is that it is not difficult to be propelled from your bicycle and onto the road surface. Wearing a helmet is advisable while riding a bicycle, but even a helmet may not prevent all head injuries. 

Allow emergency personnel to conduct a thorough body check to assess the extent of your injuries. Problems breathing and the indication of broken bones mean that emergency care should be considered. Before you consider any other factor, remember that hospitals and emergency rooms are equipped to assist you with immediate, life-threatening issues.

Step #7: Contact The Insurance Company

As a cyclist, it is critical that you obtain the auto-insurance information for the at-fault driver who caused your accident. Once you are physically able to do so, you should contact the insurance company to report a claim. Basic information about the accident, including the parties involved, the location, and a brief assessment of what occurred, will be requested of you. Tell the truth and provide the necessary information to help establish the actual events as they happened. 

Do not wait to file a claim after the accident has taken place. The earlier you report the accident, the sooner you can begin to receive help. Depending on the circumstances and the insurance company involved, you may be eligible to receive immediate assistance with paying medical bills. There are laws and insurance company rules that require an accident to be reported within a specific timeframe after it has occurred. Delaying notification may result in the loss of your ability to file a claim. 

Another driver or cyclist may be filing a claim against you with their insurance company or your own. By contacting your insurance company, you can establish your position on what happened. The longer you wait to report the accident, the more difficult it can become to recall the events as they occurred. Accuracy demands that you contact your insurance company as soon as possible after the accident. 

Step #8: Contact An Experienced Philadelphia Bicycle Accident Attorney 

The outcome of your bicycle accident case can vary significantly depending on the decisions you make. Seeking appropriate medical care, documenting the events of the accident, and timely reporting your claim are among the steps you can take to advocate for yourself initially. However, an attorney experienced at serving clients injured in bicycle accidents can significantly improve your chances of receiving maximum compensation for your injuries and property damage. 

Contact A Philadelphia Bicycle Accident Attorney Today For A Free Consultation

Have you been injured in a bicycle accident? Contact a Philadelphia bicycle accident attorney for a free consultation. Our team of legal professionals will advocate for your rights and pursue the damages you deserve.