Steps to Take After a Bike Accident in Irvine

Following the occurrence of a bike accident injury in Irvine there are a number of steps that should be taken to ensure proper medical treatment and prevent damaging a future injury claim should it be necessary. With this in mind, the following is information on the first steps an individual involved in a bike accident should take, and how an experienced Irvine bike accident lawyer can assist in recovery.

Step 1: Get Medical Attention

The first thing a person involved in a bicycle accident should do is get the appropriate medical attention. If the paramedics and an ambulance need to be called, then 911 should be called immediately. The police and paramedics will arrive on the scene, the police will write their report and the paramedics will attend to the bicycle operator’s injuries.

If it is a serious head injury, concussion, or orthopedic injury, then the paramedics will know what to do.  They will get the bicycle operator on a backboard with a head restraint so the injury is contained. Then they will transport the injured bicyclist to the nearest emergency room.

Step 2: Contact An Attorney

After obtaining the appropriate medical attention, whether at an emergency room or with your own primary care physician, you should contact a qualified attorney to handle your case. An appropriate lawyer who has handled other bicycle accidents in the past will be able to address the unique issues that arise when a bicyclist is injured.

If there is a police report, then the attorney you contact can obtain the police report from the police who arrived at the scene and evaluate who was at fault and how the case needs to proceed.

Step 3: Have The Attorney Contact Insurance

Your attorney will contact the insurance company who insures the vehicle that hit the bicyclist. If the incident was a hit-and-run where the motor vehicle operator fled the accident scene, you as the bicyclist may still be protected by your own automobile insurance through uninsured motor protection. This insurance generally follows you in any motor vehicle accident, even when you are not in your motor vehicle. An experienced lawyer who has handled serious bicycle accident cases will know exactly what to do including how to represent the injured bicyclist and protect their rights.

Step 4: Compile Any Evidence You May Have

In terms of the damage sustained to the bicycle, you should take photographs, because they will be part of the claim and will also assist the attorney in assessing fault. If you can obtain photographs of paint transfers from the vehicle onto the bicycle, along with the physical evidence of the bicycle itself, that can help an accident-reconstruction expert establish who is at fault and how the injuries were sustained.

Step 5: Follow Up With Your Physician

You should also always follow up with your physician. If your physician wants you to see a specialist such as an orthopedic surgeon or a neurologist, you should always do that and get the appropriate tests or treatment, including MRI or CT scan if they are ordered. This will help provide evidence of damages in your case.