Need an Injury Attorney for a West Virginia Bicycle Accident?
Many people in West Virginia choose biking as one of their favorite pastimes, something they loved to do in their childhood that followed them into adulthood. Luckily for bicyclists on the roadways in West Virginia, they have many rights just like any other type of vehicle rider or driver does. Unfortunately, every year bicycle accidents continue to occur in West Virginia, changing the way we see the dangers of our roadways.
Luckily, in 2013, it was shown that there were absolutely no fatalities by bicyclists throughout the entire state of West Virginia. We believe that this says a lot about bicycle safety, but at the same time bicyclists are still injured every year and we want to reduce these numbers. What happens if you sustained lasting injuries due to the negligence of a driver who was not watching out for bikers on the roadways? You may have a case, and we want to help.
After a Bicycle Accident
You may not know what you should and shouldn’t do after a bicycle accident. It makes sense to be a bit dismayed when somebody completely disregards your safety and chooses to act with negligence around those who are more susceptible to injuries. Here are some ways that you should proceed after a bicycle accident, especially when you want to preserve all evidence:
- Ensure that your bicycle is removed from the roadways as well as yourself so that you can prevent further injury and accidents from occurring.
- Record any contact information from parties involved in the accident, which means determining who was involved and on what level. You also want to receive contact information from witnesses at the scene.
- Always try to capture the license plate number of the driver who caused your accident.
- Never negotiate with the driver or blame them for the accident, or take the blame yourself.
- Always call the police to the scene of your accident so that they can write up a police report related to what happened, which you can use for future evidence in your court case or settlement.
- Receive medical attention immediately. Keep track of all of your bills and documentation that you receive so that you can move forward with your case and show what compensation is owed to you.
There are many devastating injuries that can stem from bicycle accidents. For instance, you may sustain a brain injury, especially when you have not been wearing a helmet. In fact, 47% of people who are involved in bicycle accidents will sustain some type of head injury that leaves a lasting impact on their life. These injuries could also lead to long-term disability depending on the severity. You may also receive fractures to the jaw bone, facial contusions, fractures bones, dislocated joints, and road rash when you have been thrown from the bike.
You know that preserving your case is the best way to show exactly what happened and prove a driver negligent for the actions they took or didn’t take. After a bicycle accident, you want to work as quickly as possible to preserve your case and seek medical treatment so that you can start to work toward compensation that you deserve. These cases can be incredibly complex, which is why you may need an experienced attorney on your side through every step. We are here for you.