If you were riding your bicycle and were hit by a car, you are likely entitled to compensation for your injuries. Unlike an accident between cars, the damage to a bicycle is negligible compared to your injuries. As a bicyclist, you are entitled to the road as much as a car is, but a driver is often not looking for a bike rider. A bicyclist is often hit from behind or hits a car that pulls out of a driveway onto the street without looking. If you have been hit by a car, you should understand the following things.
You should see a doctor immediately
Except in situations where you are transported to an emergency room, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible. It is best you see a doctor the same day of the accident. There are many injuries you can sustain from being hit by a car, and many of them may not manifest themselves for several days. As long as you saw a doctor on the day of your accident, it will be easier to establish a relationship between a future medical problem and the car that hit you.
You should not agree to anything
Never negotiate or entertain any offers made to you by an insurance company. No matter how good the offer may sound, you don't have the legal knowledge or experience to understand how much compensation you should receive. Injuries suffered by bicyclists who are hit by a car can have a longer recovery time than injuries people suffer in a car accident. Many bicyclists have physical problems for the rest of their lives. A attorney with experience representing bicyclists should always be consulted.
Never talk about the accident on social media
This is good advice in general, but it is especially important when you have been in an accident on your bicycle with a car. Unless the accident was clearly the fault of the driver, an insurance company will be looking for any reason to deny your claim or keep your settlement to the lowest amount possible. This means creating a counter narrative of what happened, and comments or photos you post on social media sites can be turned against you. Any posts you make on social media sites are likely to make it more difficult for you attorney to get you the compensation you are entitled to.
When a car hits you when you are riding your bicycle, you can sustain injuries that you will have to live with for the rest of your life. It is imperative that you document your current medical condition immediately after the accident, do not discuss what happened with an insurance company, and hire a bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible.
