What Should I Do at the Scene of a Bicycle Accident?

What Should I Do at the Scene of a Bicycle Accident?People of all ages in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, enjoy riding bicycles because it’s a great form of exercise, a chance for families who ride together to bond, and a cheap form of transportation.

Sadly, bicycle accidents happen all too often because drivers speed, drive while distracted, and for many other reasons. When a car, truck, or motorcycle strikes a bicycle rider, the rider is likely to suffer serious injuries. Tragically, many bicycle accidents are fatal. More than half of all bicycle fatalities in Alabama involve riders between 41-60.

As we’ve written, in our discussion of bicycle accidents, Alabama law provides that bicycle riders have the same rights and duties as the operators of motorized vehicles. Drivers who want to pass should “always give more than 3 feet or change lanes completely to pass.” Also, children under 16 must wear helmets.

Bicycle riders should consider wearing helmets (even if they are 16 or older), taking steps to ensure that they and their bicycles are visible, and regularly inspecting their bike’s tires, brakes, and other parts.

What should drivers who are involved in a bicycle accident do after the accident?

Alabama law (Section 32-10-2 of the Alabama Code) requires that drivers who are involved in any type of accident (including accidents with a bicycle) that results in injury or death shall provide the following information to any victims or to the police:

  • Name
  • Address
  • Vehicle registration number

The driver should also exhibit their driver’s license to the bicycle accident victim.

The driver also has a duty to provide reasonable assistance:

“Including the transportation of, or the making of arrangements for the transportation of such person to a physician or hospital for medical or surgical treatment, if it is apparent that such treatment is necessary or if such transportation is requested by the injured person.”

A driver who injures or kills a bicycle rider also has a duty to contact the local police, highway state patrol, or county sheriff as soon as possible. Normally, the quickest way to contact local law enforcement is by dialing 911.

 

What should injured bicycle riders do after an accident in Alabama?

Take care of your health

Your first priority is your health. You, someone who was with you, someone nearby who can help, or the officer called to the scene of the accident should arrange for immediate medical transport to the nearest hospital emergency room. Bicycles are no match for cars. Many bicycle accident victims suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, the loss of a limb, fractures, or other catastrophic or serious injuries. Prompt medical attention is often critical.

Contact the police

If the driver hasn’t already called the police, then you or someone else who can help should call the local police. The police can help with any medical needs, including obtaining emergency medical transportation to the nearest hospital emergency room. You can contact the police by dialing 911.

The police will obtain the relevant contact and insurance information from the driver. The police will also conduct an investigation into what happened. In some cases, such as if you were struck by a drunk driver, they may give the driver field sobriety tests and/or breathalyzer tests that could lead to an arrest.

Seek immediate medical care

Even when you wait until the police arrive, bicycle accident victims should seek prompt medical attention at a local emergency room. Seeking immediate care helps to show that your injuries were serious. If you wait, the insurance company for the defendant may argue that you weren’t hurt that much. Immediate medical care helps to show that your injuries are related to the bicycle accident and not some other cause.

Prompt care also helps doctors address injuries where the symptoms might not be immediately apparent, such as when you have neck or back pain that may take hours or days to become apparent. ER doctors and any specialists that the ER doctors (or your family doctor) recommend can help to properly diagnose your injuries and begin the necessary treatments.

Take pictures

To the extent that you or someone with you can, it helps to take pictures of your injuries. These pictures should show you at your worst, including if you’re bleeding, what bruises and cuts you have, and the pain that you’re experiencing. You should also take photos of the damage to the driver’s vehicle, the damage to your vehicle, and the accident site.

Limit your conversations

You should NOT discuss the accident with the driver who struck you. You should never admit that you were doing anything wrong or even that you’re sorry. You can speak with the police. If there are any witnesses, you should ask them for their name and how you can contact them. You can also discuss with any witnesses what they saw.

Contact our bicycle accident lawyers

You SHOULD contact our experienced bicycle accident lawyers as soon as possible. We can explain your rights and review your medical care. Our personal injury lawyers can file your insurance claim with the responsible driver. If the driver doesn’t stop, we can explain whether you can use your own uninsured/underinsured policy. We can file a legal complaint if necessary.

Our Tuscaloosa bicycle accident lawyers work with investigators who will investigate what happened. Our lawyers question the driver and any other witnesses. Our lawyers also fight for all the compensation you deserve for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost income, and the damage to your bicycle.

At Prince Glover Hayes, we have 45 years of experience fighting for bicycle accident victims and the victims of many other types of accidents. Our lawyers have helped many clients like you obtain strong recoveries. We handle bicycle accident claims on a contingency fee basis. Please call us or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free evaluation today.