Riding a bike is a great way to get exercise, avoid traffic, and enjoy the wonderful weather that Sarasota has to offer, all while getting where you need to go using a healthy commuting option. Unfortunately, Florida is a dangerous state when it comes to bicycle accidents, and no matter how defensive and alert of a cyclist you may be, you will never be completely safe from the possibility of being hurt—or killed—in a cycling accident. Even a low-speed impact between a cyclist and a motor vehicle can be catastrophic, meaning that a collision that would be considered a minor fender-bender between two vehicles can have a long-term or permanent impact on a cyclist’s life.
It is important to know all of the rules and regulations that Florida has set forth in order to bike as safely as possible, but it is equally important to know your legal rights and options in the event that you are in an accident, especially one caused by someone else’s negligence, reckless, or unfortunately, even their malice or aggression. The following information is intended to provide you with a general idea of how you can work towards getting the money that you deserve as the victim of a cycling accident. The process is never as simple as it should be, but with the right type of help, you can focus on your recovery while your legal representation fights for what you deserve.
Find a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Sarasota Today
1-800-Injured is an attorney and medical referral service. Instead of needing to take on the process of finding an attorney in the early days after your cycling accident, we will connect you with an available bicycle accident attorney in Sarasota who is ready to take your case today. Once connected, you will be able to discuss your accident with the attorney during a free initial consultation so that you can learn about how they can help you move forward, as well as provide you with examples of past cases they have taken on that were similar to your own.
Trying to go up against an insurance company on your own can be an overwhelming experience, especially when you realize that the entire insurance claims process is designed to identify as many ways as possible to limit your settlement amount, looking for technicalities and legal tools to use your own, usually innocuous, words against you. Instead of worrying about filtering everything you say to the claims adjuster with the hopes of avoiding these missteps, let your attorney handle all communications for you.
What To Do After a Bicycle Accident in Sarasota
After an accident, especially one that someone else caused, adrenaline will be high and it can be easy to escalate tensions by accusing, arguing, or confronting the driver about their actions. While this can feel cathartic, it is generally not recommended. Your main priority should be your health and safety, and knowing that you will be able to hire an attorney who can help you through the complicated legal process that will follow should give you some solace. Try to remain calm, or at least not escalate tensions, at the scene of the accident.
Prioritize Your Safety
Your safety is your top priority, so depending on the situation this might mean getting yourself to the side of the road, into a parking lot, onto a sidewalk, or generally out of the way of additional possible accidents. If you suspect that you have suffered a spine or neck injury, then remaining still may be the best option. Only if there is the threat of immediate and severe danger should you consider moving a spinal injury victim, and this should be done with the guidance of a professional if at all possible.
Call 911
Call 911 immediately, and if you are unable, someone else must. The 911 dispatcher will be able to gather all of the relevant information such as the nature of the accident, any injuries that the caller is aware of, any serious hazards that the fire department will need to anticipate, and more. It is important to know that answering all of the questions that the dispatcher asks will not delay them from alerting the first responders, so even though if may feel like you are wasting time answering these questions, they can only help. Once on the scene, the police, fire department, and EMTs will all be able to perform their respective duties in order to keep you safe from further harm and address your injuries.
Get Checked by the EMTs
The EMTs will be able to provide emergency care at the scene of the accident, but this is not a comprehensive check, nor do they have comprehensive tools to provide you with complete care. They will be able to check your injuries and make recommendations for the next steps, which may include taking a ride in the ambulance to an emergency room. It is in your best interest not to refuse the ride — you and your attorney will be able to seek repayment for the cost in your personal injury claim later.
Get Additional Medical Attention
Whether or not you take an ambulance to the emergency room, it is absolutely essential that you receive follow-up care from your primary care physician or the hospital medical staff. The most obvious reason for this followup is to make sure that you get appropriate medical care, but the secondary benefit of this additional care is that it helps to establish an official record of your injuries. During your insurance claims process, any injuries that you claim but are unable to prove will be met with aggressive resistance from the insurance company, meaning that undocumented injuries can cause you to lose out on significant compensation.
Hire an Attorney
After an accident, the clock is ticking on the time you have to file an insurance claim. However, by using 1-800-Injured to connect with an attorney, you will be able to find a lawyer before you need to submit the initial claim, meaning that from the moment your claim is started, there is a legal professional who is handling all communications for you, on your behalf. This way, you will not need to worry about making any statements that the insurance company will use against you, nor will you need to keep up on the administrative details of the process while you are trying to recover from your injuries. Instead, you can leave it to your attorney and let them fight to get you the money that you truly deserve, not just the money that the insurance company wants to pay.