Personal Injury Lawyer

The most important thing to do after a collision between a bicycle and a motor vehicle is to make sure that everyone is safe and to minimize the chance of a second crash occurring. If you get hit by a car while on your bicycle, you may have serious injuries and require immediate medical attention. Your health should always take priority, but if you are able to remain at the accident scene in the immediate aftermath of the collision, you should take the opportunity to gather as much evidence as you can about the accident. Here are the types of evidence that are most helpful to you.

1. Witness Statements

It can be very helpful to have the statements of witnesses to the accident who can give an account of what happened from a third-party perspective. People who were not involved can describe the accident objectively, which can be very valuable to you. If possible, you should take down witnesses’ accounts of what happened at the scene, but there is not always time for that. At the very least, you should obtain their names and contact information so you can get in touch later. If they give permission, you can also take their pictures so you can tell them apart, but don’t do so without asking first.

2. Driver’s Insurance Information

You may have to make a claim against the driver’s insurance for injuries or damage to your bicycle. Therefore, you should collect the policy information from the driver just as you would after a collision between two automobiles. Even if the driver is uncooperative and does not disclose this information, at the very least you can record his or her license plate number.

3. Pictures and Video of the Scene

Like most people, you likely keep a smartphone with you at all times. This can be useful for recording details of the accident through pictures and video. Objective witness statements can be helpful, but recorded images are just as good, if not better, because they are not colored by an individual’s perception and the limitations of human memory. If you have visible injuries as a result of the crash, such as bruises or cuts, you can take pictures of these as well. These can augment your medical records and show the extent of your injuries even after they start to heal.

If you need additional help gathering evidence after a bike accident, contact an attorney, like a bike accident attorney from Barry P. Goldberg, auto accident attorney, today. Attorneys have resources at their disposal to find what you may not be able to gather at the scene, especially if you are significantly injured.