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What Should I Do After a Catastrophic Bicycle Accident?
Many people wrongly assume that because a bicycle doesn’t move as fast or weigh as much as a motorized vehicle, bicycle accidents can’t cause the same kinds of severe injuries. That couldn’t be further from the truth, especially when that bicycle ends up in an accident with a motorized vehicle. Because of the exposure to the environment and lack of protection on a bike, the rider can be catastrophically injured, up to and including loss of limbs, traumatic brain injuries, and permanent bodily disfigurement.
Unlike other personal injury issues after an accident, in which loss of work hours and medical expenses are the biggest concerns, catastrophic injuries are life-altering and have permanent and detrimental impacts on a person’s life. It’s essential, after dealing with a bicycle accident that leads to these kinds of catastrophic injuries, to file a thorough and comprehensive personal injury claim because the law is designed to help protect you from lifelong suffering because of someone else’s negligence. That’s where an experienced and knowledgeable legal team like the one at Finn Trial Attorneys can help you get the compensation and assistance you need and deserve.
How Do I Make a Personal Injury Claim After Bicycle Accident Injuries?
Many of the standard elements of making a personal injury claim also apply to a catastrophic bicycle injury claim. Still, some of them become more complicated by the changes caused by the injury severity and the need for emergency action.
For example, a good rule of thumb at the scene of an accident is to wait for the police to arrive. This is because there will then be a record of the accident by the police, including your recounting of the events. However, in the case of catastrophic injuries, time may be of the essence in making sure your injuries do not worsen or lead to death. If emergency medical services take you to the hospital before the police arrive to treat you for catastrophic injuries, you will not be able to stay at the scene and speak with the police. However, if there is anyone with you or nearby, ask them to take pictures of the scene, your injuries, and anything else they can gather until you are taken to the hospital.
You should also gather driver and witness information if you or the person accompanying you can. Though it may be difficult, try to preserve any evidence at the scene, including any damage to the bicycle or your safety equipment, as best as possible.
Afterwards, in the hospital, be completely honest and transparent about potential medical issues. Now is not the time to be the strong, silent type. All injuries need to be documented by a medical professional so that they can be covered in the personal injury claim.
Throughout the hospital stay, recovery process, and aftermath of the accident, keep clear and detailed records of everything that impacts you negatively so that you and your attorney can study them and establish what belongs in a personal injury claim.
What Should Be Included in a Personal Injury Claim?
When you’re ready to start assembling your claim, several categories of damages can and should be considered, including property damage, lost wages, medical costs, and pain and suffering.
Property damage is anything you own that was damaged or destroyed in the accident, including the bicycle itself and your safety equipment, but also anything that was on your person at the time, such as expensive jewelry or electronics. Lost wages are the money you lost due to your inability to work because of the injury and the related recovery time and medical necessities. Everything from your hospital stay to doctor-mandated bed rest to work time lost because of required doctor appointments could all fall into this category.
Medical costs are precisely what they sound like: any costs incurred to deal with your medical issues, from the emergency services at the scene of the accident to any surgeries or procedures at the hospital to any hospital stays, follow-ups, medical equipment or prescriptions, or post-accident assistance needed. All of these should be included in your claim, including projected costs for continued future care if it will be needed. Long-term assistance is often a reality for people with catastrophic injuries.
The final elements are pain and suffering, and they’re less precise than the others because they do not involve reimbursing costs but rather compensating for experiences and struggles. People who have been through serious trauma and struggles from catastrophic bicycle accidents may well have severe pain and suffering that deserve to be reimbursed.
Do I Need an Attorney for My Catastrophic Bicycle Accident Claim?
As with many aspects of the law in California and the United States, you are not required to have an attorney assist you with your personal injury claim after a catastrophic bicycle accident. However, it’s vital to know what you might be risking by not getting the kind of help provided by a legal team like Finn Trial Attorneys.
Insurance companies profit from not paying out as much as they should in any injury case. They will do anything legally possible to keep from having to pay. Sometimes, it’s straightforward things like offering you insulting low-ball offers because they know you’re struggling and need money. Sometimes it’s more nefarious, like rejecting claims and dragging out the process to discourage you from continuing to pursue a claim. They also benefit from your lack of knowledge of how the process works, hoping that improperly submitted documentation or a missed deadline will cost you your best chance at getting the compensation you deserve and truly need to have the best chance at a productive life.
There’s no reason to risk any of those potential devastating outcomes when an ideal partner is ready to work with you and provide their years of knowledge to get you what you deserve. Call Finn Trial Attorneys today at 619-375-5105 so we can get started immediately, helping you secure the compensation you deserve.
