5 Questions Your Lawyer Will Ask After a Bike Accident

In 2015, around 45,000 people suffered from injuries and disability as a result of an accident on a bicycle. Nearly a third of these accidents were a result of a collision with a vehicle on the road. Unfortunately, bicycle accidents are all too common, but did you know that as a cyclist, you are entitled to claim negligence and sue for damages?

There’s no time like the present to enlist the help of an Englewood Bike Accident Lawyer to represent your case. Once you’ve found the right legal representation, here are five questions that he or she may ask.

1. What Insurance Do You Have?

Following on from your bicycle accident, it’s important to sit down with your Englewood Bike Accident Attorney and discuss the ins and outs of your entitlements. While it might be clear who was to blame, it’s essential that this blame is established, without a doubt, so that insurance companies can cover any associated costs.

Therefore, one of the first courses of action is to find out what insurance you do have. Do you have specific bicycling insurance, as many cyclists do? Or, do you have car insurance? Many people aren’t aware, but depending on your car policy, you may be covered by your car insurance policy. By getting in touch with an Englewood Bike Accident Lawyer, you’re able to work through the many different insurance options, and how to maximize your cash recovery.

2. Did You Speak with The Driver’s Insurance Company?

The mistake many people make at the scene of an accident is either admitting or placing blame or talking directly to the driver’s insurance company. During the early stages, it’s critical to neither place blame, nor accept it. The best course of action is to talk to your Bike Accident Attorney and ask them to handle your case on your behalf.

By speaking with the vehicle driver’s insurance company, there’s every possibility what you say can be used against you in court.

 Your statements can significantly affect your settlement amount, and may even see the case thrown out of court. To establish a solid case of negligence, let an experienced law firm take control.

3. Did You Speak to Witnesses and Take Photos?

With over 6.4 million vehicle accidents in 2014 alone, your Englewood Bike Accident Lawyer is well-versed in how a negligence case plays out in court. Therefore, they know how well photos work to back up your claim, and how witness testimonies can prove invaluable to a trial. As a result, one of the first questions they will ask is whether you spoke to any witnesses, and took any photos.

If you don’t require an immediate trip to the hospital, it’s a good idea to get as many photos of the scene and close-up damage as possible. That includes taking pictures of your injuries, and damage to vehicles and your bicycle in the crash.

It’s also critical to get names, addresses and contact information from witnesses who can testify to the events that played out. This reliable evidence can be all it takes to settle a case of negligence for maximum damages.

4. Have You Suffered from Injury, Harm, Loss of Income, or Disability?

If you’re involved in a bicycle accident, your Englewood Bike Accident Lawyer is interested to know what the financial and physical implications were. It’s crucial not to play these down, as the financial burden of an accident can be substantial. If you were injured, disabled, lost income, or suffered from physical or emotional harm, take note. This can all be helpful for settling for maximum dollar.

5. How Can We Claim Negligence?

If you were involved in a bicycle accident through no fault of your own, your Englewood Bike Accident Lawyer will help you to establish a case of negligence. Negligence can seem like a strong term for something that is, in effect, an accident. However, it’s through neglectful actions that this accident occurred.

Your lawyer will discuss the events that led to the accident to determine how the situation could be deemed a case of negligence. It could be anything from a traffic sign or law violation, following too closely, reckless or careless driving, improper or no signaling, illegal lane changes, speeding, or even driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

After a bike accident, your emotions and sense of control can be all over the place. In such a situation, you’re also more likely to make errors. Therefore, it’s crucial that after an accident, you seek advice and counsel from an experienced Englewood Bike Accident Lawyer. Let them take the reigns and open your case of negligence for a higher chance of maximum damages.