5 Ways You Can Hurt Your Bicycle Accident Claim

Imagine this: you are riding on your bicycle peacefully, having fun. Suddenly, a car runs the red light and hits you. This is just an imaginary situation for you, but a reality for many bicyclists.

An accident could happen to you at any time. The common causes of accidents include:

• Distracted driving
• Driving while intoxicated
• Violation of traffic rules
• Sleep-deprived driving

Accident victims will sustain many losses, which they can recover by filing a claim. The bicycle accident claim process is quite complex and requires the expertise of an experienced lawyer.

Experienced bicycle accident lawyers can help to a great extent in obtaining fair compensation for victims.

This article discusses the common mistakes of a victim that can potentially ruin the claim. Read on

Not taking photos and videos

The burden of proof is on the victim in personal injury cases. It means the victim must provide sufficient evidence to prove the case. Photos and videos are great evidence that can prove many things.

Take photos of the following:

• Damage to your vehicle
• Your injuries
• Skid marks
• Relevant traffic signs

Admitting fault

You might want to say sorry to the other driver out of generosity, but it is a huge mistake. Sorry can be considered an admission of fault.

Insurance adjusters will be on the lookout to find something that they can use against you. They are well-trained in the art of using your words against you.

So refrain from saying sorry or other words that can be considered an admission of guilt.

Not getting medical attention

Getting medical attention is important, even if you feel fine after the accident. Medical care is important for your health and your case.

The following are the reasons why you should get immediate medical attention:

• You may have sustained injuries that don’t show symptoms right away.
• Insurance adjusters will claim that your injuries are not severe.
• They will also claim that you deliberately made your injuries worse by not getting medical attention.

Not speaking with a lawyer

The biggest mistake you can make after an accident is not hiring a lawyer. Insurance companies are known for lowballing victims. A lawyer can protect you from them.

A lawyer can help you in the following ways:

• With the help of their resources, they can investigate the accident and collect evidence.
• They can accurately calculate your losses. They will consider both economic and non-economic losses when calculating them.
• They will initiate the claim process and start the negotiation with the insurance company. They will negotiate and secure fair compensation.
• If the insurance company is not willing to settle for a fair amount, the lawyer will take your case to court.
• Lawyers will bring expert witnesses to prove your case.

You will miss out on all these things if you don’t hire a lawyer.

Posting on social media

Yes, social media usage can ruin your case. It may be hard to believe, but it is true. As said, insurance adjusters will be on the lookout to find a reason to reject your claim.

One of the things they will do is stalk you on social media. They will try to use your posts on social media against you.

For example, let’s say you post a picture of you having a nice time with your family. The insurance company will claim that you are as affected as you claim to be.

You shouldn’t let this happen. Just stay off social media until the case is over.

Final Thoughts

Avoiding these mistakes will significantly improve your chances of winning fair compensation. Hiring a lawyer almost solves all the problems. They will anticipate potential problems and fix them before they become a big issue. If you get into a bicycle accident, hire a lawyer and focus on your recovery.