Bicycle Accidents

BICYCLE ACCIDENT CHECKLIST

A pedestrian death occurs about every 1.6 hours on the nation’s roads according to the CDC. That amounts to over 5,000 deaths a year. Thousands of pedestrians sustain serious injuries. Recently, there were 857 bicyclists killed in traffic, in one year, in the U.S. There were thousands of injuries, including broken bones and brain injuries. Most bicyclist deaths occur between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. and overwhelmingly in urban areas as opposed to rural areas.

For those who survive these types of accidents, the injuries are often life-altering. If you or a loved one is injured as a bicyclist or pedestrian you should remember the following:

If You Are Injured in A Pedestrian or Bicycle Accident:

• Call 911. Document the collision with the police and seek medical attention as your injuries could be internal or develop after the at-fault driver leaves.
• Do not move until emergency responders arrive. Movement can aggravate your injuries or cause them to become permanent.
• Get the driver’s information, even if you feel fine at the scene. It is not uncommon for pain to gradually increase after the adrenaline subsides. Without the driver’s name, address, license number, and insurance information, you may never be able to make a claim if your symptoms worsen.
• Contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.