Have you been injured in a cycle accident that was not your fault? If so, you may be entitled to claim compensation for your pain, suffering and all loses (including the repair cost or replacement value of your bicycle).
There are a number of important steps you need to take when it comes to a cyclist accident claim.
The first thing that you must do is to see a doctor for treatment of your injuries as well as recording the extent of those injuries and the basic circumstances of the accident.
Your injuries will need to be documented, including the impact that they may have had on your life. The more these injuries are documented, the easier it will be to prove the claim.
Any time off of work as well as personal problems that you have experienced because of the injury need to be addressed as well in the medical records.
A cyclist accident claim has usually three years to be started in court, so it is important you pay careful attention to this time limit because failing to issue your case within time could mean never making a claim for compensation.
The other issue you need to bear in mind is who was to blame for the accident.
Going by statistics, in many cases, it is the fault of the lorry or van driver driving carelessly or failing to look properly before turning.
Sometimes accidents are caused by the driver being drank, speeding or being tired or there might have been a problem with the vehicle itself or perhaps the driver was just not experienced enough.
Soon after a cyclist accident, make a note of the registration number (s) of the other vehicles involved and the names and telephone numbers of any witnesses.
The next step is to assess the extent of your injuries. There may be injuries that may not show up right away. This is often the case when it comes to head injuries. You may not see damage caused to the brain at the time of the accident but can cause big problems later.
This is the reason why it is a good idea never to just sign a release form given to you by the driver’s insurance company. Once you sign a release form, you may never take legal action against the driver because you have released them from any obligation that they have.
What will happen if a few days later, you start experiencing severe headache as a result of the accident to the extent that you are unable to work?
It is at this point you will realise what a mistake you made because you will not be fully compensated for the pain and suffering you may endure in the future and may even have to take a long time off work in order to deal with the headache and other symptoms of head injury such as blurred vision, memory loss, loss of smell and taste, mood swings etc.
Seeing a good personal injury lawyer will help, especially if you have been approached by an insurance company direct to settle your claim.
You need the opinion of good injury lawyer with experience of bicycle accidents. A good solicitor will be able to review the circumstances of your case and then will decide whether or not it is worth pursuing it. If she is a specialist injury lawyer, she will not charge you for the consultation.
If your injuries are serious, you can also claim compensation on behalf of your spouse or members of your family who might have taken time off work to care for you. You will do this through a personal injury lawyer with experience in this type of accident. The solicitor will be your voice and will fight your corner for full compensation.
While those who have suffered a broken bone injury usually know that they have a claim, others who may have sustained head injuries do not know what to do right away. To get a good cyclist accident solicitor, contact Balinda and Co now on 0800 321 3287 and find out how we can help.