Whether you ride for exercise or fun or it's your main mode of transportation to and from work and home, riding a bike can be a healthy, cost-effective, and eco-friendly activity. Unfortunately, biking can also be dangerous, especially if you ride along roads and highways. While surprising for most people to hear, an estimated 467,000 bike-related injuries occurred in 2015 alone. Many of these injures were caused by motorists operating vehicles without paying sufficient attention to bicyclists. If you were struck by a vehicle while riding your bike, understanding what to do is imperative. Here are a few steps to take after you are hit and injured by a car while riding your bike.

Get to Safety

Once hit, it is important that you think fast and move yourself from the road. Hopefully, passersby and witnesses will be able to note your injury and help you move off the road to a safer location. This will ensure you are not hit again by a passing automobile.

Of course, if you are incapacitated or physically or emotionally unable to move, remain still. Passersby and witnesses will most likely contact 911 if they see you are severely injured or in a state of shock.

Receive Medical Attention

If you are obviously injured, emergency personnel will examine you and treat any issues. This may require bringing you to the hospital for further evaluation or treatment. Do not panic. Remain calm and know that the medical professionals have your best interests in mind.

Remember that even if you feel physically fine, you should still be evaluated by medical professionals. Injuries such as whiplash, a broken bone, a sprain, or even internal bleeding may not show symptoms until later.

Gather Information

If you know a driver was at fault, causing you to crash or hitting you while you were on the bike, they will be liable. In the best-case scenario, this motorist will stop at the accident, address your concerns, and talk with the police when they arrive at the scene.

If you are physically and emotionally able to do so, exchange information with the driver of the automobile. If they are liable, you will need their name, address, phone number, and insurance information. If you are not sure who caused the accident, exchanging the information is still helpful. The police department will evaluate the scene and address any injuries or property damage before determining who is liable for the accident.

If you are hit by a motorist who has fled the scene, handling the accident will be more complicated. You should still seek out medical attention and contact the police department to document the accident. The police will question anyone who has witnessed the accident or stopped to help you in your time of need.

One of the negative issues that face many bicyclists is that many people, including the driver who hit you, will believe you and your bike were the cause of the accident. Ensuring police document the scene and talk to witnesses is key in case you need compensation for your injuries.

Hire a Lawyer

Once your medical issues have been addressed and the accident scene has been documented by the police, consult a personal injury lawyer.

Unless the accident was obviously caused by you and you alone, you should receive compensation for any medical bills and time and income lost from work due to your injuries.

A lawyer will evaluate your case, including who the liable party is, and begin proceedings to help you get the compensation you need to pay for the physical and emotional distress after the accident.

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