What to Do When You Have Been Involved in a Bicycle Accident

It’s a situation that almost every bicyclist finds himself in sooner or later. Everybody has stories of crashes that they have been involved in, and if you’re lucky, you’ll walk away from these accidents with barely any injuries.

If you are involved in an accident, the first thing to do is avoid panic. Check yourself for injuries, and make sure that you are safe. Wait for paramedics to arrive at the scene, and get medical help for your injuries. If you’re able to, call 911 immediately. If, however, you are injured so badly that you cannot call 911, ask someone nearby to call 911 for you.

When police arrive at the scene of the bicycle accident, make sure that they take a report. It’s really important to get a police report of the accident. Many bicyclists make the mistake of walking away from the scene of an accident if their injuries are not very serious. Bicycle accidents are entirely preventable, and if you do not file a police report, then there is no record of the accident at all.

Try to get contact information from witnesses at the scene of the accident. The police doesn’t always get contact information from witnesses.

If you can, try to get photographs of everything, including the damage to your bicycle.

If the other motorist leaves the scene of the accident, note down the license plate number. Leaving the scene is almost always a sign of guilt.

If however, the other motorist has remained at the scene of the accident, exchange contact information with him, and note down his name, address, phone number, license number, and the date and location of the accident.

When you get back home, try to note down as many details of the accident as possible- these details will be handy later.