Santa Clarita Bicycle Accident Attorney
If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, you should do the best you can to take pictures, note road conditions, and note any property damage. Take photos of everything as this information can be helpful later in your case. Try to also get names and addresses of witnesses nearby if possible.
Most importantly though, seek medical attention immediately. Serious injuries are common in bicycle accidents. Oftentimes, a helmet or safety pad isn't enough to protect someone from serious injury. If you are going to allege injury, seeking medical assistance will also bolster your claim for injury.
If you've been injured in a bike accident, you can recover compensation. Generally, such compensation includes:
- Medical expenses as a direct result of your injuries
- Loss of wages due to the accident
- Future loss of wages, if reasonably ascertainable
- Damages for pain and suffering (sometimes called "general" damages)
In some cases, the bicyclist may be partly at fault for the accident. This is known as "comparative" negligence. Comparative negligence is when two parties both share a percentage of the blame for an accident. A bicyclist must adhere to most of the same laws as motorists, and many times if you are partially liable for your injury then your compensation will be affected. For instance, if you are not wearing a helmet, the other party might argue that your injuries occurred because you weren't wearing a helmet. This might prevent you from obtaining complete compensation for your injuries.