Imagine the scenario – George was an avid biker. Although he had his own car, he still preferred to ride his almost worn-out bicycle to work, which was about 20 minutes away. During weekends, he dragged his children around the neighbourhood, making their way to a small cliff that gave them a fantastic view of the sunset.
George is also meticulous and careful, following all signs and driving along the bike-intended lanes only. Thus, when he died of brain failure after he was hit by a car, many were left devastated, and his family struggled financially until somebody advised them to approach a solicitor to help them to make a successful claim for compensation.
If you’re a cyclist, the moral of the scenario is, once you’re on the road, you are susceptible to many things, especially meeting an accident which is not down to your own actions. Even when riding in the relatively safety of a car, you can still be injured or even die after being hit by an oncoming bus or a car that lost control, so how much more prone to serious injuries would you consider a cyclist to be?
You have a recourse, though if you are injured as a cyclist, as you can file for a cycle accident claim.
Wrongful Death Or Cycle Injury Claim?
A bicycle injury claim is something that you file so you can demand the liable party to pay for your suffering and pain, as well as the costs that you might have incurred solely because of the accident and injury. These are what we call indemnities or damages. Normally, this is obtained by the person aggrieved, or the main victim. If the person is no longer capable to function on his or her own such as when they have become unconscious or in a coma for a long time, their family may be able to do it on their behalf, although the have around 3 years to file one.
But what happens if the person dies, like George? From a bicycle accident claim, it may progress to wrongful death, which carries both civil and criminal liabilities. In other words, the process may be more strenuous, complex, and time-consuming, but the penalties are harsher.
What To Do
What should you do if you find yourself the victim of a bicycle accident? One of the first things is to check yourself. Are you all right? If you have injuries, how serious are they? Did you happen to hit your head on the pavement? Do you feel you have some broken bones? Then call for medical help immediately and let somebody notify the police about the accident. If you can still think through, gather as much information as you can about the driver, such as his license, insurance company number, etc.
Even if you’re an outpatient, keep all medical records with you. These are very powerful documents when filing for a bicycle accident claim. If you’re admitted to a hospital, you can just obtain all the records after. You also need the police report, which should discuss about the accident itself.
When you’re ready, look for a solicitor who specialises in bicycle injury claims for compensation. Let them assess your case and give you more advice. Work closely with the solicitor until the case is over. Many companies now offer a no win, no fee arrangement. That can help you financially, so explore it.
