No parent wants to imagine their child suffering serious injuries in a bicycle-vehicle collision. Unfortunately, careless and reckless drivers pervade Nevada’s streets, making it crucial to know what to do if your child gets into a bicycle accident. What you do after the accident can impact the amount of financial compensation available from the driver’s insurance company.
Ensure Your Child’s Safety
First, ensure that your child is in a safe place that is out of the way of traffic to prevent additional collisions. If it is safe to leave your child where he or she is, this is best for physical health and safety reasons. If your child has a spinal cord injury, for example, moving him or her the incorrect way could exacerbate the injury and make it worse.
Try to stay calm and assess your child for signs of injury. This can include bleeding, bruising, limbs that look displaced, abnormal breathing and loss of consciousness. Ask your child if he or she feels pain, tingling or numbness anywhere in his or her body.
Get Medical Care
Get immediate medical care after the bicycle accident even if your child appears uninjured or you believe the injuries are minor. Some injuries – including serious injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries – can have hidden and delayed symptoms.
Call 911 to request paramedics, go to the closest hospital or visit your regular pediatrician for an examination without delay. Getting medical care for your child within at least the first 48 hours is important for safety as well as avoiding a dispute with an insurance company regarding medical care.
Call the Police
You should always call the police from the scene of a bicycle-vehicle accident in Nevada. Even if the crash was minor, obtaining a written police report can help you with the insurance process. Do not move the bicycle until the police arrive and can take official photographs of the crash scene.
Describe your version of events to the police officer so that it can be included in the report. Write down your police report number to obtain a copy later. The police report will contain key information about your case, such as the date and location of the crash, statements made by any eyewitnesses, and traffic tickets issued to a negligent driver.
Gather Information and Evidence
Obtain the motor vehicle driver’s name, contact information, address and insurance information. Write down a description of the vehicle and the license plate numbers, as well. Before you leave the scene of the bike accident, gather evidence by speaking to eyewitnesses and taking photos. Look for security or traffic surveillance cameras in the area that may have captured the crash. Collect copies of your child’s medical records and bills associated with the accident.
Avoid Common Mistakes
When your family is ready to pursue a car insurance claim for your child’s bicycle accident, preserve your ability to recover fair compensation from an insurer by avoiding common mistakes. These include:
- Giving a recorded statement to the car insurance company.
- Admitting that your child was at fault for the accident.
- Signing a medical authorization release form.
- Posting about the bike accident on social media.
- Accepting the first settlement offer from an insurer.
The driver’s car insurance company may try to take advantage of you and reduce your settlement. The best way to protect your child’s rights is by contacting an experienced bicycle accident attorney as soon as possible. A Las Vegas injury lawyer can help you gather evidence, file a claim and take your case to court, if necessary, to pursue justice.