What To Do if Your Child Was Injured in a Bicycle Accident

October 8, 2021
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Bike riding is a fun activity for kids and a great way to get them outdoors and get exercise. Unfortunately, it’s also a common way kids get injured. If your child was injured in a bicycle accident, take a deep breath, try to stay calm, and look them over carefully to assess the situation.  Then, provide first aid, call for emergency services if necessary, and inform all parties involved of the incident.

Some of the first things you will need to do are:

  • Assess whether or not there are any external signs of injury such as bleeding or bruises. If your child does have injuries seek medical attention immediately.
  • Provide First Aid: Clean off wounds with soap and water if available; cover cuts and scrapes with bandages; use ice packs for swelling and bruising (do NOT put ice directly onto the skin). You should not attempt to move your child if the injuries are serious, as this could exacerbate their condition.
  • Also, it’s a good idea not to give them anything to each or drink as they might have internal bleeding.
  • Don’t remove their bike helmet, unless it’s essential for medical personnel needs to check for trauma or to administer medication. 

Call The Police After Any Bicycle Accident

It is never a great feeling to find out that your child has been in a bicycle accident, but there are ways to make sure that the situation doesn't get worse. After a bike crash, one of the most important things you can do is to call the police and make sure you get a police report, in order to protect your legal rights with the driver. It's also a good idea to contact a bicycle accident lawyer who can help guide you through this process!

Take Photos of the Accident Scene

While you are waiting for the police to arrive, use your smartphone or a camera to take photographs of the scene of the bicycle accident. Witnesses' accounts of the episode might aid accident reconstructors in understanding how and why it occurred. This can assist you in proving that a motor vehicle driver was negligent, a road hazard is dangerous, or that a bicycle component is faulty.

A bicycle accident lawyer will become familiar with this evidence, especially if it reveals a motorist was careless or a road condition should have been altered.

Identify Witnesses and Get Their Contact Information

If you witnessed the incident first-hand, take down their information as well. Witnesses to a bicycle accident should generally be treated as important parties in the case. They provide a valuable account of what occurred before, during and after the episode.

Besides a police report, witness statements can be invaluable in a bicycle accident lawsuit to prove liability. If witnesses have photos or video of the scene, this could also become useful evidence for your lawyer to determine fault behind the crash.

Create Documentation of Incident Details

Your child may be in shock after an injury, so try to keep calm and collected when they are in this state. You can provide them with some details about what happened but not too much information since it's possible that they could have forgotten parts of the story later on. Create a list with all of the information that you can recall about what happened, such as how fast your child was going or if they were wearing a helmet.

Call The Insurance Company and Your Lawyer

After a bicycle accident, you will need to call both your child's insurance company as well as a bicycle accident lawyer. The insurance company will be responsible for covering the costs of medical treatment or replacing any components that have been damaged or stolen from your child's bike. Maybe we should reword and say – They may even try to convince you to waive your child’s rights to a lawsuit, even though they were not at fault for the crash.

If you do decide to hire a bicycle accident lawyer for your child, then the law firm's legal team will be able to answer questions about what you can do to get full coverage from insurance companies and enough compensation if the other party was negligent and at fault.

Why You Should Choose Our Law Firm

Rue & Ziffra have been fighting insurance companies for over 40 years. Our bicycle accident lawyer will make sure you are fully covered, no matter what. We can help with your child's insurance claim for medical damages.

Our lawyers are experienced in handling bicycle accident cases and know the right questions to ask witnesses to build a strong case against at-fault parties. Our representatives are here to assist you regarding your child's accident and are happy to help you through the process. 

Don't waste any time feeling overwhelmed by your bicycle accident; get in touch with us today!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. My child has already given their statement to the police, what else should I give them?

Your child may have been in shock after their bicycle accident, so it is important not to overload them with information. They should be focused on recovering from their injuries and you can provide them with all of the details about what happened later on. Try to create a list of everything that you can recall about what happened, such as how fast your child was going or if they were wearing a helmet.

2. Should I take pictures of the bicycle accident scene?

Yes, it is important to have as much documentation as possible because this will help you build a strong case against at-fault parties and provide an accurate overview of what happened during the bicycle accident. You should take photos of both the scene and your child's bicycle after the accident.

3. What do I do if my child wasn't wearing a helmet?

Remind them of the importance of wearing a helmet and oversee this each time they get ready to ride their bicycle. Most severe and/or deadly accidents happen because the person wasn’t wearing a helmet. Helmets are crucial for protection.

4. What if the other party was driving a motor vehicle?

If the other party was in a car when they crashed into your child's bicycle, you need to contact both our accident and injury lawyers and your child's insurance company immediately. You should also take photos of the bicycle accident scene and your child's bicycle, as well as take down the other party's license plate number and driver's license details before they leave.

5. Should I get my child to see a doctor after their bicycle accident?

It is always advisable to seek immediate medical treatment for any injuries your child may have sustained during a bicycle accident. The injuries they sustained may affect them for the rest of their life, so it is important to get the necessary medical treatment as soon as possible.

6. How long does my child's medical treatment take?

It can take months or years of medical treatment before your child is fully healed from any injuries they sustained during their bicycle accident, so it is important to ask your child's doctor or injury lawyer how long the treatment will last.

7. What should I do if my child's bicycle insurance denies their claim?

If this happens, you can file a lawsuit against the other party in order to get coverage for your child's medical expenses and lost earnings. This is the only way to ensure that you and your child are covered in case of an accident.

8. What happens if my child's bicycle insurance company makes a counterclaim?

Depending on which state you live in, your child may be able to file a claim against their bicycle insurance company for bad faith, but this is only possible if there is negligence on their part. You can bring your child to an injury lawyer if you think this applies to your situation, but it is important not to delay in starting medical treatment because this may affect the outcome of the case.

9. Can I sue for my child’s injuries?

If at-fault parties are negligent, you may have a case against them for the injuries they sustained during their bicycle accident, but that will depend on each state's laws. You should contact an injury lawyer if you have any questions about your child's legal rights in this situation.

10. In what cases can my child be sued for causing their bicycle accident?

In some cases, at-fault parties can also sue you if your child was reckless or careless in causing their bicycle accident. It is important to ask your child's injury lawyer about this so that you are aware of the consequences if they did cause the accident.

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