A bicycle accident can cause catastrophic injuries that result in a lifetime of medical treatment. If you were hurt while riding, you may also be contending with lost income and tremendous pain and suffering. This is where a bicycle accident lawyer in Las Vegas can help.
At Maier Gutierrez & Associates, we understand how devastating the aftermath of a bicycle wreck can be. We will fight aggressively for the compensation that you and your family deserve. For a free case review, call us today at 702-629-7900.
Take These Steps Before Speaking with a Bicycle Accident Lawyer
After a bike wreck, it’s easy to feel confused regarding what to do next. Below is an outline of steps to take after the accident:
- Call emergency services: Call the police and request emergency medical assistance if necessary.
- Do not repair your bike: Do not repair your bicycle right away. Your bicycle accident attorney in Las Vegas will advise you if and when you can fix your bicycle. If possible, purchase a new bike. You must save the accident bicycle for evidence.
- Gather driver and witness information: Gather witness contact information. You will need names, phone numbers, email addresses, and physical addresses.
- Photograph your injuries, the scene, and property damage: Document the accident through photography. Take pictures of the entire scene. It would help if you took photos of the crosswalk, traffic signals, other vehicles, surrounding buildings, etc. Take pictures of your injuries within 24 to 48 hours.
- Do not make statements: Do not apologize to others involved in the accident. Do not admit fault. Keep details at a minimum when speaking to law enforcement. Do not speak to insurance companies without a bicycle accident lawyer present.
- Avoid social media: Do not post about the accident on social media. Do not post about medical treatment either. Keep all photographs between you and your personal injury attorney.
- Retain a bike wreck lawyer: Consult with and retain a bicycle accident lawyer in Las Vegas. Your attorney will protect your rights.
Avoid These Mistakes After a
Bicycle Injury
Now let’s discuss what you should not do after a bicycle accident. The above is what you should do. There are also several things you must not do. Do not do the following after a
bicycle injury:
- Returning to daily activities too soon: Do not participate in any strenuous physical activities that could aggravate your injuries. Speak with your doctor about which daily activities you can perform.
- Not following doctor’s orders: It is imperative to follow doctor’s orders to the letter; failure to follow orders can result in worsening injuries and claim disputes.
- Making harmful statements: Do not admit fault to anyone. You should not make statements to insurance companies, law enforcement, family, or friends about the accident or injuries unless necessary.
- Speaking in-depth about your claim: Your family and friends may be deposed by the opposing party and required to recount the statements you made to them.
How Social Media Could Impact
Your Claim
Social media is ingrained into our daily routines. After a bicycle accident, your social media habits can affect your claim in the following ways:
- Documenting your behavior: The insurance company can use your social media posts to track your activities.
- Lessening the extent of your injuries: An injury victim who proceeds to post about restricted activities could face disputes regarding the severity of injuries or failure to mitigate damages.
- Disclosing information about your claim: If you use social media, do not discuss the bicycle accident. Social media is a public forum and what you say will likely be admissible in court.
Why Speaking to a Bicycle Wreck
Attorney Right Away Is Important
After a bicycle accident in Las Vegas, the legal process is incredibly complex. As an injured victim, you need to make informed decisions. While you focus on medical treatment, a bicycle accident attorney can:
- Investigate the scene: A personal injury attorney can send investigators to the location to collect evidence you may have missed.
- Gather pertinent evidence: While you should collect evidence on your own accord, an attorney will collect evidence, too.
- File legal paperwork: We will file legal paperwork on your behalf to move your claim forward.
- Conduct eyewitness depositions: Your lawyer can depose witnesses to compile critical accounts of what happened.
- Calculate an approximate settlement: We will calculate the damages you deserve.
- Negotiate with insurance companies: A Las Vegas bicycle accident attorney will negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf, ensuring they do not take advantage of you.
- File a lawsuit: If negotiations are unsuccessful, your attorney can file a lawsuit on your behalf.
- Represent you at trial: Your case can be resolved at any point before trial proceedings, but if the opposing party refuses to cooperate, we have the litigation experience to represent you in court.
Steps You Can Take to Protect
Your Claim
Bicycle accident scenes are chaotic, as is the aftermath. Once you hire an attorney, there are steps you need to take to protect your claim:
- Direct all communications to your attorney: Do not communicate with insurance companies or the defendant. All accident-related communications must be directed to your Las Vega bicycle accident lawyer. Medical bills must also be referred to your attorney.
- Start a pain journal: Start a personal injury journal upon returning to your home. Each day you must describe your symptoms, their severity, and how your condition is progressing.
- Attend all appointments: Keep all appointments with your doctors.
- Do not repair your bicycle: Keep your bicycle in the same condition as when the accident happened. Do not repair the bike unless your attorney allows it.
- Save all receipts and records: Any receipts for out-of-pocket expenses related to the crash may be included in your claim.
What to Bring to Your Free Initial
Consultation
Your initial consultation with a Las Vegas bicycle injury attorney is critical to your claim. The consultation is where you and the lawyer will decide if you will work together and how best to proceed. You need to bring as much information as possible to the consultation, such as:
- Accident report: A critical piece of information you must bring to the consultation is the accident report.
- Evidence: All of the evidence you gathered at the scene must be presented to your attorney.
- Witness information: Witness accounts can be critical to the outcome of personal injury claims.
- Photographs: Reconstructing the accident will rely on video and photographic evidence.
- Medical history: Any relevant medical records should be presented during the consultation.
Significant Evidence in a Bicycle
injury Claim
Evidence is the basis for any successful personal injury claim. The following is essential evidence for your case:
- The bicycle: Your destroyed bike can show the insurance company and other relevant parties how the accident happened and demonstrate its severity.
- Photographs: A picture is worth a thousand words. This statement is true for accident claims. Photos will show the extent of injuries and damage. They can also show how the accident happened.
- Medical records: Medical records will be relevant to the outcome of your case.
How Long Will My Case Take to
Resolve?
The duration of these claims can vary significantly. Several factors can affect the length of the proceedings:
- The severity of your injuries: For an accurate financial determination, injury victims must reach maximum medical improvement. You may undergo therapy and surgeries. Reaching MMI can take months or years to achieve if you have severe injuries.
- Liability concerns: If the cause of the accident comes into question, this can delay a claim. If there is a clear liable party, this can prevent disputes.
- The need to file a lawsuit: A personal injury claim can be delayed if the need to file a lawsuit arises.
Call a Bicycle Accident Attorney
in Las Vegas Today
The smartest step you can take to protect your claim is to contact an experienced bike injury lawyer. For a free consultation, call Maier Gutierrez & Associates at 702-629-7900 or submit our contact form.
