Riverside Bicycle Accident Attorneys

With no seatbelts, airbags, or the sturdy enclosure of a motor vehicle, bicycle riders are highly susceptible to injury and death when involved in an accident. Within a matter of weeks, the medical bills and lost income can add up to a small fortune, leaving the victim and their loved ones wondering how they will make ends meet. Our bicycle accident attorneys in Riverside understand that this is one of the most difficult chapters in your life, and we are ready to help you fight for the compensation you deserve. We have a track record of success in bicycle accident cases with many substantial settlements and verdicts won for clients throughout California. We know the relevant statutes and case law inside and out, and we will devote the time and resources needed to pursue the best possible outcome. Call 1-800-GO-HARRIS to arrange a free consultation.

Your Top Priority After the Crash: Visit a Doctor Right Away

Most Americans live paycheck to paycheck and cannot afford even a minor financial setback. If you don’t have health insurance or you’re concerned about your copay or deductible, you may decide not to visit a doctor, especially if your injuries don’t seem critical. Unfortunately, putting off your medical evaluation could turn out to be a costly mistake if you eventually decide to file a personal injury claim. Here are a few reasons why you should seek medical care right away:

• Serious Injuries Sometimes Have Latent Symptoms: A spinal cord injury may present with nothing more than some minor tingling in the hands or feet. A traumatic brain injury might only manifest subtle symptoms like brief headaches or sleep problems. Without immediate treatment, these and other serious injuries can progress, leading to a less favorable prognosis. Your health is your most valuable asset, and the best way to protect it is to visit a doctor if you suspect you’ve suffered an injury.

• Your Attorney Will Need Documentation of Your Injuries: The insurance company won’t approve your claim unless you present official documentation of your diagnosis and prognosis. Lab test results, prescription records, and diagnostic imaging may be needed to recover damages.
• You Have a Duty to Mitigate Damages: If the insurance company finds out that you delayed your first doctor’s visit—which will likely be very easy to determine—they might argue that you did not take reasonable steps to minimize your medical costs and other damages. This is called a “failure to mitigate damages.” Getting a prompt evaluation and following your doctor’s instructions can reduce the likelihood of such a dispute.

• The Insurer Might Dispute the Severity of Your Injuries: Some injuries require immediate medical care. If you suffered such an injury but delayed the evaluation, the insurance company might assert that your injuries are not as serious as you are claiming.

Our bicycle accident lawyers in Riverside have extensive experience overcoming complicated disputes with insurance companies. We understand how insurance adjusters think, and we can anticipate disputes before they arise. With many decades in legal practice, our attorneys have the knowledge and strategies to ensure you are treated fairly.

Staying off Social Media Might Strengthen Your Case

A bicycle accident is certainly a noteworthy event in anyone’s life. There are many reasons why you might want to share such an event with close friends and family. Your loved ones will want to know what happened and that you’re okay. They will also want updates on how your treatment is progressing and will want reassurance that you’re in good spirits. Although social media offers a convenient platform to keep family and friends informed, it is also a source of evidence for insurance adjusters. Anything you post might be reviewed by the insurance company and possibly used as evidence to dispute your claim. Even if you’re careful about what you say, you never know how a photo or text post might be taken out of context. For instance, a picture of you out to dinner with friends after several weeks of recovery might be used by the insurer to argue that you aren’t following your doctor’s instructions to rest. Staying off social media entirely is the best way to avoid these problems. You should also tell your connections not to post anything about you until your case has been resolved. If abstaining from social media isn’t an option, you should at least update your privacy settings and avoid posting anything about your injury, accident, or case. Also, do not accept new connection requests from people whom you do not recognize.

Call Us Today to Speak with a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Riverside

Our law firm offers free consultations to bicycle accident victims and their families. We don’t charge anything upfront, and we accept personal injury and wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis. Message us on our Contact Page or call 1-800-GO-HARRIS to speak with a member of our team.