San Clemente Bicycle Accident Attorneys

Bicycle accidents often result in catastrophic injuries that take weeks or even months to heal. In many cases, the victim never makes a full recovery. The insurance company may use unscrupulous tactics to deny your claim or reduce its value. Our San Clemente bicycle accident attorneys will serve as your aggressive legal advocate throughout the proceedings, making sure you are treated fairly and well-represented during settlement negotiations and any litigation that may follow. There are many factors that could impact how your case unfolds, and there are all sorts of reasons why the insurance company might dispute your claim. Once you hire our law firm for representation, the opposing party will know that you have the means to take the case all the way to trial if they refuse to cooperate. We have a reputation for tough litigation and strategies for winning substantial settlements and verdicts in even the most contested cases. If you cannot come to us for a free consultation, we will come to you. Contact our 24-hour phone line at 1-800-GO-HARRIS to speak with a member of our team.  

How Can I Prepare for My Free Consultation with a Bicycle Accident Attorney?

The importance of scheduling your legal consultation as soon as possible cannot be overstated. There are many kinds of evidence that may only be available for a brief timeframe after the crash. Surveillance recordings, for example, might be overwritten. Dashcam footage may also be deleted within just a few days. Eyewitnesses might forget pertinent details, and the vehicle’s property damage might be repaired before it can be properly analyzed. Your San Clemente bicycle accident lawyer will want to perform the investigation right away to gather time-sensitive evidence. As such, you should schedule the consultation immediately rather than performing an investigation on your own. Below are a few steps you can take after you’ve set up the consultation.

• Undergo a Medical Evaluation: If you haven’t done so yet, visit a doctor right away for a medical assessment. The longer you wait to get a diagnosis, the higher the chance that the insurance company will dispute your claim. You have a duty to mitigate your damages, meaning that you must take reasonable steps to facilitate your recovery and minimize your losses. Delaying medical care not only could prolong your recovery but also could increase the total cost of care, and therefore could reduce your damages award. You might also face a dispute if you disobey your doctor’s orders, so be sure to follow your treatment program even if it means resting and staying out of work for an extended period of time.

• Gather Any Evidence and Documents Already in Your Possession: To win a settlement or verdict, you will need evidence to prove liability, causation, and damages. Your lawyer will want to review any evidence and documentation you have already compiled. Examples may include pictures of injuries and property damage; the police report; the names and badge numbers of responding officers; the contact information of your medical team, the liable party, and eyewitnesses; documents received from your healthcare providers; receipts and other documentation of costs you’ve incurred as a result of the accident or injury; your own insurance policies; and financial documents to prove the value of lost income.

• Write Down Everything You Remember: Write a detailed description of the accident including what you were doing just beforehand, how the crash happened, whether any arrests were made at the scene, statements made by the parties involved and eyewitnesses, and the weather conditions.

• Disable Your Social Media Accounts: It is important that you stay off social media until your case has been resolved. The reason? Insurance adjusters know that accident victims often post photos of their injuries and written accounts of what happened. Those pictures and text posts may be used as evidence to dispute liability, causation, or damages. It is wise to disable your accounts while your case is pending and to ask friends and family not to post anything about you online.

• Avoid Correspondence with the Insurance Company: If you gave your contact information to the opposing party, you will likely be contacted by an insurance adjuster shortly after the accident. The adjuster is not on your side—no matter how compassionate he or she might seem. The insurance adjuster will want to ascertain the details of the accident in order to find reasons to deny the claim or reduce its value. Your statements may therefore end up hurting your chances of recovering a fair settlement. Rather than take the risk, politely decline to answer any questions until you have retained legal representation. And thereafter, direct all phone calls, emails, and other correspondence to your San Clemente bicycle accident attorney.

Contact Us for a Free Consultation with a San Clemente Bicycle Accident Lawyer

If you need an experienced and highly skilled legal advocate to help you bring a claim against the party responsible for your injuries, turn to Harris Personal Injury Lawyers. We won’t charge anything to review your case and provide the advice you need to make the right decisions. Call 1-800-GO-HARRIS or send a message HERE to set up a consultation.