While bicycling is a great way to get exercise and reduce the amount of traffic on the busy roads of Los Angeles, sharing the road with drivers puts you at risk of serious injury.
When you are injured by a driver while bicycling, you may not know exactly what to do. Because you are a bicyclist, you might wonder if you should treat the accident like any other motor vehicle accident and contact the police.
Yes, you should contact the police
You should contact the police after the bicycle accident and file a police report. Tell the police officer exactly what happened and make sure they document the scene.
Obtain a copy of the police report for your records. The police report will be vital evidence if you decide to pursue a personal injury claim due to driver negligence.
You may worry that the police will favor the driver’s side of the story over yours. This is understandable, since sometimes police officers can automatically assume the accident was the bicyclist’s fault.
This is not always true. Aggressive, drunk or distracted driving causes many bicycle accidents. Some drivers also believe that they have a superior right to the road and do not need to move over or follow traffic laws when it comes to bicyclists.
As a bicyclist, you have the same rights to the road as anyone else and other drivers must recognize those rights.
How to talk to the police officers
When you are giving your report to the police officers, describe what happened but watch your words. Do not apologize or take any blame for the accident, especially if the police officers ask you questions that appear to be getting you to admit the accident was your fault.
In addition to contacting the police, seek immediate medical attention for your injuries. Exchange contact information with the other driver and collect any evidence at the scene through photographs or videos.
Talk with any witnesses and get their contact information, as well. These steps can increase your chance of recovering compensation through a personal injury action.
