In South Carolina, bicycles are considered vehicles, so cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists. Both must obey traffic signals, signal their turns, and ride in the same direction as other traffic. Both have a duty to operate safely and not to endanger other vehicles. Because cars far outnumber bikes on the road, however, most drivers focus their attention on other cars or trucks and often don’t pay much attention to cyclists. A certain number of accidents between the two are therefore inevitable.How an Attorney Can Help You
Because bicycle accidents often lead to severe injuries for bike riders, your claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company could be an expensive one with high medical bills and perhaps long-term disability care. Expensive claims may be disputed or denied by insurers in an effort to save money for the company. A lawyer can help investigate your crash thoroughly to prove the at-fault driver’s liability, call in expert witnesses or an accident reconstructionist, obtain video footage of your accident from nearby cameras, interview witnesses to the wreck, examine the police report of your accident for inaccuracies, organize and present your medical evidence persuasively, evaluate your claim to make a reasonable demand, negotiate to get a fair settlement, and file a lawsuit if you’re not offered satisfactory compensation.
How You Can Help Your Attorney
If you’re physically capable of doing so, you should take the following steps immediately after a bike accident:
- Stay at the scene but move to safety.
- Move your bike only if it’s blocking traffic or creating a hazard.
- Call 911.
- When the police arrive, report your accident to them and answer questions only with basic information.
- Don’t admit any fault for the accident.
- Sign only documents required by police.
- Exchange information with the at-fault driver but don’t discuss the accident or argue.
- Take photos of the scene, your bike, and the at-fault driver’s car.
- Get contact information from any witnesses.
- Look for nearby video cameras that might have captured footage of your wreck.
- Inform your insurance company of the accident.
- Seek medical attention right away if you’re not transported to a hospital.
- Consult a bike accident lawyer.
Doing all of the above puts you and your attorney in the best possible position to obtain fair compensation for your damages from the at-fault driver.
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