As a personal injury lawyer in Ontario, a province that loves its cyclists, I am often asked what I should do if I get into an accident while cycling?

My advice:

Call the police And make sure that both you and the person driving the car remain at the scene. The vehicle driver may be remorseful at the time, and you may have the personality that says, “don’t worry, I’m fine.” But it is essential to resist saying this as the extent of your injuries may still be unknown immediately following an accident.

If you are feeling up to it, document everything that you can and take pictures. If typing is problematic, consider using the voice prompt on your phone or video. Collect the driver’s contact information, driver’s license, car license plate, and insurance policy number.

Look around and see if there are any witnesses. If so, take down their contact information so you can follow up with them later if needed. Consider also recording what they saw.

Take a minute to write or video yourself speaking about what happened: What did you see, what direction you were travelling, what colour was the light, or any relevant signage? Did you see anyone in the car on their cell phones or distracted in any way? How are you feeling at this moment?

It is essential to seek medical treatment to document your health concerns, so a proper professional also records this information. If you don’t seek medical attention and later claim injury, the fact that you didn’t seek medical attention right away could be used against you.

This part of my advice is less intuitive: Don’t speak with your insurance company until you talk with a lawyer. Personal injury lawyers, commonly called bicycle accident lawyers, train to speak to insurance companies on behalf of their clients to ensure their rights have been respected and receive the total compensation they deserve.

For more information on bicycle accidents contact us today.