“The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.” – Henry Ford
Mistakes are part of life. Learning from mistakes makes us better. The great thing about mistakes is that you can learn from others’ mistakes too.
You can prevent yourself from making a mistake by learning from others. Sometimes, you are not allowed to make mistakes. A personal injury claim is one such area. Even one minor mistake when claiming compensation can change everything.
A bicycle accident can hurt the victim to a great extent due to the lack of safety features on the bicycle. Now, the victim can claim compensation for their losses, but a mistake can prevent them from winning fair compensation. To avoid mistakes in a bike accident claim process, you need the help of experienced bike accident lawyers.
Hiring a lawyer is one way to avoid mistakes. Learning about the potential mistakes you could make is another way.
This article discusses things you shouldn’t do (mistakes) following a bicycle accident. Let’s dive in and learn what not to do.
Skipping Medical Treatment
Never miss out on getting medical treatment. Even if your injuries are minor, see a doctor. Getting medical attention is important because some injuries may not show any symptoms for a long time. You can find injuries like that by consulting a doctor.
Also, if you don’t see a doctor, the insurance company will try to take advantage of you. They will claim either your injuries are not severe or you intentionally made them worse by not seeing a doctor. This can hurt your case.
Leaving the Accident Scene
Fleeing the accident scene is a pretty common mistake that most victims make out of panic. Leaving the accident scene before the police arrive is illegal, even if the accident is minor. This could hurt your case a lot.
Insurance companies will try to blame you for the accident if you flee the accident scene. In addition, you will miss out on important evidence if you leave the accident scene.
Admitting Fault
Saying sorry may seem like the right thing to do, but in reality, it can hurt your case. Admitting fault or saying things like sorry can diminish your right to file a personal injury claim.
Insurance companies will use anything you say against you. Saying sorry can be used as an admission of guilt. So refrain from speaking with the defendant without the presence of your lawyer.
Speaking with the Insurance Adjuster Without Your Lawyer
Insurance adjusters are trained to reduce or reject claims. They may act like your friends. Remember one thing: insurance adjusters work for insurance companies. They will do what’s best for their company.
When speaking with you, the insurance adjuster will try to make you admit fault or say something that may hurt your case. So be careful when speaking with them. Speak to them only when your personal injury lawyer is present.
Skipping Consulting a Lawyer
As already said, a lawyer is the only person who can stop you from making mistakes. Hiring a personal injury lawyer will improve your chances of getting a fair compensation.
A lawyer will help in investigating the accident, determining negligence, collecting evidence, negotiating with the insurance company, and obtaining fair compensation. So basically, a lawyer will help you throughout the bike accident claim process.
Wrapping Up
Making a mistake in a bike accident claim is not something victims can afford. If you are a victim of a bike accident, you need to know about the mistakes you can make to avoid them.
This article has informed you about some of the mistakes you can make in a bicycle accident claim. But this is not enough. If you want to avoid mistakes completely, hire an experienced bike accident lawyer.
