Timeline of a DC Bicycle Accident
When a DC bicycle accident occurs, you begin a long road to recovery. For as quickly as an accident can happen, the legal process is not quite so fast. The timeline of a bicycle accident typically starts long before the collision itself, as factors like road conditions and driver behavior play a critical role in the moments leading up to the accident. Below, we begin our analysis with pre-accident conditions. These conditions often contribute to drivers causing bike accidents. However, it is ultimately the driver of the car or truck responsible for safely controlling their vehicle despite poor conditions. A DC bicycle accident lawyer can help you prove liability, obtain compensation, and lead you through this complex legal process.
Unfortunately, bicycle accident victims see some of the worst injuries of all accidents on the road. Similar to a pedestrian accident, bicyclists have little to no protection against motor vehicles. What makes a bicycle accident arguably worse than a pedestrian accident is the bicyclist can also travel at high speeds. So, if there is a head-on collision, there may be dire consequences for the cyclist. While nothing can be done aside from medical treatment to reverse or prevent negligence from another driver, we can take steps after the fact to preserve your legal rights and strive towards justice. While the case timeline can be long, it does protect you against paying tens of thousands of dollars in medical expenses, allows you to recover compensation for time missed from work, and even compensates you for the physical and emotional pain you undergo because of your injuries.
Call our office today for a free case consultation to learn of the timeline of a DC bicycle accident.
Pre-Accident Conditions
In Washington, DC, the layout of streets, traffic density, and weather conditions influence the risk of an accident. There is considerable blame placed on the District of Columbia for a lack of bike lanes. And while that can contribute to bicycle accidents, it is not the only reason. Bike lanes in DC are shared with buses in parts of the city. Moreover, bicyclists are still permitted to ride on the sidewalk in parts of the city, and there are regular lanes for cars. Arguably, it is this freedom that leads to bike accidents. Traffic density, especially during rush hour, can lead to accidents. That is true for all types of accidents, not just bicycle accidents. Then, there are weather conditions. Rain, which leads to slick roads, fog, and snow, can all create poor pre-accident conditions.
The Moment of Impact
The moment of impact is a critical piece of the timeline of a DC bicycle accident. This is the most important part we often circle back to in determining who is at fault. To determine fault, we look to who had the right of way at the time of impact. While this is sometimes obvious, like when a car runs a red light, there are other times when it is less so. A DC bicycle accident law firm can help you sort out who is at fault. Was an evasive maneuver attempted by the bicyclist that caused him to hit a third vehicle? IS the bicyclist then at fault for their injuries if they subsequently crash? These are parts of the case timeline that get sorted out based on the moment of impact.
Immediate Response After the Accident
The immediate response after the bicycle accident is less important in the timeline of a DC bicycle accident and more important in protecting yourself. Here, the priority is safety and medical assistance. If you are conscious, getting out of harm’s way is critical. This means standing up, getting to the side of the road, and protecting yourself against further negligence. Immediately after an accident, other cars may still be traveling at high speeds. This is especially a problem for a bicyclist because you do not have a vehicle with hazard lights to alert drivers that you are stuck on the road.
Medical Treatment and Injury Assessment
Consider getting immediate medical treatment once you get to the side of the road and out of harm’s way. You may need to go to the hospital by ambulance for a severe bicycle accident. For less severe cases, you can have a friend drive you to the emergency room to be checked out by a physician after exchanging information with other drivers and speaking with the police. While those are all important parts of the timeline of a DC bicycle accident, your health and safety are paramount. After you go to the emergency room, if you deem your injuries significant enough, follow up with therapy doctor prescribes the hospital to do that treatment. While it may feel inconvenient, soreness after a bicycle accident will only worsen if left untreated.
Accident Investigation and Police Report
The timeline of a DC bicycle accident includes an investigation by the police, your bike accident legal team, and yourself. The Metropolitan police do not always go to an accident scene. Thus, sometimes, you are your best resource to gather information from all responsible parties. If a driver negligently collides with you, wrecks your bike, and injures you, you must try to exchange information. This includes getting their name, address, and insurance information. At the least, if they attempt to flee the scene, take a photo of their license plate information. This allows our team to identify the owner of the vehicle.
Insurance Claims Process
Our attorneys spearhead this part of the timeline of a DC bicycle accident. During this phase, we seek to settle your case. Settling a case via an insurance claim is typically ideal for two reasons. First, it is faster. Getting into court can take 18-24 months in Washington, DC. It is a notoriously slow jurisdiction to get to trial. Meanwhile, you have medical expenses and unpaid bills because you cannot work and need to be paid now. We understand this time sensitivity, so we always try to come to an amicable resolution if a fair offer is presented. But if it is not, we advise you to reject a low settlement offer and proceed to trial.
The second reason why going through the insurance claims process is ideal is it is cost-effective. Going to trial is expensive. There are cost fees, higher legal fees, expert witness costs, deposition costs, discovery costs, and more. The purpose of going through this legal process is to compensate you financially. It almost defeats the purpose of spending thousands in costs unless the ends justify the means. This is taken on a case-by-case basis and is worth discussing with your attorney.
Legal Considerations and Potential Lawsuit
If we cannot reach a reasonable settlement agreement, we will file a lawsuit against the defendant. While settling is generally ideal for the reasons outlined above, filing a lawsuit is the best and least compensation at other times the only way to opt.
Speak to an Attorney
Contact our office today for a free consultation. We will gladly walk you through the timeline of a DC bicycle accident and get you on a path toward winning.