South Carolina ranks 46th in the country in bicycle and pedestrian fatalities, with 23.7 deaths per 10,000 commuters, but that doesn’t mean an accident between a vehicle and a cyclist is out of the question Cyclists share the road with drivers, and when a driver acts negligently, they can severely injury the person riding the bike. In the unfortunate event you are injured in a wreck caused by a driver, here is some important information you should know:
- Always collect information: If you are not too injured to do so, gather information regarding how your accident happened, the people involved, and potential witnesses. Grab the name of the driver, as well as their license plate number. If possible, take pictures of the aftermath.
- Get medical attention as soon as possible: Even if you believe your injuries will resolve without medical treatment, always see a doctor. Doing so will ensure you have evidence you can use to establish damages later with the driver’s insurance company.
- Retain an attorney: The best way to protect your legal rights is with legal representation. An experienced personal injury attorney can handle all communication with the insurance company on your behalf and attempt to negotiate a settlement agreement that adequately compensates you for all of your losses, including medical expenses, lost wages, property damage and pain and suffering.
Additionally, South Carolina uses a system called modified comparative fault to figure out who is to blame in an accident, which can be one or both parties. For example, if a driver is 80% to blame for an accident and the bicyclist is 20% to blame, the cyclist would still prevail, except their award would be reduced by 20%.
If you have been in a bicycle accident, contact our Greenville personal injury lawyers at Christian & Christian. Call (864) 408-8883 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys.