Summer means more time outdoors. If you love cycling or walking, it can be more dangerous this time of year with more drivers on the road. In this blog post, our friends at Herschensohn Law Firm, PLLC explore:

• What makes pedestrian and bicycle accidents so dangerous
• Some types of potential evidence
• How to gather the evidence for preservation from the scene.

What Makes These Types Of Accidents So Dangerous?

Why are pedestrian and even bicycle accidents so dangerous? The answer is impact. Bicyclists and pedestrians don’t have the same protection from an impact as a person inside of a vehicle. Not only do you get hit by a vehicle, but you also then hit the ground. Depending on the speed and type of impact, you may hit the ground or vehicle (or both) more than once.

Because of this, you could suffer from severe injuries such as:

• Spinal cord injury
• Traumatic brain injury
• Crushing injuries
• Disfigurement
• Severe broken bones
• Internal injuries

While not all accidents will result in severe injuries, it’s important that you get checked out if you were cycling or walking and you’re hit by a vehicle.

Types Of Potential Evidence

Evidence will be needed to file a successful personal injury claim. Some types of evidence you may encounter on the scene include and is not limited to:

• Police report
• Photos or video of road conditions
• Photos of injuries
• Photos or video of other damage, such as damage to a bicycle
• Photos or video of any local road signs to document location
• Eye-witness statements

You may also wish to capture video of the accident scene. Medical claims must include medical information, such as your medical records, to support a successful resolution.

How To Gather The Evidence From The Scene

First, understand that the number one priority is to ensure anyone who needs medical attention gets it. Don’t put yourself in more danger by moving around after being hit by a vehicle. Only collect the evidence that is safe for you to do.

For the police report, ask for the report number from the responding officer. You will use the report number to pull a copy of the report in a few days when it’s completed. If you have a working cell phone after the accident, use it to take photos and video of the various pieces of evidence on the scene.

Collect witness statements in writing or on video. Make sure that you document the name and contact details of each witness. Match that information to each individual statement.

Contact an attorney to help. An experienced attorney can help you collect and document the evidence for your claim. Make sure that the pedestrian accident lawyer you speak with has experience in pedestrian or bicycle accident claims.