Title: 4 Strategies for Tracking Your Bicycle Accident Report
Whether you ride a bicycle as a hobby, as a means to exercise or to commute, the odds of being injured in an accident are usually higher than they would be as a motorist. The sheer weight of a car or truck can cause you serious injuries, and if the accident was the fault of another, then filing a personal injury lawsuit may help you recover money for medical bills and other expenses. Tracking the initial accident report can be an important facet of creating a lawsuit, and there are a few strategies you can use for doing so.
1. Be Proactive
If you were injured in the accident, the police officer at the scene will likely write a report. In most cases, authorities will log a report if someone was hurt or if there was a certain amount of property damage involved. If you plan to file a personal injury lawsuit, then follow up on the report if you do not hear from the police within a few days instead of assuming they will contact you, as this might not occur unless they have follow-up questions.
2. Review the Report
Once you receive a copy of the police report, you may want to review it so you can note and report any errors within it to your attorney. The report may also be useful in determining liability on the fault of the driver. You may want to submit a copy of the report to your lawyer and to the driver’s insurance company so you all have the same information to draw on.
3. Remain Persistent
If you find there is a delay with your accident report, remain persistent with the attending officer, and remind him or her that this documentation is necessary for your lawsuit. As the lawyers at Cohen & Cohen can explain, you can ask your attorney to draft you a letter of request or if he or she can obtain the report on your behalf.
4. If You Are Not Mobile
If the bicycle accident left you with serious injuries and you must remain in the hospital, ask a friend or trusted family member to work with your attorney when it comes to tracking the police report. These reports are a matter of public record; however, you might want to draft a letter of consent if you plan to send your family member or friend to retrieve a copy from a police precinct.
Being injured in a bicycle accident can change your life forever, but help is available. Contact an attorney today for further information and assistance.