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Insurance Company Secrets
INDIANA BICYCLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS
Bicycle riding is an activity that many enjoy for sport, exercise, or simply to be outdoors. In Indiana, bicycle riders are required by law to follow traffic laws. At the same time, people driving cars and trucks must share the road with bicyclists. Unfortunately, motorists often don't keep a proper lookout for bicyclists. When those motorists violate traffic laws, they often hurt innocent bicycle riders.
The laws of physics explain why bicycling can be dangerous or deadly. The weight of a car or truck, combined with highway speeds, can result in a deadly accident. Even when bicyclists wear protective gear and helmets, they cannot protect themselves from the sheer force of an impact with an automobile.
Blunt force trauma, fractures, traumatic brain injuries, internal injuries, and spinal chord trauma are common after a motor vehicle accident. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, car vs. bicycle collisions kill over 700 people a year in the United States, and over 650,000 people are treated in emergency rooms for bicycle related injuries. Over half of the people killed or injured in bicycle vs. car collisions are below the age of 18. All too often, the bicyclist receives a fracture or a serious head or spinal
cord injury.
If you or a family member has been involved in a bicycle accident, there are steps you must take immediately. First, ensure that the bicycle is kept, no matter how serious the damage to the bike's tire or frame. The damaged bicycle is powerful evidence of the force of the impact for the jury's eyes. When the jury sees twisted metal, they can easily understand how injuries to the body could occur.
Next, photographs of injuries to the body should be taken. Often, a disposable camera will suffice to take these pictures. However, sometimes a professional photographer who specializes in legal matters should be used. Remember, the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words. This is especially true in accident cases. Juries like to see pictures. A serious injury can be explained by word of mouth or detailed in medical records but only truly understood when depicted in a well-taken photograph. You can never have too many pictures.
It is likely that the driver of the car who caused the collision has insurance. The driver's insurance company is going to immediately start an investigation with one goal in mind: PAY AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE TO SETTLE THE CASE. They will have investigators on the ground within hours of the wreck. They will take photographs, interview witnesses, and try to secure as much physical evidence
as possible.
At Sweeney Julian, we know how to investigate and prepare a bicycle accident case. We have extensive jury trial experience and know
how to present complex accident cases to a jury. Call Sweeney Julian immediately at 800-815-4403.