Bicycle accidents involving children are common on major roads and streets. And that situation can be terrifying as they can suffer serious injuries due to lack of proper protection.
If your child gets involved in an accident due to negligence of the other party, you can file a lawsuit to ask for compensation. The tort law requires the at-fault party and their insurance company to compensate your child for any injuries and pay for their medical bills and other costs associated with the accident.
That said, what you do immediately after the bicycle accident will have a direct impact on how much compensation your child can claim. There are important steps you need to take to strengthen your child’s claim to ensure they get maximum compensation. They include the following:
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Take Your Child to The Nearest Medical Facility
The health and safety of your child should be your first priority after being involved in a bicycle accident. Take your child to the hospital immediately for medical attention or call for emergency assistance.
Moreover, seeking medical attention can help strengthen you child’s claim for compensation. The medical personnel will write a medical report regarding your child’s injuries. Such a report can be submitted as evidence of the accident in court or during mediation.
Additionally, the medical facility will also provide detailed information about the total cost of the treatment. That’ll help simplify the process of computing the amount of compensation you’ll be asking. All these ensure your child will be properly compensated.
Hire A Lawyer
Your child will definitely get compensation if the other party’s negligence is proven. But it’s crucial to file the claim on time. That might not be practically possible if you decide to focus on medical attention and the safety of your child first.
Indeed, seeking medical attention should be your first priority after your child is involved in a bicycle accident. However, that may cause a delay in filing the lawsuit and can hurt the process of claiming compensation. But the good news is that, you can hire a lawyer and simplify the process.
After your child is involved in a bicycle accident, contact a lawyer immediately. They’ll take full responsibility of the case as you focus on your child’s recovery. Filing a case in a timely manner increases your chances of getting adequate compensation.
A qualified bicycle attorney in Jersey will provide you with the legal assistance you need. It’s important to choose a lawyer with adequate experience in cases related to vehicular accidents, since most lawyers have their areas of expertise. Besides, it’s important to find someone who is an expert in specific state laws.
After filing the case, your lawyer will represent your child in court and present evidence. And because they’re skilled in negotiations, they have the expertise to bargain for better settlement with the at-fault party and their insurance company, ensuring proper compensation for your child.
Preserve Evidence of The Accident
You must gather and preserve evidence of the bicycle accident to help prove the negligence of the at-fault party. In fact, the court will require you to provide sufficient evidence, so your child can be compensated. Without enough evidence to prove the other driver’s negligence, it will be difficult for you to achieve justice.
One of the first things to do when gathering evidence of the bicycle accident is to document everything using your camera. Take photos and videos of the scene and the damage to your child’s bicycle and the other vehicle. You should also not forget to take photos and videos of your child’s injuries.
Apart from taking photos and videos, you may also consider finding witnesses. These are people who were at the scene and saw what happened. They can testify in court and help provide additional evidence. However, should you decide to present witnesses, ensure they have credibility.
Call The Police
Another important step you should take after your child is involved in a bicycle accident is to call the police. They’ll come and investigate the cause of the accident and provide a police statement or report. The police report will contain information such as how the accident occurred, statements by your child and the other party, and police conclusion about who was responsible for the crash.
Takeaway
Your child is entitled to compensation if involved in a bicycle accident that wasn’t their fault. But you must prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accident was due to the other driver’s negligence. And to achieve that, you must take all the necessary steps explained in this article – What To Do If Your Child Is Injured in A Bicycle Crash.
