Sorting Out a Bicycle-Car Collision

Bicycle-Car Collision

Collisions between bicycles and motor vehicles are more common than one would think. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 48,000 cyclists were injured in a bicycle-car collision in 2013. In Oklahoma in 2015, 290 cyclists were involved in crashes with automobiles and 6 were killed. Although you may think simply surviving such a collision is reward enough, you should always follow some basic steps when sorting out a bicycle-car collision.

What Are the Most Common Types of Bicycle-Car Collisions?

While any type of accident can occur when bicycles and motor vehicles share the roadways, the following are the two most common:

  • The Right Hook – This maneuver is where the car passes the bicycle on the left, as the cyclist rides in the bike lane or along the shoulder going the same direction, and then makes a right turn directly into the bicycle’s path. Most often, the cyclist is unable to stop and slams into the side of the offending car.
  • The Left-Hand Turn – This occurs when a motor vehicle makes a left turn into the path of an oncoming bicycle. Too often, the motorist doesn’t see the cyclist at all. This type of collision often produces the most severe injuries.

What to Do on the Scene of a Bicycle-Car Collision?

If you are capable of thought and movement after a bicycle-car collision, follow these steps:

  1. Stay Calm and Assess Your Injuries. Until you know the extent of your injuries, do not attempt to rise or move. Movement could further exacerbate your injuries. Carefully examine yourself and seek to stem any bleeding. Stay where you are if in doubt about the extent of your injuries.
  2. If Possible, Move Out of the Street. If you are capable of movement and in danger of further injury due to traffic or other factors, move to a safe location.
  3. Call 9-1-1. Always call emergency personnel or ensure that someone on the scene has done so already. Cooperate fully with police and rescue personnel. Let your voice be heard and give a full accounting of the incident.
  4. Insist the Driver Remain on the Scene. Even if you seem uninjured, insist the driver of the offending vehicle remain on the scene until the authorities arrive. Collect contact and insurance information from the driver, as well as contact information from any witnesses on the scene.
  5. Collect Information and Take Photos. If possible, record the location and environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Take photos of the accident scene from all possible angles, including the license plate of the car involved and your bicycle.

man checking damages to report to his bicycle accident attorney

What To Do After the Accident?

After the on-scene events have concluded, seek medical attention immediately. Even if you do not seem injured, a complete medical examination is warranted. After the rush of adrenaline normally experienced when involved in an accident, pain, and injuries can surface. Never leave your health to chance.

Contact an Oklahoma Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Do not gamble with your health, or with the goodwill of the driver’s insurance company. Seek counsel and representation from an experienced personal injury attorney. If you have been involved in a bicycle-car collision in Tulsa, McAlester, or eastern Oklahoma, contact the personal injury attorneys of Edwards and Patterson Law. We will represent your interests and fight to obtain you the most favorable settlement possible. Call us today at 877-403-8417 or contact us online. You pay no attorney fees unless you recover monetary damages.

Visit Our Bicycle Accident Injury Law Offices

“We care. We fight. We win!” That’s more than just a slogan at Edwards & Patterson Law. Those simple words sum up our law firm’s mission and everything we do for our accident and personal injury clients.

“We care. We fight. We win!” That’s more than just a slogan at Edwards & Patterson Law. Those simple words sum up our law firm’s mission and everything we do for our accident and personal injury clients.