If you’re a bicyclist who was hit by a car in Glendale, it’s of the utmost importance that you or somebody at the scene call 911 and ask that police be dispatched to the scene. If you’re seriously injured, you can also request that paramedics be dispatched too.
A report of a police investigation into your accident will be pivotal in documenting how the accident happened and bringing any type of personal injury claim for damages. Paramedics can stabilize your condition at the scene and transport you to a nearby emergency room for diagnostics and further treatment. An emergency room report will also be generated.
California Accident Reporting Laws
As per section 20008 of the California Vehicle Code, a motor vehicle accident involving injuries must be reported to the local police department or California Highway Patrol within 24 hours. Two of the purposes of this law are to identify negligent drivers and to compile a statewide database on accident information and statistics.
Personal injury lawyers and insurance adjusters work with accident reports on a daily basis. Considerable information can be obtained from them, especially the driver’s version of events along with what any independent witnesses might have told the investigating officer.
Don’t Give a Statement to the Opposing Insurer
The driver’s insurance company will likely reach out to you pretty quickly. He or she will ask you for a written or recorded statement about what happened. That adjuster already knows what happened from the police report. The purpose of getting your statement is to try and push some or all of the fault for the accident over onto you by using your own words against you.
No matter what that adjuster says, politely refuse to provide any type of a statement without speaking to a lawyer first. If you’re told that your file will be closed for not having a statement, let the adjuster close it. We can have it opened again in a matter of minutes. Never give an opposing insurance company any kind of a statement without first consulting with our office.
Hit-and-Runs and Uninsured Drivers
Hit-and-runs are all too common in Glendale, as are uninsured and underinsured drivers. If you are hit by a driver who flees, call 911 for police assistance at the scene, and ask that paramedics be dispatched if you’re injured.
If you or a member of your family who is a resident of your household has uninsured motorist insurance, contact us. Most uninsured motorist insurance policies cover hit-and-run bicycle accidents.
That being said, it is critical that you report your accident to the police. Without that police accident report, an insurance company can easily argue that you were injured somewhere else, or you were 100% at fault for the accident. After leaving the emergency room, follow up with us by calling and arranging for a free consultation and case review.
