After the car, the bicycle is considered to be the most popular means of transportation among all generations. In some countries, like the Netherlands, a bicycle is the first option for most people. Considering how affordable it is and how good it is for the environment and the person’s health, it’s no wonder why men and women of all generations love riding bicycles on a daily basis. Unfortunately, there’s one downside to riding bicycles in traffic – it’s not very safe. This is especially true on roads where there’s no cycling lane.
Certain roads and parts of the city are not bicycle-friendly and this is exactly why there are so many accidents involving cyclists. Those accidents are happening every day and considering the fact that the bicycle is usually not treated as a vehicle, determining the blame is not a simple thing to do. This is why today we are going to tell you how liability can be determined in a bicycle accident.
Getting A Lawyer Is Always A Smart Thing To Do
In cases like these, it’s sometimes rather difficult to determine the guilty party. Therefore, when it comes to bicycle accidents, it’s always a good thing to consult a good lawyer. Any good lawyer would give you useful advice, but if you want to do things right, you should consult a lawyer who specializes in bicycle accidents.
Of course, this will cost you money, but if you want to prove that you are the victim and get the compensation you’re owed, you should definitely consult a professional. This is especially recommended if the other person involved in the accident doesn’t want to cooperate. Getting justice is important and this is one of the best ways to do it.
Having A Helmet Camera Helps
In order to determine the liability and win a case like this, you simply must provide the judge with undeniable proof. This is not always a simple thing to do. However, there are gadgets that can help you do this. For example, you can mount a small camera on your helmet and record your rides. This way, if you get involved in an accident, the camera will record the entire thing. Therefore, if you are innocent, you will be able to prove that in court. These cameras are not expensive, but they can save you a lot of time and money.
Acquiring Surveillance Tapes
As we said, having a camera mounted on your helmet will help significantly in determining the guilty party in a bicycle accident case, but not everyone is tech-savvy and willing to buy this gadget. Fortunately, there are also surveillance cameras you can find at most intersections in the city. Therefore, if something happens to you while riding a bicycle, you can always request to see the surveillance tapes. You can then show these taps as definitive proof to the judge. This can help you prove your innocence and win the case. Unfortunately, not all roads and allies have surveillance cameras. Therefore, you should never rely solely on those.
Getting Statements From Witnesses
One of the best ways to determine liability in a bicycle accident case is to consult the witnesses and get their official statements. Bystanders are usually unbiased people who will give honest statements and help the court figure out what indeed happened. Therefore, if you notice people in the street after the accident, make sure to get their names and their statements. In most cases, the police will do this at the scene of the accident, but you can call any of those witnesses to the stand later on trial.
Requesting An Investigation
Sometimes, despite having a lot of compelling evidence, judges and juries have a hard time determining the guilty party. When this happens, you have every right to request an investigation. Experts and forensic teams will be involved and they will find out who is responsible for the accident. However, you can request an investigation only if there are serious injuries and material damage. Most counties and city governments won’t be willing to spend their resources on “small” accidents. The bottom line, requesting an investigation is the last resort. Let’s hope you won’t need it to win your case.
Cycling is a wonderful thing and you should enjoy it every day if that’s your thing. However, you should try to ride defensively and avoid dangerous roads and streets that are not bicycle-friendly. If you have an accident, make sure to remain calm and take care of your health. Once you do that, make sure to use the tips from this article to win the case.
