What to do After a Bicycle Crash in Arizona

If you are a cyclist, you are a member of a growing crowd of people who use an economical, environmentally friendly, and healthy approach to get where they need to go. Even the safest and most alert cyclist can be involved in a crash. If you are in a crash with a motorist, you need to know what to do to not only protect your rights, but to ensure that you’ll be quickly on the road to recovery.
What You Should Do After a Crash
• Assuming your injuries are not severe, the first thing to do after a crash is to call the police. Give them as precise an address as possible so they can arrive quickly.
• Sometimes the police officer only takes statements from the drivers. Make sure you give a statement to be included on the report as well. Be very detailed in your statement so you can give a clear account of what happened during the crash.
• Speak with any witnesses on the scene. Make sure you get their names and contact information for future reference. Ask them to write statements about what they saw.
• Take photographs of the scene. This can be done using your smartphone. Photograph your bike, the vehicle involved, and the street where the accident occurred. Photograph any damage to your clothing, bike, and helmet and even photograph any injuries, such as bruises, cuts, and scrapes.
• Exchange information with the driver. Exchange names and contact information. Ask the driver for their insurance information as well. The driver might be tempted to “take blame” to try to brush off the crash—never accept an apology, as it might be used against you in an insurance claim. Keep your conversation with the driver as short and to-the-point as possible.
• Most importantly, you should seek medical treatment right away by going to the nearest emergency room. If you have suffered serious injuries, skip every other step. Call 9-11 and get a ride to your local hospital. This should automatically trigger a police report.
• Keep all medical bills and damage estimates because they will be needed for the insurance claim. Additionally, don’t repair your bike or dispose of your damaged helmet or clothing until after settling with the insurance company.
Phoenix Area Hospitals
If you have been involved in a crash, here are some Phoenix area hospitals where you can seek treatment:
• Mayo Clinic Emergency Room, 5777 East Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ
• Dignity Health AZ General Hospital Emergency Room, 4328 E. Chandler Blvd., Phoenix, AZ
• Abrazo Central Campus, 2000 W. Bethany Home Rd., Phoenix, AZ
• St. Luke’s Medical Center, 1800 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix, AZ
• St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, 350 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ
Getting involved in a crash with a motorist is most cyclists’ worst nightmare. But if you keep calm, focus on getting contact information and speaking with the police, you should be able to avoid hassles with insurance and police reports and focus on what’s important: recovery.
*This article was not written by an attorney, and the accuracy of the content is not warranted or guaranteed. If you wish to receive legal advice about a bicycle crash, you should contact a licensed attorney in Arizona.