Houston, TX Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have been in a bicycle accident, you may be wondering what happens if you take legal action. After you have sought medical help and contacted the authorities, there are a few more steps before you can receive the compensation that you desire. Bicycle accidents that were caused by the negligence of another on roadways in or near Houston, Texas are commonly handled by a Houston, TX personal injury lawyer from John K. Zaid & Associates.
Below are four steps that can take place in a bicycle accident case:
1. Talk to Insurance Companies
Once you have gathered all the proper documentation from your doctor, the authorities, witnesses, and the other person involved in the accident, you may contact or be contacted by an insurance company. Whether you must speak to your own company or the insurance company for the other person involved in the accident depends on your state. Regardless, if you are seeking maximum compensation, you will want to avoid negotiating directly with the other person’s insurance company.
2. Avoid Direct Negotiation
The other person involved in the accident may attempt to negotiate with you directly to avoid insurance premium increases or additional high costs. It is vital to prevent these negotiations as you may not know the full extent of the damages incurred or the amount of compensation you are potentially entitled to. Take the time to do your research, so you can move on to the next step: consulting an attorney.
3. Consult a Lawyer
An injury lawyer will have experience dealing with other cases like yours. They should know the laws specific to your area and other processes specific to your location. If the bicycle accident occured in or near the Houston area, consider reaching out to a Houston, TX personal injury lawyer from John K. Zaid & Associates for assistance with your case.
Legal counsel can walk you through dealing with insurance, gathering any extra necessary information, and dealing with any other people involved in the accident. A lawyer can even consult outside experts and collect and document other opinions that could be vital to your case.
4. Protect Evidence
Gathering information is essential, and so is keeping it safe once you have it. Your bicycle, clothing, helmet, protective gear, medical records, witness records, and police reports must all be guarded to ensure it is in the same condition and ready for use in legal proceedings if necessary. After consulting legal counsel, you should have a good grasp of what you need and how to keep it safe.
These are four typical steps in a bicycle accident case, but cases may vary in order or execution of the steps. Seek a lawyer to aid you in your case so that you can have support while seeking maximum compensation.
