After a bicycle crash, you may be dealing with treatment, a damaged bike and an insurer asking you to explain a collision that happened in seconds. You may also face assumptions about where you were riding or whether the driver could see you.
Nuttall Brown & Coutts represents people injured in Utah bicycle accidents. An attorney handles accepted cases from beginning to end, investigating the collision and the coverage that may apply.
Call (801) 255-2102 for a free case review. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover for you.
How did the rider and vehicle cross paths?
A useful investigation looks at the actual movements before impact. Questions may involve:
- A vehicle turning across a rider’s path.
- A driver pulling out of a driveway or parking area.
- A vehicle moving into or across a bicycle lane.
- An opening car door.
- A collision at a trail crossing or intersection.
- A roadway condition or vehicle component that may have contributed.
These are possible fact patterns, not conclusions about who was responsible. Lane markings, signals, sight lines, witness accounts and video can help explain what happened.
Riders have rights and responsibilities
Utah law generally gives a person operating a bicycle the rights and duties applicable to other vehicle operators, subject to bicycle-specific rules and exceptions. Determining which rules apply requires attention to the location and the rider’s movement.
Do not assume a claim is resolved simply because the collision involved a bicycle lane, sidewalk, trail connection or intersection. An attorney can review the applicable rules alongside the evidence. Electric bicycles can raise additional classification questions; tell us what kind of bicycle you were riding.
Preserve the bicycle, equipment and original records
If possible, avoid disposing of or substantially repairing the bicycle until its value as evidence has been considered. Damage to the wheels, frame, lights or other components may help document the collision.
Preserve relevant equipment and information:
- The helmet and clothing worn during the crash.
- Original camera footage and photographs.
- A ride-computer or GPS activity file, if one exists.
- Witness details and the investigating agency’s report number.
- Repair estimates, purchase records and storage information.
A ride file may help establish location or timing, but it does not automatically prove every detail. Keep the original information and avoid editing it or posting a detailed account publicly while the facts are being investigated.
Who pays medical bills while the claim is pending?
Coverage depends on the vehicles involved, the policies and the circumstances. When a motor vehicle is involved, an attorney can review whether PIP or other medical benefits may apply. Health insurance and potential reimbursement obligations may also need attention.
Do not assume the driver’s insurer will immediately pay every bill or that medical treatment will be free. Ask your providers and an attorney about the arrangements and obligations relevant to your situation.
Get medical care and keep referrals, discharge instructions, bills and work restrictions. Tell your providers about symptoms and changes in function rather than trying to minimize the injury to keep the claim simple.
What if the driver says they never saw me?
That statement is one piece of the account, not the end of the investigation. Lighting, obstructions, vehicle movement, the rider’s position and the available opportunity to react may all matter.
Tell us what you remember without guessing about speed or distance. If the report contains an error or an insurer has blamed you, keep that paperwork and discuss it during the case review.
Look beyond replacing the bicycle
Depending on the facts and applicable law, a supported injury claim may address treatment, rehabilitation, lost income, future care, pain and lasting limitations. Document how the injury affects work, transportation, exercise and family responsibilities.
Our firm has 40+ years of personal injury experience. We serve clients throughout Utah from our Cottonwood Heights office.
Call (801) 255-2102. Our call service answers 24/7, and an attorney reviews your inquiry.
You pay no attorney fee unless we recover for you. Ask us how case costs are handled under your fee agreement.
