If you’ve been in a crash

If your crash is very recent, or if you are injured at roadside, make sure you get the urgent help you need. Call 911 for police and/or urgent medical attention.

If you don’t need 911 for medical services, contact a friend or family member, or ask a bystander to help you.

Your next steps

Consider these very important steps when navigating your crash:

  • Do not allow anyone to move you, or to remove your helmet unless you are CERTAIN that you have not sustained an injury to your head, neck, or back.

  • Have someone divert traffic for your safety. Remain highly visible so you can be seen and tended to.

  • Medical Attention - If you are not transported to hospital, get checked by a doctor as soon as you can. Ideally, same day. This can be your own doctor, walk-in clinic, or urgent care.

    Police – insist on a police incident number and report and obtain the business card and badge of the attending officer. Get this information before leaving the scene, if you are able.

  • Seek medical attention from a hospital, your family doctor, or a walk-in clinic as appropriate.

  • Get the business card with the badge number of the attending police officer. Insist upon a police incident number being generated. At least a limited police report should be made available to you before leaving the scene.

  • If the police don’t do this or don’t attend the scene, get contact information for all witnesses. Consider having witnesses make a voice memo on your phone with their name, contact information, and detailing what they saw. Take a photo of their ID if you can.

  • If the police don’t do this, take photo or videos of the scene. Include as much detail as you can such as vehicles involved and locations, license plates, insurance information, photos of you and/or your bike.

  • If a vehicle is involved, get insurance information from the other driver. NEVER admit fault, argue, or negotiate with anyone. If they are not cooperative, get photos of their vehicle or plate. Record your contact with them if needed.

  • Do not throw out or wash any of the physical evidence including your clothes, bike, helmet, etc. Take photos of anything damaged at the scene.

  • Do not post anything on social media until you have talked to me or another lawyer who is knowledgeable about motor vehicle insurance law a how it applies to cyclists.

  • Book a consultation with me to understand your rights and entitlements. I will review your case and guide you through reporting the crash to insurers and to notifying other parties of liability as required. We will “ride” this out together.

Document a crash

Please note: submitting this report does not mean the police will be informed nor does it create a lawyer-client relationship.