Have you been seriously injured in a Cedar Rapids bicycle accident? You need to speak with an experienced Cedar Rapids bike crash attorney as soon as possible. The skilled legal team at RSH Legal has nearly 35 years of experience fighting for fairness for Cedar Rapidians, and we can get you a fair settlement for your case.
3 Mistakes Injured Cedar Rapids Bike Accident Victims Make
Believing Your Own Auto Insurance Doesn’t Cover Bike Accidents
You should report your bike wreck to your own auto insurance company as soon as you can after a crash. The driver’s liability insurance may be responsible for compensating you for your injuries if the driver was at fault for the wreck.
However, if the person who hit you did not have insurance, or did not have adequate insurance to cover your medical bills, your own auto insurance may be the only way to get your bills paid. Using your Uninsured Motorist Coverage or Underinsured Motorist Coverage may help you get compensation for your harms and losses.
To figure out if you have this type of coverage, you should have a skilled Cedar Rapids bicycle accident lawyer look over your auto insurance policy for you. Most attorneys will do this at no charge during your free, no-obligation case evaluation.
Posting on Social Media After Your Accident
After your bike crash, you probably want to inform friends and family that you’re okay, and one of the easiest ways to do that is through social media. Be aware – this could be a huge mistake.
It is common practice for insurance companies to search social media sites for any information that can be used against you or your case. There are reported cases where insurance representatives spy on accident victims’ Facebook or Twitter accounts to see if they can find any evidence that could ruin a case.
Even more alarming – the other side will get complete access to everything you post online if you pursue a bicycle accident claim. Courts across the country are allowing insurance companies to access this information, no matter how high you put your security settings.
To get the best chance at receiving compensation for your injuries, keep all information off social media until you settle your claim. If you have already posted on your social media, do not delete these posts – as this could be seen as destroying evidence. Instead, stop any further posts until you have settled your bicycle accident case.
Settling Your Claim Before You’re Healed
It is probably tempting to get your claim settled as soon as possible after the accident. Medical bills are piling up, and the insurance representative is telling you they can get you a fair deal. You simply want to heal and move on with your life, so why shouldn’t you settle your case?
Be careful – the insurance company wants you to settle your claim quickly so you don’t hire an attorney and learn the true value of your case. Their representatives are trained to use tactics to reduce payouts for victims.
They may tell you that you only have a short time to get compensation for your injuries – that’s not true. You have two full years from the date of the crash to settle your claim or file a lawsuit. Don’t let them bully you into accepting a settlement without speaking with an experienced Cedar Rapids injury lawyer first. We offer free, no-obligation case evaluations – just call 1-800-433-0283 today to schedule yours.
The Absolute Wrong Way to Hire a Cedar Rapids Bicycle Accident Attorney
It’s a bad idea to pick a bike crash lawyer on guesswork or a hasty decision. Choosing a lawyer can have real consequences – it can mean the difference between a fair settlement and a lifetime of paying medical bills out of your own pocket.
Here are some of the misguided ideas we’ve seen over the years that lead people to choose the wrong lawyer for their bicycle accident cases:
- “I’ll just go to the lawyer closest to my house.” What are the odds that you happen to live just minutes away from one of the relatively few attorneys who specialize in serious bicycle accident cases? Many people don’t realize our attorneys are licensed to practice law anywhere in the state of Iowa. In the digital age, many attorneys can have you sign contracts, fill out paperwork, and discuss your claim – all without having to visit their physical office. Rather than picking the nearest attorney to you, you should choose one that is the best and most qualified for your case.
- “I’ll just hire the first attorney who answers my call.” Again, don’t limit your search to the attorney who is the most convenient. Just because an attorney immediately answers the phone does not mean they are the most qualified to take your case. Do online research and ask key questions to each attorney you call and make an informed decision.
- “I’ll just go to the lawyer who handled my divorce.” Doing a good job on a divorce case or a drunk driving charge does not qualify an attorney to handle a serious bike crash claim. Some of the best personal injury attorneys you can find have highly-focused practices – they become experts in a small part of the law to best serve their clients.
If you’re hiring an attorney for a claim that could settle for as much as a house, you need an expert. RSH Legal has nearly 35 years of fighting for fairness for injured bicycle accident victims. To schedule your free, no-obligation case evaluation, contact RSH Legal today at 1-800-433-0283.
Tim Semelroth
Board-Certified Trial Attorney
Pressley Henningsen
AV-Rated Trial Attorney
A car came through the median and we were hit head on. Every bone in my body from my lower jaw down to the bottom of my feet was broken. My medical bills were in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. I can’t imagine going through something like this without someone like Tim or RSH Legal.
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