Bicycle accidents are far too common. This post discusses five things to do after a bike accident.

It seems like every week I hear of someone who has been involved in a bicycle accident. Sometimes it is an accident involving just the cyclist(s), other times it is a cyclist being struck by a vehicle. it has become far too common of an occurrence. I had the unfortunate experience of being involved in an accident with another cyclist a few years ago. Many lessons were learned that day, so I am sharing five things to do after a bike accident.

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Five Things to do After a Bike Accident

Take Your Time

Even if you are feeling ok, assess the situation around you. If it is safe, take your time getting up. If you are alone and have a cell phone, contact someone to let them know what has happened and have them send help.

Seek Medical Attention

Once again, you may feel ok right after the accident. However, it may take days and sometimes weeks for injuries to present themselves. Get checked out by a medical professional after the accident so they can assess for signs and symptoms of a concussion or any soft tissue injuries.

Determine What Caused the Accident

This will vary depending on the nature of the accident. If it is just the cyclist: was there debris in the road, a pothole, were they going too fast, or was it mechanical issue with the bike? If the cyclist was struck by a car, contact the police immediately and try not to move the bike or car if at all possible. the police will want as much information as possible to reconstruct the accident. A consult with a personal injury lawyer to get advice should also be done.

Write it Down

This is particularly important if the cyclist was hit by a vehicle. The events of how the accident occurred should be well documented.  A good idea is to keep a journal of all injuries and medical treatment after the accident.

Check out the Bike and Equipment

If serious injuries were not sustained, some people are eager to "get back in the saddle" right away. However, an essential thing to do is have the bike and any equipment inspected for damage. Even if the bike appears to be ok,  their could be issues that are not visible. Bike mechanics can do a "Crash Test" after an accident to inspect for any cracks in the frame or other mechanical problems.

Also, check the helmet as most of them are made to sustain serious impact one time. After that, the integrity of the helmet is compromised. After my accident, micro cracks were discovered inside the helmet and I discarded it and got a new one.

So Tell Me...

Have you ever been involved in a bike accident? Has anyone you know had a bike accident? Is there something you would add to the list of things to do afterward?

Thank you so much for stopping by. As always, I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. Have a great weekend!