Toronto Cyclists Injured In Car Accidents Should Follow These Tips First
Warmer weather across Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) has arrived and for many people living in the city, cycling isn’t just a great way to get some exercise, but a means of transportation. With the many cyclists, cars and pedestrians navigating the busy streets of Toronto, the potential for collisions remains high. In the event of a cyclist being injured in a collision with a motor vehicle, you must be aware of your rights and know what to do at the scene of the accident.
What are your next steps and who can you lean on to learn about your rights and the most effective next steps?
Collisions of this nature are a complicated matter in Toronto and across Ontario; here are five key steps a cyclist can take should they be involved in an accident or collision with a motor vehicle.
1. Document The Incident
Once an accident has occurred do your best to collect yourself and move to a safe area. If you are seriously injured, put your safety first and call 9-1-1 or request that a bystander make that call for you.
If you can, gather evidence and take photos of the scene of the accident. Take photographs of the damage to your bike, yourself, the vehicle that was involved in the crash and the immediate area. Document everything you can including the main intersection of the crash, the vehicle’s license plate number and the driver’s license and insurance information.
2. Collect and Gather Key Information
Exchange information with everyone involved in the accident including contact information such as cell phone numbers and emails. Furthermore, exchange all relevant insurance information and the driver’s license as well. If the vehicle involved was a commercial truck or delivery vehicle, collect appropriate contact information on the business as well as their personal contact information.
If there were witnesses at the scene of the accident, do your best to collect their contact information as well, along with notes regarding what they saw at the scene. Ask bystanders simple who, what, where, and when questions to paint a picture of what occurred at the scene of the collision. These notes will prove to be extremely helpful throughout the claim process and ensure that your retelling of the events stays consistent from start to finish.
3. Filing a Police Report in Toronto As A Cyclist Injured In A Car Accident
Begin the process of filing an official police report should your collision meet the reporting standards set out by Toronto Police Services. Collisions that involve serious injury, hospitalization, or impaired driving meet the standards of a reportable collision and Toronto Police can be contacted to answer any further questions regarding the process. The TPS website offers clear instructions on the requirements for a reportable collision and includes contact information that can be used by anyone who is part of a collision.
Should a cyclist sustain serious injuries of any kind, a doctor’s visit is another great way to help document the incident and create a paper trail of evidence. Ask for copies of your doctor’s notes on the injuries and be sure to keep them up to date with your medical status throughout the entire process.
4. Know Your Rights As A Cyclist Injured In A Car Accident
When a cyclist is involved in a collision with a motor vehicle in Ontario, the cyclist is automatically eligible for what is called Statutory Accident Benefits. Even if the cyclist is at fault, the provincial laws indicate that you are still entitled to basic benefits that are dependent on the type of injuries sustained. Your injuries could be categorized as either minor, non-catastrophic, or catastrophic, and could also be recategorized over time, should the nature of the injury change after the accident.
Cyclists can begin the claim process through their own auto insurance, even if they weren’t in a car when the accident occurred. If the cyclist doesn’t have any auto insurance, the claims process can be initiated through the other party’s insurance. Furthermore, any cyclist involved in a collision with a motor vehicle in Ontario has the right to sue the driver who hit the cyclist.
The process of obtaining medical benefits, accident benefits, or other compensation that you could be entitled to, remains highly complicated in the province of Ontario. The fine nuances within the Ontario Insurance Act remain highly complicated with very specific timelines and required legal paperwork. Cyclists that have been injured in an accident with a motor vehicle are entitled to benefits, but the claim process is best navigated through proper legal representation and personal injury professionals.
INJURED IN A CAR ACCIDENT? THERE IS COMPENSATION AVAILABLE.
5. Cyclist Injured In A Car Accident? Hire Toronto’s De Rose Lawyers
If you’ve been injured, consider hiring legal representation as soon as possible if you are a cyclist injured in a motor vehicle accident. De Rose Lawyers is highly experienced in handling cyclist accident claims in Ontario and the GTA. Our team of personal injury lawyers is capable of fighting for the compensation that is rightfully yours while helping you navigate the complications of Ontario’s insurance system.
The injuries sustained in this type of collision can have long-lasting and life-changing impacts with the potential to alter you and your family’s life forever. De Rose Lawyers can handle your cyclist accident claims while remaining by your side throughout the entire process. We can and will help you get the compensation you require to properly heal.