Understanding What Steps to Take After a Child’s Bike Injury

A Rhode Island Bicycle Accident Lawyer Explains What Parents Need to Know After a Child’s Bike Injury

As a parent, your child is your world. When they’re suffering, you want to do everything within your power to make it right. If your child has been injured in a bike accident, you may be faced with incredibly challenging circumstances, trying to protect your child and ensure they have the best care possible after an injury.

Contact a personal injury attorney at Kirshenbaum & Kirshenbaum for a free consultation, where our experienced Rhode Island bicycle accident lawyer will work with you to review your options and details of your case. We have a 90-year history of results, and we’ll work diligently to fight for the compensation your family deserves.

What to Do If Your Child Has Been Injured in a Bicycle Accident

If your child is injured on their bicycle as a result of a motorist, it can be traumatic and frightening for the entire family. In the moment, your child’s safety is paramount. After a bicycle accident:

• Call 911. Call 911 immediately and move your child to a safe location off the side of the road if possible. You will want to file a police report and obtain a copy.
• Remain calm. Try to stay calm, reassure your child, and try to stop any bleeding while waiting for emergency medical help.
• Gather evidence. Ask a trusted person to help you document evidence, including the location of the vehicle and bicycle, the driver’s condition, and any other details at the scene. Consider calling a trusted friend or family member to assist if you are alone with your child.
• Obtain vital information. Get information from any eyewitnesses, if possible. Additionally, obtain insurance information along with the make, model, and license plate information of the negligent driver’s vehicle.
• Contact a lawyer. Contact a Rhode Island child injury lawyer for help. Minors cannot file a personal injury claim, so your child will need you to help advocate.

Protecting Your Child in the Weeks and Months After the Bicycle Accident

Caring for your child will take additional time and resources after the bicycle accident. In the time following the accident:

• Continue medical care. Ensure your child’s medical care, including all doctor’s appointments, follow-ups, physical therapy, or other treatment.
• Keep records. Keep detailed records of medical care, treatments, and any issues related to the injury.
• Care for mental health. Because the accident can cause trauma mentally and emotionally, seeking psychological care is also an important step to consider for your child’s mental health.
• Talk to your child. Having open and honest conversations with your child can also help. You may also want to have discussions regarding bicycle safety with your child and ensure they have a properly fitting helmet.
• Continue working with your attorney. Work with your Rhode Island bicycle accident attorney to recover damages and obtain justice for your family.

Possible Damages After a Child is Involved in a Bicycle Accident

There are many financial and other hardships that your family may face as a result of the accident. Children’s injuries can also be more severe and have more of an impact on their growth and future physical health. Compensation could include: 

• Medical expenses
• Future medical care
• Pain and suffering 
• Emotional and mental distress
• Lost quality of life
• The child’s personal needs
• Family needs
• Parent’s lost wages in taking time off work to care for the child 
• The child’s reduced earning capacity
• Punitive damages, in some situations

Understanding How Motorists Cause Bicycle Accidents 

The number of fatalities from bike accidents increased by 47% from 2013 to 2022, according to a recent study by the National Safety Council. While the number of bicycle injuries has seen a decline of 32% in the last decade, the overall number of injuries reported in 2022 was still at 337,738, which means that thousands are injured each year on bicycles. Common ways that motorists cause or contribute to bicycle accidents include:  

• Distracted driving or driver inattention
• Failure to yield
• Speeding
• Weaving through traffic and unsafe lane changes
• Not giving adequate clearance
• Running stop lights or stop signs
• Intersection accidents, such as turning without checking for bicycles
• Driver fatigue
• Impaired driving, which may involve a hit-and-run accident
• Dooring, or hitting persons on a bicycle with a car door

According to Rhode Island law, drivers are required to exercise “due care” to avoid pedestrians, bicyclists, or others on the road. Unfortunately, this is not always the situation and accidents occur. When a hit-and-run is involved, it’s crucial to know the steps to take after a hit-and-run bicycle crash in Rhode Island to protect your legal rights and health.

How a Skilled Rhode Island Bicycle Accident Lawyer Can Help If Your Child Is Injured on a Bike 

Because there are so many variables, your Rhode Island bicycle accident lawyer will work diligently to discover the circumstances surrounding the accident. Your attorney can help gather evidence, obtain eyewitness testimony, and work with specialists in some cases to reconstruct the scene of the accident.  The team at Kirshenbaum & Kirshenbaum can help you build your case, offer legal counsel, and represent you in court if needed. They can help you with your claim and attempt to recover damages from your child’s injuries. With a strong history of advocating for justice in personal injury cases, they’ll fight for your family.