Bicycle accidents can cause serious injuries, even at low speeds. Cyclists lack protective features like those in cars, so they absorb the impact directly. Despite this, insurance companies often undervalue bicycle accident claims, treating them as minor incidents and questioning the injuries’ severity.
Mistakes made in the days and weeks after a crash can lower settlement amounts. A missed detail, careless comment, or delayed treatment can give insurers reasons to reduce payouts. If you were hit while cycling and want to protect your claim, Jacoby & Meyers Accident & Injury Lawyers can help you avoid these pitfalls and build a strong case that reflects the true impact of the crash.
One of the most damaging mistakes is delaying medical care. Many cyclists try to “shake it off,” assuming bruises and soreness will heal on their own. But injuries like concussions, internal trauma, ligament tears, and spinal damage often worsen over time. Delayed care also makes it easier for insurers to argue the injury wasn’t serious or wasn’t caused by the crash.
Immediate medical evaluation creates a clear timeline and connects injuries directly to the collision. Even if symptoms feel mild at first, getting checked protects both your health and your case. When treatment begins early, your records show consistency—and that consistency is one of the strongest settlement drivers.
Insurance adjusters often call quickly after a bicycle crash and ask for a recorded statement. They may sound helpful and claim they “just need your version.” But recorded statements are rarely for your benefit. They’re designed to collect information that can be used to reduce or deny the claim.
Cyclists may unknowingly say things like “I’m okay,” “I didn’t see them,” or “I wasn’t going that fast,” without realizing how those words can be twisted. Once recorded, those comments are difficult to correct. A single early statement can be used to argue that you weren’t injured or that you caused the crash.
Some cyclists don’t call the police because they believe it will take too long or think the crash is “not serious enough.” But without a police report, it often becomes harder to prove what happened. Insurance companies may treat the case like a minor disagreement rather than a documented collision.
A police report creates a formal record that the crash occurred, identifies the driver and witnesses, and may include diagrams or citations. Even if the officer doesn’t assign full fault, the report strengthens your claim by providing an objective starting point for investigation.
Evidence disappears quickly in bicycle accident cases. Vehicles are repaired, bikes are replaced, surveillance footage is overwritten, and witness memories fade. If you don’t preserve evidence early, insurers may argue there’s no proof of fault or may claim the crash happened differently than you remember.
Key evidence includes photos of injuries, bike damage, helmet damage, road conditions, skid marks, and the vehicle involved. Even if you don’t have photos from the scene, you can return to the location and document the environment. You can also request footage from nearby businesses before it is deleted.
Social media is one of the easiest ways to unintentionally weaken a bicycle accident case. Posting “I’m fine,” making jokes about the crash, or sharing photos of activities can be used to argue your injuries aren’t serious. Even if you’re struggling behind the scenes, insurers may use social posts to claim you’ve recovered.
It’s also common for victims to post updates to friends or family. But even casual posts can be taken out of context. The safest approach is to avoid posting about the accident, the injury, or the recovery process until the claim is resolved.
Quick settlements are often low settlements. Insurance companies sometimes offer money early to close the case before the victim understands the long-term effects. Cyclists may accept because they’re stressed, need cash, or assume they’ll heal quickly. But once a settlement is signed, you usually can’t reopen the claim.
Bicycle accident injuries often require extended treatment—physical therapy, surgery, or long-term pain management. Some cyclists develop chronic pain, reduced mobility, or lingering concussion symptoms that affect work and quality of life. A fair settlement should reflect those future impacts, not just the first few weeks after the crash.
Bicycle accident claims often involve comparative fault arguments. Insurers may claim the cyclist was “not visible,” “didn’t use the bike lane,” “was riding too fast,” “failed to stop,” or “came out of nowhere.” Even when a driver violated traffic laws, insurers may push blame to reduce what they pay.
The key is not accepting blame casually. What you say matters, and evidence matters even more. Witness statements, traffic camera footage, bike lane markings, vehicle damage, and medical records can all help prove you were riding responsibly. Don’t assume the insurer will be fair on its own.
Bicycle accident settlements are often reduced not because the cyclist wasn’t hurt, but because early mistakes give insurers room to dispute fault and damages. Delaying treatment, giving recorded statements, losing evidence, posting online, accepting fast settlements, and allowing blame-shifting are some of the most common settlement killers.
The strongest bicycle accident claims are built early. If you’ve been hit while riding, focus on medical care, document your injuries, preserve evidence, and be cautious about what you say to insurers. The sooner you protect your case, the harder it becomes for the insurance company to minimize what you deserve.
