Right after a bicycle crash, your decisions can strongly affect whether the other side treats your injuries as “real” and whether your documentation holds up.
Do this early:
- Get medical care even if you think it’s minor. In California, injury claims rely heavily on medical records that document symptoms and causation.
- Capture the scene while details are fresh: traffic lights, lane position, curb cuts, debris, skid marks, and your bicycle and helmet condition.
- Write a quick timeline: where you were riding, what you remember immediately before impact, and how the collision happened.
- Preserve names and contact info for witnesses (including anyone who saw the crash at a nearby store, bus stop area, or residential driveway).
Avoid these common traps:
- Giving a long statement to an insurance adjuster before you’ve completed initial treatment.
- Posting about the crash publicly before your medical picture is clear.
- Waiting to document injuries—adrenaline can mask symptoms, and delays are a frequent defense tactic.


