What Evidence Do You Need for a Bicycle Accident Claim in Michigan?

A bicycle accident can happen in seconds, but determining exactly what happened may become one of the most important parts of an injury claim. When a cyclist is struck by a motor vehicle, evidence can help establish how the collision occurred, who may have been responsible, the extent of the cyclist's injuries, and the financial consequences of the crash.

For injured cyclists in Ann Arbor and throughout Michigan, gathering and preserving evidence as early as possible can make a meaningful difference. Photographs can be lost, surveillance footage may be overwritten, bicycles may be repaired, and witnesses can become more difficult to locate as time passes.

At Biggs & Gunst P.C., our attorneys are cyclists themselves and understand the challenges riders face on Michigan roads. The firm helps injured cyclists investigate accidents, deal with insurance companies, document their losses, and pursue compensation when another party's negligence causes an injury.

Why Is Evidence Important in a Michigan Bicycle Accident Claim?

Evidence helps tell the story of a bicycle accident.

After a collision, the cyclist and driver may have very different accounts of what occurred. An insurance company may question who had the right of way, whether the driver could have avoided the collision, how serious the cyclist's injuries are, or whether those injuries actually resulted from the crash.

A strong collection of evidence can help address these disputes.

Depending on the circumstances, evidence may be needed to establish:

• How the bicycle accident happened
• Whether a driver acted negligently
• The location and position of the bicycle and vehicle
• Road, traffic, and weather conditions
• The nature and severity of the cyclist's injuries
• Medical treatment resulting from the accident
• Lost income and other financial losses
• Damage to the bicycle and cycling equipment
• How the injuries have affected the cyclist's daily life

When another driver's negligence causes serious injuries, Michigan law may also allow an injured person to pursue compensation beyond available no-fault benefits. Biggs & Gunst P.C. handles both no-fault and third-party accident claims and can determine what evidence may be important for each aspect of a cyclist's case.

1. Photographs and Videos From the Accident Scene

If you are physically able to do so safely, photographs and videos are among the most useful forms of evidence to collect immediately after a bicycle accident.

Try to document the scene from several angles before vehicles, bicycles, debris, or other objects are moved.

Potentially useful photographs may show:

• Damage to your bicycle
• Damage to the motor vehicle
• The vehicle's license plate
• Your visible injuries
• Bicycle lanes and roadway markings
• Traffic signals and signs
• The intersection or roadway
• Skid marks or debris
• Nearby driveways and parking spaces
• Weather and visibility conditions
• Any obstruction that may have affected visibility

Biggs & Gunst P.C. advises injured cyclists to document their bicycle, the involved vehicle, injuries, and surrounding conditions when possible.

Even details that seem insignificant immediately after a crash could become important later. Preserve the original photographs and videos rather than relying solely on copies posted to social media.

2. The Police Accident Report

Calling 911 after a bicycle collision involving a motor vehicle can create an official record of the incident and bring emergency assistance to the scene.

A police report may contain information such as the identities of the parties, vehicle and insurance information, the location of the crash, witness information, and observations made at the scene.

Biggs & Gunst P.C. recommends reporting a bicycle accident even when injuries initially appear minor because the resulting police documentation can become an important part of a later insurance or legal claim.

A police report is not necessarily the only evidence that matters, however. An attorney can investigate beyond the initial report when additional evidence is available.

3. Witness Statements and Contact Information

Independent witnesses can be particularly valuable when the cyclist and driver disagree about what happened.

A witness may have seen a vehicle make an unsafe turn, enter a bike lane, fail to yield, open a door into a cyclist's path, or engage in another action immediately before the collision.

If possible, obtain witnesses':

• Names
• Phone numbers
• Email addresses
• Brief descriptions of what they observed

Do not assume that law enforcement obtained information from everyone who witnessed the crash.

Biggs & Gunst P.C. can follow up with potential witnesses and evaluate how their accounts fit with the other evidence in your bicycle accident case.

4. Surveillance, Traffic, and Dashcam Footage

Video evidence can sometimes provide a clearer picture of an accident than competing recollections.

Depending on where the bicycle crash happened, cameras may be located on nearby businesses, residences, parking facilities, vehicles, or other properties. Dashcams may also have captured the collision or events immediately before it.

This evidence can be time-sensitive. Digital footage may eventually be overwritten or deleted, which is one reason injured cyclists should consider obtaining legal guidance promptly after an accident.

An attorney may be able to identify potential sources of footage and take appropriate steps to request or preserve relevant evidence.

If you were injured while cycling in Ann Arbor, contacting Biggs & Gunst P.C. soon after the accident can allow the firm to begin evaluating what evidence may exist before important information becomes more difficult to obtain.

5. Medical Records and Bills

Evidence is not limited to proving how the collision happened. A bicycle accident claim must also document the injuries and losses resulting from the crash.

Medical records can establish when you sought treatment, what injuries were diagnosed, what treatment was recommended, and whether additional care may be necessary.

Relevant documentation may include:

• Ambulance and emergency room records
• Hospital records
• Diagnostic imaging
• Physician records
• Physical therapy records
• Prescription information
• Rehabilitation records
• Medical bills and invoices
• Documentation of future treatment recommendations

Seeking timely medical attention is important for your health. It can also create documentation connecting your condition to the bicycle accident. Some injuries, including concussions and soft-tissue injuries, may not be immediately apparent following a collision.

Biggs & Gunst P.C. can help organize and evaluate medical documentation when pursuing compensation for injuries caused by a bicycle accident.

6. Your Damaged Bicycle, Helmet, and Cycling Gear

Do not be too quick to repair or discard your bicycle after a serious collision.

The bicycle itself may provide evidence about the force and direction of an impact. Your helmet, clothing, lights, bags, electronic devices, and other damaged cycling equipment may also be relevant.

Take detailed photographs of damaged property and, when possible, preserve the items in their post-accident condition until you have discussed the matter with an attorney.

Receipts, repair estimates, photographs, and information about the bicycle's make and model can also help document property losses.

Before authorizing significant repairs or disposing of damaged cycling equipment, consider contacting Biggs & Gunst P.C. to determine whether the items should be preserved as part of your claim.

7. Driver and Insurance Information

After a collision, obtain identifying and insurance information from the motorist when it is safe and possible to do so.

Useful information can include:

• Driver's name and contact information
• Driver's license information
• Insurance carrier and policy information
• Vehicle make and model
• License plate number
• Vehicle owner information if different from the driver

Photographing relevant information can reduce the possibility of incorrectly recording important details.

Michigan insurance issues can become complicated when a bicycle accident involves a motor vehicle. Cyclists may potentially qualify for no-fault benefits even when they do not personally carry no-fault insurance, depending on the circumstances.

Biggs & Gunst P.C. can help determine which insurance coverage may apply and handle communications with insurers on your behalf.

8. Evidence of Lost Wages and Other Financial Losses

A serious bicycle injury may prevent you from returning to work or limit what you can do professionally.

Keep documentation showing how the accident has affected your income. This could include pay stubs, employer records, tax documents, records of missed work, or other documentation appropriate to your employment situation.

You should also preserve receipts and records of other accident-related expenses.

Biggs & Gunst P.C. notes that personal injury compensation may involve economic losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage, depending on the circumstances of the case.

Keeping these records organized can help your attorney develop a clearer picture of the financial consequences of the accident.

9. Documentation Showing How Your Injuries Affect Your Life

Some of the consequences of a bicycle accident cannot be demonstrated by a hospital bill.

Serious injuries may prevent a cyclist from exercising, riding, caring for family members, participating in hobbies, completing household responsibilities, or performing activities that were previously part of everyday life.

Documentation showing these changes may become relevant when evaluating the full impact of an injury.

Keep records of significant limitations and discuss them with your attorney. Medical documentation, testimony from people who know you, employment records, and other evidence may help demonstrate how an injury has affected your life.

What If You Were Unable to Collect Evidence at the Scene?

A severely injured cyclist may be taken directly to the hospital and have no opportunity to photograph the scene, speak with witnesses, or obtain the driver's information.

That does not necessarily mean you cannot pursue a claim.

Other sources may still provide important evidence. Police reports, witness accounts, medical records, photographs taken by other people, video footage, vehicle damage, and additional investigative materials may help reconstruct what happened.

This is an area where working with a bicycle accident attorney can be particularly helpful.

Biggs & Gunst P.C. can investigate the circumstances of the collision and work to identify evidence that you may not have been able to collect yourself.

Why Should You Preserve Evidence Quickly?

Certain types of bicycle accident evidence can disappear surprisingly quickly.

A damaged bicycle may be repaired. Vehicles may be fixed or sold. Businesses may overwrite security footage. Road debris can disappear. Witnesses may move or forget important details.

Preserving available evidence early gives your attorney more information to evaluate when determining how the accident happened and who may be responsible.

Biggs & Gunst P.C. encourages injured cyclists to seek medical attention, document the scene when possible, obtain witness information, and preserve evidence following a crash.

How Can Biggs & Gunst P.C. Help With a Bicycle Accident Claim?

Building a bicycle accident case can require much more than collecting a few photographs.

An attorney may need to review police reports, obtain medical documentation, communicate with witnesses, investigate potential video evidence, evaluate insurance coverage, document financial losses, negotiate with insurance companies, and determine whether additional legal action is appropriate.

At Biggs & Gunst P.C., cyclists represent cyclists. The firm's attorneys are avid cyclists themselves and bring a personal understanding of the risks riders encounter on the road. The firm's personal injury practice includes bicycle accident claims as well as no-fault and third-party accident claims.

Attorney Brandon Biggs also has substantial personal cycling experience, including cross-country rides from Jacksonville to San Francisco and from Virginia Beach to Cannon Beach.

That connection to cycling, combined with the firm's personal injury practice, allows Biggs & Gunst P.C. to approach bicycle accident cases with an understanding of both the legal issues and the realities riders face.

Injured in a Michigan Bicycle Accident? Contact Biggs & Gunst P.C.

If you were injured while cycling because of a driver's negligence, preserving the right evidence can be an important part of pursuing your claim. You do not have to determine what evidence matters, which insurance company should be contacted, or what compensation may be available on your own.

Biggs & Gunst P.C. represents injured cyclists in Ann Arbor and throughout Southeast Michigan. The firm offers free initial consultations for personal injury matters and handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients do not pay attorney fees unless the firm wins their case.

Call Biggs & Gunst P.C. at 734-263-2320 to schedule a consultation with a Michigan bicycle accident attorney. The firm can review your accident, help preserve important evidence, and explain the options available for pursuing compensation.